Can you take the Bible literally? Part 2

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In the previous post I explained that to take the Bible literally means to follow the exact letter or meaning of the words that are used, and suggested that to do so is not an unreasonable proposition. And I introduced the idea that words rarely if ever stand alone. There are placed in a certain order to create phrases, sentences, paragraphs and chapters.


In Matthew 19:24 Jesus says, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." What does it mean to take a passage like this one literally? Since it is physically impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, is Jesus saying that it is impossible for a rich person to go to heaven?

The answer lies in what it means to take things literally.

To take the Bible literally doesn’t mean that we mindlessly read its words. Being literal in interpretation doesn't mean interpreting what is written as though each word were separate from all the other words around it.

Words like, "for a camel to go through the eye of a needle" are grouped together for a reason. And they are to be taken literally-- as literally as the writer intends. Clearly Jesus is using what is called an "idiom", that is, a phrase that is common to the language and which carries a specific meaning. In this case the idiom is one of hyperbole or exageration. Hyperbole is used to emphasize a point.

When one boxer tells another boxer that he is going to "knock him into next week" we know that he does not mean that literally. He is exagerating to make the point that he is a tough guy who intends to win. That is hyperbole.

To express this another way, when we say we are using a "crescent" wrench to perform a certain task, what we really mean is a certain kind of adjustable wrench. You can picture it in your mind, can’t you. But we may not mean that we are literally using a wrench made by the Crescent company at all. The wrench we are using may be made by Sears or Snap-on.

We still call it a crescent wrench because "crescent" has become an idiom that identifies a certain kind of adjustable wrench. This particular kind of idiom is called a metonymy, where the name of a person, or a company in this case, stands for a product, item or action that is identified with it.

So we take Bible passages literally, meaning that we must use the meaning that is meant by the writer, with no right to fabricate our own meaning.

The "eye of a needle"in the Matthew passage above, refers to a small door in the center of the large gate of ancient cities. At night the gate was locked to prevent a surprise attack by an enemy army. The smaller door allowed passage into the city, one person, or one camel at a time. But in order for the camel to come through the door, all the goods on its back and sides had to be removed. Some suggest that the gate was so low that the camel had to crawl in on its knees.

And so it is with a rich person entering into the kingdom of heaven. They must come in humility, like each of us. They must not trust in the goods that they own, but can only enter by "setting them aside," putting their confidence in Christ and Christ alone. That is why it is difficult.

Many who object to taking the Bible literally, do so because they don’t want to submit to the Bible's authority. If they can make the Bible say what they want it to say, they think they can avoid responsibility for doing what the Bible says.

Their pride has them at the eye of the needle refusing to get on their knees before the Lord. Don’t let that happen to you. Trust the Bible. Bet your life on it.

More in the next installment on taking the Bible literally.