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Tour Israel with us – February 20 - March 1, 2006!
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.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Can you take the Bible literally?
Ask The Pastor: How it got started
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Master List of Articles
Tour Israel with us – February 20 - March 1, 2006!
Can you take the Bible literally? is a question that people often wonder about. Some doubt that you can. More often than not, those who doubt that you can take the Bible literally aren’t completely sure how to apply the term "literal" to the Bible.
And if you ask the average doubter which passages shouldn’t be taken in a literal sense, if they are able to point out one or two, rarely will they be able to give you a reason why the passages shouldn’t simply be taken at face value.
So for the next couple of installments I want to explain what it means to take the Bible literally, why taking the Bible literally is a reasonable thing to do, and give a few examples of what taking the Bible literally looks like.
Lets begin with what literal means.
The dictionary says that something is literal when it follows the letter or exact meaning of the words used.
Our overuse and misuse of the word literal has added confusion for the average person as to what it really means. Most of us have heard a sports announcer say something like,
The half-back literally exploded through the line, but was finally tackled by the linebacker.
Of course the announcer is badly mistaken when he says such a thing. The half-back may have exploded through the line in a figurative sense, but he certainly didn’t do so in a literal sense. If he had there would have been nothing left of him!
The announcer is simply trying to add emphasis to his point by using the word literal, but instead is changing the meaning of the word. To be literal means to follow the letter or exact meaning of a word, thus the half-back did not literally explode through the line.
To take the Bible literally means to follow the letter or the exact meaning of the words used. That hardly seems an unreasonable thing to do or to believe, unless one has a bias against the Bible, or unless the Bible is saying something a person doesn’t want to hear. In these cases, I suppose a person might have a good reason for not wanting to believe the plain meaning of a text.
Lets take this a step further. Words rarely stand alone. Their meaning is influenced by other words with which they are connected. In other words the phrases, sentences and paragraphs with which words are connected, influence and in many cases completely determine what a word means.
If I say "John is a razorback," you could logically conclude that John is the name of some one's pet pig. However if I say, "John is a Razorback. He's on the Arkansas football team," you now have a better understanding of what "John is a Razorback" means.
In this instance Razorback is defined as the nickname for the athletes who play sports at the University of Arkansas. We know that because of the context of the words in which Razorback is found. Even capitalizing the word Razorback communicates something because of how the English language is structured.
You get the idea.
We'll stop here for today, but let me give you some words from the Bible and see what your thoughts are as to whether they should be taken literally or not.
In John 14:6 Jesus said,
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.
Nearly all one syllable words. Every one ought to be able to understand them. What do you think they mean? Should they be taken literally? If not, why not? What other meaning could they possibly have?
Ditto for these words from Romans 10:9,
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.?
In this passage I moved us up a little bit to a verse with a few more two syllable words. But are the words confusing? Should they be taken literally? If not why not? What else could they possibily mean than what they appear to mean at face value?
Be honest with yourself. Frankly how you answer the question of "literalness" could determine your eternal condition and destiny. And I mean that literally.
E-mail your questions
Master List of Articles
Tour Israel with us – February 20 - March 1, 2006!
Can you take the Bible literally? is a question that people often wonder about. Some doubt that you can. More often than not, those who doubt that you can take the Bible literally aren’t completely sure how to apply the term "literal" to the Bible.
And if you ask the average doubter which passages shouldn’t be taken in a literal sense, if they are able to point out one or two, rarely will they be able to give you a reason why the passages shouldn’t simply be taken at face value.
So for the next couple of installments I want to explain what it means to take the Bible literally, why taking the Bible literally is a reasonable thing to do, and give a few examples of what taking the Bible literally looks like.
Lets begin with what literal means.
The dictionary says that something is literal when it follows the letter or exact meaning of the words used.
Our overuse and misuse of the word literal has added confusion for the average person as to what it really means. Most of us have heard a sports announcer say something like,
The half-back literally exploded through the line, but was finally tackled by the linebacker.
Of course the announcer is badly mistaken when he says such a thing. The half-back may have exploded through the line in a figurative sense, but he certainly didn’t do so in a literal sense. If he had there would have been nothing left of him!
The announcer is simply trying to add emphasis to his point by using the word literal, but instead is changing the meaning of the word. To be literal means to follow the letter or exact meaning of a word, thus the half-back did not literally explode through the line.
To take the Bible literally means to follow the letter or the exact meaning of the words used. That hardly seems an unreasonable thing to do or to believe, unless one has a bias against the Bible, or unless the Bible is saying something a person doesn’t want to hear. In these cases, I suppose a person might have a good reason for not wanting to believe the plain meaning of a text.
Lets take this a step further. Words rarely stand alone. Their meaning is influenced by other words with which they are connected. In other words the phrases, sentences and paragraphs with which words are connected, influence and in many cases completely determine what a word means.
If I say "John is a razorback," you could logically conclude that John is the name of some one's pet pig. However if I say, "John is a Razorback. He's on the Arkansas football team," you now have a better understanding of what "John is a Razorback" means.
In this instance Razorback is defined as the nickname for the athletes who play sports at the University of Arkansas. We know that because of the context of the words in which Razorback is found. Even capitalizing the word Razorback communicates something because of how the English language is structured.
You get the idea.
We'll stop here for today, but let me give you some words from the Bible and see what your thoughts are as to whether they should be taken literally or not.
In John 14:6 Jesus said,
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.
Nearly all one syllable words. Every one ought to be able to understand them. What do you think they mean? Should they be taken literally? If not, why not? What other meaning could they possibly have?
Ditto for these words from Romans 10:9,
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.?
In this passage I moved us up a little bit to a verse with a few more two syllable words. But are the words confusing? Should they be taken literally? If not why not? What else could they possibily mean than what they appear to mean at face value?
Be honest with yourself. Frankly how you answer the question of "literalness" could determine your eternal condition and destiny. And I mean that literally.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Just back from Trinity Western Graduation weekend, sorry for the absence
Sorry about the break from posting the last few days.
My wife and I just arrived home late yesterday from being at Trinity Western University graduation weekend and Board of Governors meetings in British Columbia, Canada.
What a great time it was! 525 grads, our largest ever from TWU and another 65 from the seminary (ACTS).
Sometime when I get a moment I'll perhaps share some of the stories we heard from students on how God has been working in their lives, and from our graduation speakers, John Cherrington, Lorna Dueck and Dr. Gary Inrig. (Both John Cherrington and Lorna Dueck were granted honorary doctorates for their work.)
In between the more serious things, we were able to drive to Whistler, B.C. where some Olympic events will be held in 2010. Took a ride up to the top on a gondola, saw some bears on the way up, met a lovely German couple who was sight seeing. Basically had a great time.
Short on time this morning, so will have to head out. I'll get caught up more later.
Gordon
My wife and I just arrived home late yesterday from being at Trinity Western University graduation weekend and Board of Governors meetings in British Columbia, Canada.
What a great time it was! 525 grads, our largest ever from TWU and another 65 from the seminary (ACTS).
Sometime when I get a moment I'll perhaps share some of the stories we heard from students on how God has been working in their lives, and from our graduation speakers, John Cherrington, Lorna Dueck and Dr. Gary Inrig. (Both John Cherrington and Lorna Dueck were granted honorary doctorates for their work.)
In between the more serious things, we were able to drive to Whistler, B.C. where some Olympic events will be held in 2010. Took a ride up to the top on a gondola, saw some bears on the way up, met a lovely German couple who was sight seeing. Basically had a great time.
Short on time this morning, so will have to head out. I'll get caught up more later.
Gordon
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