Hermeneutics and the Bible

The first approach to understanding the Bible hermeneutically (i.e. interpretatively) is to take what the Word says literally first. Then upon further examination of the context and in light of other Scriptures on the same subject one can judge whether to maintain a literal understanding or adjust to a figurative/symbolic interpretation. Some thing are allegorical but they still reveal and convey spiritual truth which can impact our world physically. But most of what the Bible reveals should be understood literally. Jesus Christ literally died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ is literally going to return to this earth (soon) to catch away (i.e. rapture) His church before the events mentioned in Revelation start to unfold. On the other hand, when Jesus said,

Matthew 18:8
“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life [i.e. eternal life in Heaven] lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.

The Lord Jesus does not want us to literally injure or harm ourselves or maim any part of our body. Jesus just wants us to know how terrible Hell truly is, so bad that if anything is instrumental in causing us to sin that we should take extreme (if necessary) steps and measures to nip that thing (whatever it is that is causing us to sin) in the bud. Jesus wants us to deal with the things that trip us up in terms of sin. If it is porn, alcohol, sex outside of marriage, adultery, theft, lying--whatever that vice or sin is, address it in as radical or extreme a manner as is necessary to eliminate it from your life.

So, there are times when the Bible should be taken literally and other times when it should not. But you need to be born again to know when those instances are that the Bible should be taken literally and when it should be understand allegorically and nothing more. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher and He enables us to understand the Bible. The more we submit to the Holy Spirit, obey God in little things as well as major things, pray to the Father God, and study the Bible, the better our spiritual acumen will become. But as I aforementioned, just because something should be understood metaphorically that does not negate the fact that the import, gist, and significance is merely an allegory and nothing more. There are many things that Jesus spoke in parabolically (i.e. in parables) that have applicative implications as far as our lives are concerned.

Who is the final judge on which parts are literal and which parts are metaphorical?

Example:
As far as claiming that Jesus will comeback (and soon), how can that be taken literally or should be taken literally since it has yet to happen?

Matthew 18:8, you contradict yourself here, you claim that Jesus would not want us to hurt ourselves (the whole Jesus=Love thing), but then go on to say that people should take any steps, even extreme steps to secure their place in heaven. Why shouldn't this be taken literally, it sounds pretty straight forward and to the point? What if the only way for a man to not covet his neighbors wife is by severing his own penis, isn't that a fair trade for eternal life in heaven?
[edited]

Originally posted by Robtard
Who is the final judge on which parts are literal and which parts are metaphorical?

Example:
As far as claiming that Jesus will comeback (and soon), how can that be taken literally or should be taken literally since it has yet to happen?

Robtard, this question makes no sense to me. Question: you are going to die one day correct? But this event has yet to happen right? So, can I safely conclude that one day (i.e. eventually) you are going to literally die? The fact that it has not happened yet is irrelevant and immaterial. So it is with the Jesus Christ catching away His church. It is just as sure to take place as it is sure that you are but one heartbeat away from pushing up daisies.

JIA's method of interpreting the bible.

1. Use big words so people think that you're intellignet (but really, you jsut have a thesaurus shove up your 😖)

2. Interpret the bible literally.

3. Interpret the bible my way.

The best part about this is JIA claims there is only one interpretation of the bible, but you can interpret some passages (those which he simply wnats to change) metaphorically (but only one way).

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Robtard, this question makes no sense to me. Question: you are going to die one day correct? But this event has yet to happen right? So, can I safely conclude that one day (i.e. eventually) you are going to literally die? The fact that it has not happened yet is irrelevant and immaterial. So it is with the Jesus Christ catching away His church. It is just as sure to take place as it is sure that you are but one heartbeat away from pushing up daisies.

1) I am a human
2) All humans die

Now, prove to me in a rational way that Jesus will indeed comeback and this section of the Bible is literal.

I am "one heartbeat away" from dying? Guess what, you're wrong, my heart just beat about 200+ times since you said that. Was that some sort of veiled threat? 🙂

What is a "big" word? Words are all the same to me: just words. Perhaps for some there are big words and little words. It depends on the person whether a word is a "big" word or a little word.

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
What is a "big" word? Words are all the same to me: just words. Perhaps for some there are big words and little words. It depends on the person whether a word is a "big" word or a little word.

You've started using them lately, and often, incorrectly. Its quite noticeable.

Originally posted by Robtard
You have to be joking... Listen, my death is a guarantee which I can rationally prove will happen someday.

1) I am a human
2) All human die

Now, prove to me in a rational way that Jesus will indeed comeback.

Robtard...when are you going to understand that I am not mandated as it were by God to prove anything. You either accept what the Bible says or you don't. But in my estimation, it will be your loss (eternally). Secondly, our initial discussion started out with you asking me an honest question. I gave you an honest reply. This conversation is not going to be another prove-this-prove-that discussion. That is not the point of this thread.

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Robtard...when are you going to understand that I am not mandated as it were by God to prove anything. You either accept what the Bible says or you don't. But in my estimation, it will be your loss (eternally). Secondly, our initial discussion started out with you asking me an honest question. I gave you an honest reply. This conversation is not going to be another prove-this-prove-that discussion. That is not the point of this thread.

Okay then... Who is the final judge on which parts are literal and which parts are metaphorical? Because as you are well aware, the Bible is filled with passages that can be taken equally either way.

Can't this crap go into one of the four hundred bible threads you've already started?

Originally posted by Robtard
Matthew 18:8, you contradict yourself here, you claim that Jesus would not want us to hurt ourselves (the whole Jesus=Love thing), but then go on to say that people should take any steps, even extreme steps to secure their place in heaven. Why shouldn't this be taken literally, it sounds pretty straight forward and to the point? What if the only way for a man to not covet his neighbors wife is by severing his own penis, isn't that a fair trade for eternal life in heaven?
[edited]

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive

The Lord Jesus does not want us to literally injure or harm ourselves or maim any part of our body. Jesus just wants us to know how terrible Hell truly is, so bad that if anything is instrumental in causing us to sin that we should take extreme (if necessary) steps and measures to nip that thing (whatever it is that is causing us to sin) in the bud. Jesus wants us to deal with the things that trip us up in terms of sin. If it is porn, alcohol, sex outside of marriage, adultery, theft, lying--whatever that vice or sin is, address it in as radical or extreme a manner as is necessary to eliminate it from your life.

So, there are times when the Bible should be taken literally and other times when it should not. But you need to be born again to know when those instances are that the Bible should be taken literally and when it should be understand allegorically and nothing more. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher and He enables us to understand the Bible. The more we submit to the Holy Spirit, obey God in little things as well as major things, pray to the Father God, and study the Bible, the better our spiritual acumen will become. But as I aforementioned, just because something should be understood metaphorically that does not negate the fact that the import, gist, and significance is merely an allegory and nothing more. There are many things that Jesus spoke in parabolically (i.e. in parables) that have applicative implications as far as our lives are concerned.

First off Robtard I never said that we should take any steps. Now, the very first thing that I said Regret is that Jesus does not want us to injure, maim, or harm ourselves so this is my premise. I later said things to build on this basis, but understand that everything written thereafter should be understood in light of this premise--everything. So once again you in your ignorance (i.e. lack of knowledge about my M.O.) rushed to judgment stating that I have contradicted myself. Robtard, I have yet to contradict myself. Now, having said all of this it is obvious that your accusation about me contradicting myself is invalid. Jesus does not want anyone to harm themselves in any way to keep from sinning, and no one (not even you Rob.) is so overcome by sin that they have to harm themselves to keep from sinning. That is just asinine. By extreme I do not mean foolish and injurious because that would not be in keeping with the attitude of Jesus (remember, at the outset of my post I said that Jesus does not want us to injure, harm, or maim ourselves). Did I offend you Robtard? Then I apologize for this. So can you finally see what I attempted to convey?

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
First off Robtard I never said that we should take any steps. Now, the very first thing that I said Regret is that Jesus does not want us to injure, maim, or harm ourselves so this is my premise. I later said things to build on this basis, but understand that everything written thereafter should be understood in light of this premise--everything. So once again you in your ignorance (i.e. lack of knowledge about my M.O.) rushed to judgment stating that I have contradicted myself. Robtard, I have yet to contradict myself. Now, having said all of this it is obvious that your accusation about me contradicting myself is invalid. Jesus does not want anyone to harm themselves in any way to keep from sinning, and no one (not even you Rob.) is so overcome by sin that they have to harm themselves to keep from sinning. That is just asinine. By extreme I do not mean foolish and injurious because that would not be in keeping with the attitude of Jesus (remember, at the outset of my post I said that Jesus does not want us to injure, harm, or maim ourselves).

You said:
"that we should take extreme (if necessary) steps" & "address it in as radical or extreme a manner as is necessary to eliminate it from your life"

I guess we have different views of what is "extreme", "radical" and 'necessary"...

Originally posted by Robtard
"that we should take extreme (if necessary) steps" "address it in as radical or extreme a manner as is necessary to eliminate it from your life"

I guess we have different views of what is extreme...

Re-read my post just above this one it is edited.

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Re-read my post just above this one it is edited.

No worries, I wasn't offended.

First you say this:

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
The Holy Spirit is the Teacher

And follow it with:

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Jesus Christ literally died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ is literally going to return to this earth (soon) to catch away (i.e. rapture)

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
when Jesus

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
The Lord Jesus

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Jesus just wants

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Jesus wants us

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
submit to the Holy Spirit,

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
obey God

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Jesus spoke

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
with the Jesus Christ .

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
is that Jesus

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Jesus does not want

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
attitude of Jesus

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
I said that Jesus

If the holy spririt is the teacher, why do YOU talk so much? You must have a really initmate relationship with Jesus to be able to speak for him in all things and in all ways. Me? My relationship with Jesus is purely sexual. So, according to you, Jesus is GOD, and then you follow it with all these human desires you want to ascribe to him.