All of the scripture can be understood figuratively, and would all have figurative meaning; but only some of it can be understood literally*. My question is, what good does the literal side of the coin do? What good is literal understanding of the scripture? Also, what parts of the scripture do you believe MUST be understood literally, or else the reader is not of Christ?
Briefly, to understand what I mean by figurative: take the Exodus from Egypt in the Old Testament. This can be understood literally, and can also be understood as figuratively pointing toward Christ, and the figurative exodus from figurative bondage in figurative Egypt of the figurative children of figurative Israel. I presume most people reading this understand this; and so in all things, there is a figurative understanding; and in some things also a literal understanding.
But I'm asking, what good is the literal understanding? Also, how will we be sure our literal understanding is the correct literal understanding? Meaning, how do we know which literal understanding of Genesis 1 is correct? How do we know which literal understanding of Genesis 6 is correct? How do we know which, and if we cannot know which is correct; the question of 'what good is literal understanding' becomes emphatic.
*I suppose one could also understand all of the scripture literally, but that would make for some incredible understandings; I'm confident no one reading this would argue all of the bible can be understood literally, in the spirit of the idea.
Briefly, to understand what I mean by figurative: take the Exodus from Egypt in the Old Testament. This can be understood literally, and can also be understood as figuratively pointing toward Christ, and the figurative exodus from figurative bondage in figurative Egypt of the figurative children of figurative Israel. I presume most people reading this understand this; and so in all things, there is a figurative understanding; and in some things also a literal understanding.
But I'm asking, what good is the literal understanding? Also, how will we be sure our literal understanding is the correct literal understanding? Meaning, how do we know which literal understanding of Genesis 1 is correct? How do we know which literal understanding of Genesis 6 is correct? How do we know which, and if we cannot know which is correct; the question of 'what good is literal understanding' becomes emphatic.
*I suppose one could also understand all of the scripture literally, but that would make for some incredible understandings; I'm confident no one reading this would argue all of the bible can be understood literally, in the spirit of the idea.