Originally posted by inimalist
what standard do you use to determine literal truth from metaphor in the bible?
Also, Job 26:7 says that the Earth hangs upon nothing. We can see that the statement of pillars is metaphorical because it would otherwise contradict this statement. There is no real metaphorical way to interpret "nothing," though.
Originally posted by FeceMan
Well, for one thing, we know the Earth isn't suspended on pillars, and we know that the Earth doesn't literally have corners. The Earth does, however, have four cardinal directions.Also, Job 26:7 says that the Earth hangs upon nothing. We can see that the statement of pillars is metaphorical because it would otherwise contradict this statement. There is no real metaphorical way to interpret "nothing," though.
ok, thats fair
are there parts of the bible that you think are literal fact?
Originally posted by inimalist
ok, thats fairare there parts of the bible that you think are literal fact?
...Oh, you wanted to know what parts? Well, let's see. I believe that Genesis accurately describes the creation of the Earth. I believe in Adam and Eve. I believe in Noah and the Flood and the Nephilim and Anakim. I believe in Job and Elisha and Elijah and Nehemiah and Moses and the Exodus and the ten plagues on Egypt and that the Law was communicated to us by angels. Speaking of angels, I believe in those. I believe in demons and spiritual warfare. I believe in the prophesies of Isaiah. I believe that Christ's birth was predicted and fulfilled. I believe that Jesus came and worked miracles and died upon the cross to save us all. I believe that Christ rose again after three days and ascended into heaven. I believe that Revelation accurately describes the end of the world. I believe that there is one way and one way only into heaven, that other deities are false, that non-Christians are deceived, that there is one God who is the creator of the universe and all things seen and unseen.
Originally posted by FeceMan
Yes....Oh, you wanted to know what parts? Well, let's see. I believe that Genesis accurately describes the creation of the Earth. I believe in Adam and Eve. I believe in Noah and the Flood and the Nephilim and Anakim. I believe in Job and Elisha and Elijah and Nehemiah and Moses and the Exodus and the ten plagues on Egypt and that the Law was communicated to us by angels. Speaking of angels, I believe in those. I believe in demons and spiritual warfare. I believe in the prophesies of Isaiah. I believe that Christ's birth was predicted and fulfilled. I believe that Jesus came and worked miracles and died upon the cross to save us all. I believe that Christ rose again after three days and ascended into heaven. I believe that Revelation accurately describes the end of the world. I believe that there is one way and one way only into heaven, that other deities are false, that non-Christians are deceived, that there is one God who is the creator of the universe and all things seen and unseen.
😆
Originally posted by FeceMan
Yes....Oh, you wanted to know what parts? Well, let's see. I believe that Genesis accurately describes the creation of the Earth. I believe in Adam and Eve. I believe in Noah and the Flood and the Nephilim and Anakim. I believe in Job and Elisha and Elijah and Nehemiah and Moses and the Exodus and the ten plagues on Egypt and that the Law was communicated to us by angels. Speaking of angels, I believe in those. I believe in demons and spiritual warfare. I believe in the prophesies of Isaiah. I believe that Christ's birth was predicted and fulfilled. I believe that Jesus came and worked miracles and died upon the cross to save us all. I believe that Christ rose again after three days and ascended into heaven. I believe that Revelation accurately describes the end of the world. I believe that there is one way and one way only into heaven, that other deities are false, that non-Christians are deceived, that there is one God who is the creator of the universe and all things seen and unseen.
I'm not entirely interested in what parts you think are true.
However, I am interested in what you use to determine that these parts are literally true as opposed to the parts that are metaphorically true?
Is there a specific part of the Bible that says what is true vs what is a metaphor?
Originally posted by inimalist
I'm not entirely interested in what parts you think are true.
However, I am interested in what you use to determine that these parts are literally true as opposed to the parts that are metaphorically true?
Originally posted by FeceMan
Those are the parts I think are literal.In order to determine what is metaphorical and what is true, one must determine the context. For instance, I know a lot of Revelation is metaphorical because there is heavy symbolism that would be recognized by people during that time period. Similarly, some parts of the Psalms are figurative language, as they are music/poetry. For instance, in Psalm 135, it speaks of God bringing out winds from "his treasuries." Now, we know that God doesn't actually have a treasury filled with wind (although that'd be...interesting nonetheless), and we recognize the metaphorical nature of the verse.
wow
i disagree 100%, but that is a pretty good answer 🙂
danke
EDIT: Disagree is probably the wrong term. I don't necessarily disagree with anything you have said in principal, just that I look at the entire book in a different way than you. Thats a totally respectable position though, way more progressive than some.