Should You Take the Bible Literally?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- Often, Christians are accused of being "literalists" if they believe in the supernatural events of the Bible, and take Jesus and the Apostles at their word. What does it mean to read the Bible literally?
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In the book of Matthew, Jesus had to explain to his disciples a lot of his parables. Therefor u shouldn’t take every sentence exactly as its read. The context matters
yes, it's very important to know that when the bible tells you soemthing, it may be true or false, depending on how you feel that day.
@@HarryNicNicholas The Bible is always truth - YOUR feelings may make YOU false - but the Words of the Lord in Heaven speaks only truth. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth,
making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it." (Isaiah 55:8). All praises to the most high God. Hallelujah King Jesus!
@@SimonWoodburyForget Good question. Because the Holy Bible is God-breathed. It is the Word of God and God cannot lie. He only speaks the truth.
@@SimonWoodburyForget Oh boy. You are certainly lost. I will pray for you.
@@SimonWoodburyForget You're pride and self-righteousness will be your downfall. I already explained to you that if you are attempting to provoke or test God - you will not see Him or know Him. Atheists don't know God because they made a decision to reject Him - that's on them. And I know you are lost because you can't even understand basic Biblical stories - you've been veiled. Not too mention that your personality is aggressive, condescending, and full of mockery and disgust, and that tells me your heart has turned cold. I feel pity for you and I hope you can humble yourself enough to learn the truth one day, but that is entirely up to you and time is running out. In closing, I look forward to reading your "final dig" and rude remarks to come because I know how important it is for the unsaved to feel as through they are smarter and more superior than "lowly Christians". And don't worry, I wont respond. You can have all the narcissistic supply you need without any interference from me. Good luck, Simon.
People take everything seriously BUT the Bible. They LITERALLY believe every worldly thing they hear and are told.
Only what’s learned from Google or Facebook. That stuff is always verified fact!!
There is a old saying..
Pagans will be pagans… Therefore why would the pagan believe what the Bible says..
I’ll take it one step further.. A question for you.. that I hope you will answer. Jesus said no ole knows the day or the hour of His 2nd appearing… but the time frame.. He let them know.. My question to you is.. When is the time frame that Jesus let them know.. and will you believe what the Bible says..
please post chapter and verses..
I’m betting you don’t know, and if and when you do find it.. you will find a way to not believe it.
@@STW-News-Headlines when the fig tree and other trees will come out in leaves...
Luke 21.29
@@nevin8604
That isn’t what the passage says. His second coming the timing of it isn’t going to be when the fig tree and the other trees when their leaves fall off. He’s giving that as an example of how they know that summer is near. They know Summers coming because the leaves on the trees start to bud. You have to go to the verses before hand 25 up to 28. Man’s heart began falling from fear. There will be signs in the sun in the moon and the stars i.e. judgment language. War language as well member this is ancient language. And then he says in verse 27 then they will see the Son of Man coming on clouds i.e. judgment. Clouds is a metaphor for judgment. Storm clouds in the ancient world they thought that was God‘s judgment. Piggyback language of the day Jesus and the Old Testament came on clouds a lot and that followed with judgment. Jesus is coming to judge Judah. Then he says to the disciples when you see these things and all the other things from the entire chapter up to this when the disciples. See these things he says them lift up because their redemption draws near it is closed. That is a sign of his coming and he gives the example of when People see the leaves growing on the trees they know summers near all those other signs that Jesus said when you see them his second appearing is near. This is a parable and he’s using the fig tree and other trees as an example of when they know summers near just like everything that he said in chapter 21 his events that will happen that his disciples know that he’s coming is near. So this is an example of some thing that someone needs to look out and see when he’s coming he’s near because leaves fall off trees all the time.
My whole point of my question is Jesus gave the timeframe for his second coming and that was the first century and the disciples knew it that’s why he gave the signs for them but instruction of Jerusalem verse 20 but when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then know that it’s desolation is near verse 22 for these are days of vengeance. And then after those things happen the destruction of Jerusalem and they will be signs in the heavens they will see the Scott Ming of the son of man on clouds. Judgment language the pool in my question was Jesus set the time frame for his second coming and it was the first century Before that generation past and there are many others examples Revelation 20 to Jesus says I’m coming quickly three times Hebrews 10 says in a very little while the coming one will come in will not Tarry will not delay.
That’s why I set forth this example of today’s Christians will deny that she’s a second coming happened in the first century it will try to put it in our future.
@@STW-News-Headlines i didn't say fig tree is literal, i know it's symbolic.
And all other things you said are also right, probably.
But, when Jesus said this parable, it's not about 1 century. Because the fig tree (Israel) has not seen summer yet. The fig tree gets leaves in the summer, in other words it flourishes. Israel didn't flourish in 1st century. There will be a time when Israel will truly flourish. They got their country back, now they have to flourish, they are flourishing. And then Jesus will come.
Also when Jesus says the time is near doesn't mean it's going to happen in 3 days or 100 years or 1000 years, it means more than that, because for God, one is like 1000. His coming is very near but not in the way of just 1 century.
Excellent video! Thank you, Alisa!
Some texts are literal, some prophetic, some metaphorical, and some allegorical. We need to read the scriptures in CONTEXT
I agree. We can't just pick a verse out if the Bible and try to work around it. We need to read that chapter or book start to finish and then we can see what it truly means. Sometimes we have to read things multiple times to get a better understanding of it.
@@DS-zo8xs what are you to do then, cos unless you have alissa next to you at all times, you have NO IDEA what the bible is saying to you.
@@HarryNicNicholas I guess I'm not sure what you mean by having Alissa next to me at all time. From personal experience, I began to read the Bible for myself and I understand it. I wanted to read it and then compare what I obtained, to what others got from it.
Well put, brother Dave. And some are commands, not suggestions, though no one is forcing anybody to anything they don't wanna do. No Calvinism now.
@@DS-zo8xs Yes, and you often discover common grounds!
“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest it result in nonsense.”
Love it 👍🏼
@@lionoffireministries I found the source of the full quote.
“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.”-Dr. David L. Cooper (1886-1965),
founder of The Biblical Research Society
@@hwd7171
And that is exactly how Christianity of today took a crazy wrong turn. From the school of moody, Schofield and John Nelson Derby. People of today don’t recognize Hebrew items when they read them in the Bible. They don’t recognize historical context within the text that need to be known in order to really know what’s going on. People just read it as if it was written to them and understand the words as we use them today. And that is the problem people. Let’s take the perfect example in revelation the mother of all harlots Babylon. No one today knows what a harlot is. We translate that term into what we think it means today. But what it meant to them 2000 years ago it’s not what it means today. A harlot is a wife who goes outside of her marriage. There was only one people married to God. I love it I left hysterically when I hear people say the Catholic Church is the harlot. LOL I’m gonna call Jesus when I called this generation a blind and deaf generation. The mother of all harlots and revelation is Israel. Israel stepped out and sought other gods Israel played the harlot. Revelation is judgment on Israel. Mainly the southern kingdom of Judah member got divorced the northern kingdom second Kings chapter 17 because of harlotry. Open up your eyes Christiania today learn Hebrew items studied the culture and history of the day from when the book was written. Bible is it literal because they didn’t speak a literal style of language. Hebrews in the ancient spoke picture language. Metaphorical descriptive. They thought the complete opposite of how we think and that is why today’s Christianity and all of its doctrine is false and not in the Bible
@@STW-News-Headlines that's not a harlot. That's an adulteress. Everyone knows what a harlot is.
@@AnglicanOrangutan
Is one in the same in the Hebrew language..
Hosea was told to take a wife of Harlotry..
just like Israel.. played the Harlot.. Israel was married to God.
In today’s language we definite it differently.. but we must define the words in the Bible or how they used them .. not us.
Thank you for this Alisa. It has set me up for the day.
Thank you Alisa, great video, love from the UK, God bless.
Fantastic episode. Thank you for your ministry.
Reading the Bible responsibly and respectfully today means learning what it meant for ancient Israelites to talk about God the way they did, and not pushing alien expectations onto texts written long ago and far away.
agreed, the bible should be translated back to whatever languages it originated with and everyone should learn those languages. in fact you should all move to bethlehem.
I agree 100%. The problem is everybody who reads the Bible says that, but when it comes to actually interpreting it they define the words by what it means to them in our 21st-century era. There are many items that are unrecognizable to today’s Christian readers because they just don’t know the language or the culture. They’re instants Jesus says give with a good eye not with a evil eye. Very few can tell me what this item means. The Bible is full of pitch in language because that was the language of the ancient. Today we don’t speak as they spoke nor do we understand and think about the world around us like they did. Today’s Christianity is a big mess. That is on the cusp of crashing and burning. They read the word demon and without any internal evidence automatically assume it’s some mythical fallen angel that joined Satan this chief angel and try to rebel against God. LOL crash and burn Christianity but it will be rebuilt as to what it originally was. And that is new covenant life.
This was explained beautifully, sister! Sharing this with friends & family! God bless you!
Great Video. Thank you, Alisa.
This was a very helpful video, Alisa! I will have to check out more of your work! :)
Thank you. Great explanation and analysis. God bless.
Great explanation Alisa!
Someone said in answer to that questions
“We should take the Bible seriously”
Love it!!
There are different literary styles of course, but it is all to be read in context and with original intent!
Yes. Accepting the Bible's literal meaning is no license to ignore metaphor or context. God gave us a brain and expects us to use it. I believe the Bible is true in every literal sense and also at every metaphorical level conceivable. Many truths are hidden and available to those guided by the holy spirit. It's multi-layered, a miracle in and of itself. God's message to humanity is perfect. God Bless.
Context is another big one that even Christians miss. IMO that's inexcusable, if we're committed to being disciples of Christ. It's hard to follow Him if we don't understand what He's saying. I'm like, "if you quote the verse, also mention the context."
The Bible isn’t a easy read.. it’s ancient. It’s Hebrew.. and there’s many idioms that we don’t recognize.. there’s a ton of history that goes along with the Bible that we don’t know.. and the greatest of all.. MANY MISTRANSLATIONS.. that we don’t know that are misleading and lead to false under.. like the very first verse of the Bible.. (the entire chapter for that matter) the creation account is the perfect example of today’s IGNORANCE..
it’s a literary stumbling block with 21st century people.. it’s not literal.. not meant to be literal..
but.. today’s Christian reads it that way.. with most of the Bible cause they don’t recognize ancient writing style.. and the genre from which it is written in.
and every Christians says the same thing and only means that they want everyone to read it like they do. hilarious to see such lies of "original intent".
@@dctrbrass absolutely. Disappointing that so many use personal interpretation
I was just teaching on this Sunday night. Thanks so much.
Brava!!! What a wordsmith. Congrats on your linguistic prowess. Thank you. Complex yet clear.
Thanks Alisa for an understandable explanation of the basics of the Bible & what to understand as literal beliefs in the Bible.
Great info
Thanks, Alisa, for explaining the issue so clearly and comprehensively.
@Excuse me but Well, among other things, why it is easy to make the mistake of lifting a verse from the Bible and read it in isolation, without understanding the context.
Wow, the presentation/explanation spoke my mind and understanding that I couldn’t clearly express. Thank you….January 2023❤️
Thank you for your Bible knowledge..May, This site be used to reach those who are lost..Blees you and your family..
nicely explained!
Learning how to put scripture into context.
Great explanation
Marvelous....Thank You. You had Me worried at first. I thought "oh no....not Alisa" whew!
Fun video; nice work :) Thank you for spreading this very much-needed knowledge. We have to learn to study properly, so that we can combat the mess of ignorance from unbelieving people who don't understand what they're reading. Never be guilty of pushing ignorance as "knowledge."
The only thing that I would add is a focus on the Koine Greek or Hebrew. I don't 100% trust any translation, so I always keep the original language handy. One of my major goals is to truly understand what is being said. If you want to follow Christ, put in the serious work, to make sure that you understand what you're reading.
This was phenomenal!
@Abedin Durakovic Everything is possible with God and many ancient civilizations talked about a great flood without knowing the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Thank you very much. God bless you all.
Thanks!
Off topic, but I've been wanting to say this for a long time: I love your hair, Alisa!
Please Alisa, could you do a video about the living word vs. the written word? Thank you, love your channel.
This was a beautiful explanation.
Great clarification
Excelente video! Me encanta estudiar la Biblia.
praise the Lord and God bless you
Well stated Alisa!
Literally as in according to its literary form. Read metaphor as metaphor, didactic prose as didactic prose, historical narrative as historical narrative, apocalyptic literature as apocalyptic literature poetry as poetry, proverbial as proverbial...
Whoever doesn't believe that Jesus Christ literally resurrected, that person isn't a Christian. Simple as that, not all stories in the Bible are written in the same way but if you don't believe in God's Word, you're not a Christian.
No, the principle of "plain meaning" is bad hermeneutics. It causes you to read a post-scientific perspective INTO the ancient near east context that you don't realize you're doing.
A better hermeneutical approach is to get the "ancient Israelite living in your head" (Dr. Michael Heiser) through hard study of the authors' original historical and cultural contexts (to the best of our ability).
Words and phrases that seem clear to us sometimes mean completely different things in a different context. For example: a "bonnet" in America vs Australia - both are English speaking counties in the same time period but the word's geographic context changes the meaning.
Read John W. Hilber's "Old Testament Cosmology and Divine Accommodation: A Relevance Theory Approach" to get a great understanding.
I think in her view she equates common sense with literal. But don’t know. It was unclear to me. She tried to cover too much.
@@Erdos777 I quit listening at her point on plain meaning.
Her intentions are admirable and the "plain meaning" strategy is extremely prevalent outside scholarly circles. I was taught it growing up and thought it made the most sense to faithfully interpret the Bible.
However, once I came across a couple Old Testament scholars (Dr. Michael Heiser and Dr. John Walton) who explained the ancient Israelite context and how understanding it changes how we interpret many passages, I could never go back. It just seems so obvious that the proper context for anything written is the original author's context(s).
One reason we are fooled by a "plain meaning" approach is that many times it is sufficient. The problem is that often, you won't be able to recognize when it isn't. E.g. a New Testament author like John will quote a word or phrase from the Old Testament but not explicitly signal that's what he's doing. Revelation is FULL of Old Testament references.
Still, you have to start somewhere so plain meaning is an ok first step. It just should be explained that sometimes the plain meaning will fail in unexpected ways in seemingly clear passages (non-symbolic/non-metaphorical) due to time, geography, culture, and shared mental framework (e.g. "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" can be assumed knowledge in the United States - it doesn't have to be explicitly stated to assume understanding.)
@@philosophyze And Moses Maimonides has yet another position.
Heiser is too mystical
Well, excellent point, but Heiser's on a whole nutha level.
Context literally answers this question. People need to read in context. That's why a verse at a time is not the best way to read the Bible all the time. You lose so much meaning and truth that way.
Ray Stedman was one of the great Bible teachers in the 20th century and he advised all the ways you can read/ study are applicable. Read the whole book/chapter…my advice? Read thru the book/chapter, keep a pen or pencil handy and keep reading. That’s the main thing. Read and study every day. Dr. Hugh Ross said it’s funny how people will read a 700 page book in a week and the Bible in a year. Stay hungry and stay blessed.
Alisa, a great book on this topic is, "The Lost World of Scripture", by John Walton and Brent Sandy. Not an easy read but supportive of your perspective!
Well said well-reasoned
I love how you pointed out that the Bible is many books combined and that they are all different genres. Your description of how the word literal changes based on what you are reading or what is commonly suggested was so easily understood and I am very grateful for this video you put out. Thank you 😊
Why would a god write books in multiple genres and risk them being misunderstood?
@@senorpoopEhead Please consider the phrase, "...a strong delusion, that they would believe a lie?" That's in the NT!
You mean, it's in the King James version of the Bible, right @@steevrush?
"...a working of error, that they should believe a lie" American Standard version.
"...a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie" God's Word version.
"...allow them to believe lies with all their hearts" Living Bible version.
"...a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false" New American Standard version.
And all five say that your omnibenevolent god will do this to people and then punish them for it. So very benevolent of him.
@@senorpoopEhead No sir, Gen'l? I dk what version you prefer, i like the niv and Amp?
@@senorpoopEhead Because God didnt wrote anything, the bible says that people inspired by god wrote it, humans did..
I need a mentor like Alisa in my life!! Until God answers my prayer I will glean what I can from her content. 😁
i can help you out there, $80 an hour and i'll tell you whatever you want to hear - for instance i'm sure you'll be going to heaven.
Amen Alisa, we’re not called to condemn the world let alone believers.
John 3:17-18
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Just don't confuse rebuke with condemnation.
@@zeh_raiz Amen Jesus's point exactly.
John 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness."
maybe you can explain to me how an immortal can die? cos dead means dead permanently, not dead part time. and as god is immortal it's a bit of a confidence trick to say "he gave his life for us" cos all he did was play dead then disappear. cos either your mortal, and you die, in which case you're not exactly god, or you're immortal and you can't die, so hanging from a cross moaning about being forsaken is a lie. how can an immortal die, how can a dead person be immortal?
@@HarryNicNicholas
Dude He's God Almighty. (All Omni)
Luke 18:27
"Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
@@HarryNicNicholas Where in the BIble says that god is immortal?
I am reading the Old Testament and needed to see this… there is much of it already that has me thinking “ this must be a mix of allegory, metaphors and parable”
This is so helpful. She just summarized stuff that took me almost a decade to learn. Thank you, Alisa.
Amen excellent word glory to Father God.
Very Good
I have long said I take the Bible literally, and so many well meaning Christians say stuff like Jesus isn’t really a door. I’m like yes, he’s the literal entry way to heaven....
@LouisT That is the Old Covenant and though it’s good morals that is history of a people that God had a Covenant with, specifically them. Jesus was a Nazarite Priest. They didn’t have what is called “rabbi.” We as Christians follow Jesus not law. Jesus came and fulfilled the law. We should have the desire in our hearts to do good and not evil. Otherwise it’s the wrong spirit.
@LouisT not in the sense that you are referring. Yes Jesus was called Rabbi teacher but you are referring to the priesthood. Your words are clearly posted above. As Christians we are not bound by Torah (Law). We are bound by Christ and Anchored in that way. We were grafted in through marriage. This is why Jesus was a Priest through the Order of Melchizedek. If you are still clinging to the idea that the law will save you then you should re-examine your beliefs of Christ. Simply put all things are lawful for me, just not all things are beneficial.
@LouisT I’ve claimed no new revelation. You are trying to work your way to heaven. Do not come to my comment and troll me thanks. It’s more than law, and what passage would that be. I didn’t throw any blessing your way....
@LouisT You do not know what you are talking about. If you are speaking about the Torah I am not a Jew. I do not hold to the Old Covenant. God did not make that Covenant with me. If you do not know your Bible beyond the first five books I suggest you sit down. The Holy Bible is not the same as the Torah, though it contains the Torah. I don’t take kindly to trolls. Once more I will block you. I’ve started to and even you deserve to know the love of Christ. I am trying to be kind because apparently you don’t know who Jesus is.
This is why I need assistance in interpreting Scripture.
where you gonna go then?
i can make stuff up and charge you $80 an hour if you want, but it'll be mostly sarcasm cos religion is silly.
Well said, brother Gene. Living up to your name. Well made in Heaven.
Well done! I great book for further explanation is How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur.
The more we grow in spiritual wisdom & scriptural understanding & take a good look & understand the intended audience, historical & textual context etc, as well as all the different language used whether Old Test & New Test coming judgement "prophetic", apocalyptic, symbolic, metaphoric, hyperbole, typology, poetic etc & even literal where obvious, the whole of scripture comes together, The Old & New shine light on eachother & as believers we have the light of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth
Well said. So long as we do what it says.
You should take "Literarilly," that is as a work of non-fiction literature, with bits of fiction within, that is allegorical and symbolic elements, taking it literally and figuratively as necessary, with the Spirit guiding you. And then, once you know enough, you should take it like a "two-edged sword" that kills both your enemy and yourself. And then, once you know enough, you should take it like a gold-mine of promises.
We should study the bible in the way the author intended ( both the Holy Spirit and the human authors)
you might have to ask god then eh.
@@HarryNicNicholas yes Harry I see you on many of these comments, you are starting to search it is there. You can talk to God. Ask Him to reveal Himself and He will.
Interesting.
Amen!
Many people like the NASB translation, or the NEW King James or the CSB.
But whatever happened ?-- to Bible translations such as: (in no particular order):
J. B. Phillips
Moffatt's translation
Goodspeed's
the Weymouth translation ?
.... In the 60's and 70's, besides just the King James or Revised standard version, many people used one of the above, and apparantly folks were much less shy about doing so than people would be today. Any ideas? Whatever happened to those translations? Concordance's. too. Today, Strong's concordance appears to have a near-monopoly on all-things-concordance. Whatever happened to:
YOUNG's Analytical Concordance?
Believers take God literally.
John 1:1-3
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made."
Lisa Lisa and the Cult Machine.
@@ManningMusic1
The world is a cult, renew your mind.
Romans 12:2
I appreciate what you're saying here, but the issue is that you're still interpreting the Bible (what's literal, what's metaphorical, etc) in a way that makes sense to YOU, with all your own unintentional biases, preconceived notions, etc. Someone else (especially someone who lived 2000 years ago) would likely interpret it differently. This is why there's thousands of different denominations in Christianity.
no there's thousands of denominations cos christians don't like christianity. they make up the god they want, then make a religion to fit and use christ as a masthead. it's all hypocrisy. this is why you have apologists, it's not remotely about jesus anymore, it's about winning arguments, influencing politics and trying to bring back stoning of minorities.
@@HarryNicNicholas Jesus is in none of that friend. Throw out what anyone says and read what the Bible says. Please look to it’s original form and what the Romans did from 70 ad on. You are missing a lot of the story within and without the Bible.
There are no thousands of different denominations in Christianity only in Protestantism.
@@danpan001 Help me understand -- Protestantism is a subset of Christianity, so wouldn't your comment mean that there are even MORE denominations in Christianity if there are thousands in Protestantism alone?
@@danpan001 The Ethiopian Orthodox is the oldest living Christian church. The only ones that fought Rome and won. There are other denominations like Orthodox that have other denominations. Protestants are Protesting the Roman Catholic Authority. What strikes me as off are those that claim to be of a Protestant denomination and claim to only read the original KJV. When in fact they don’t even mean the original. Even then, you are submitting to King James, a Roman Authority. And while we are at it what are Protestants protesting? We didn’t take our scripture back, and we brought all that false doctrine with us. Reformation? What did we reform? The world talks about reformation. Maybe it’s time the church actually lived the Bible instead of beating people with it all the time. So many are concerned about theology never even take the time to study how they received the Bible in the first place. Why make scripture illegal from like 70 ad until 1611? What was so dangerous? Do you think may attribute to why we no longer see spiritual gifts? I suspect we never reformed at all, just changed churches.
What's more revealing of one's character; their words or their actions?
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," and "the tongue is the rudder of a great ship." So mouth leads to actions, and is even more revealing.
@@duncescotus2342 so words are more revealing then?
2Co 1:13 For we write you nothing else but simply what you can read and understand [there is no double meaning to what we say], and I hope that you will become thoroughly acquainted [with divine things] and know and understand [them] accurately and well to the end,
This' a tricky question, the only way to answer it is first to know the text itself in question. This because the bible is not 1) a human book 2) a work of any single human agent - but several different men and women spanning several centuries in a most literal timeframe *see what I did there?* conservatively or liberally as you my reader may prefer?
~7:50 I’ve been thinking lately, especially given how a lot of Christians love to challenge unbelievers with how they cannot account for the uniformity of nature. Given this part of the video, this points a big obvious problem that I can’t seem to see how the Christian can wriggle out of, if not even not a more terrifying position that there isn’t the uniformity of nature. God could and has suspended the natural order of things to do as he sees fit. One can never be 100% certain that something fundamentally earth shattering could befall us or you as an individual.
Oh and I also love the irony with the quote mentioned around “making water out of nothing”. Again given the often persnickety way evolution/Big Bang (both mischaracterized of course) is hand-waved away “oh, you think something can come from nothing.” This slip up, in my judgement, just show that we all really have no actual clue yet how to talk about what was before time because it’s a seemingly incoherent concept. But of course one is free to appeal to mystery…
The only reason early scientists decided to trust that nature had laws governing it was because God is lawful. We see a lot of laws in the Bible for how we should act, so they searched for laws that God had set up for how the natural world should act. God is not required to follow these laws, since He is not a physical being. He can break them when He wishes, but He wants us to know what they are, so He does not. The Greeks believed you never step in the same river twice, meaning the world is too chaotic to understand. That's why they focused on philosophy instead of science.
@@dahelmang - yeah. This is called post hoc reasoning. Sure it fits you god narrative. Yeah my guy made rule and when stuff doesn’t comport with the rules is cause… mystery or because. It’s like the grade school version of “force field, I’m not out”.
@@ardbegthequestion so what makes you think the universe follows consistent rules? Without God we have no certainty that we can understand the universe around us.
@@dahelmang - every second of my existence thus far has continued to provide me with increasing evidence that the “laws of nature” hold. Squeezing a god/gods into the equation have only muddled explanations and usually are fraught with violent disagreements about what these deities want or more accurately what people make up that they want.
Certainty is for the religious. Probability is for those who are open to updating beliefs based upon good reasons/explanations.
@@ardbegthequestion judging the world bases on your experience is the basis of postmodernism. You have no way of knowing if your experience is the same as someone else's, so you have no basis for objective truth.
I believe it’s clear about sin. Willful sin is not ok. God gives us over to a reprobate mind if we keep sinning. Only God can save us and we have to want it. It’s supernatural. It’s not secular AT ALL and never should be. When you get saved it’s supernatural and God literally works your heart. Humble yourself and you will be exalted.
Oh... losing humanity podcast actually said that recently about the plain sense making sense. Exact quote actually
Yes
Abraham in modern day society would be considered legend. The way that he got away with premeditated attempted murder on his son is legendary. Not only was he not held accountable, he was praised and glorified for his actions. LEGEND!
I now answer the question “Do you take The Bible literally?” with, “I read and interpret The Bible LITERARILY”. The Bible is made up of 66 books and even those books, themselves, do not stick to only one genre (like the Torah being both Narrative and Law).
I love it, brother David. I said the exact same thing! But I spelled it with two ls at the end. I figured it was like "esoterically" instead of "customarily" but who am I to say?
Bible basic instructions before leaving earth and less you want to be cursed
Some passages but not the whole Bible. You have to divide the Bible into three parts.
You have the old covenant, the new covenant, and the period between those two when Jesus lived on Earth. To interpret the Bible correctly, you have to read the Bible through the lens of the cross under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What you will forgive and what Prophets or Saints do fulfill the Law. Ask him to prove faithful followers. What you will forgive love of your neighbors house. Reverse Curse of your own house. Who forgave you first. He said he forgives what you do. It is covered under the blood. You know that. Always forgiveness for your souls. Fulfilled the law redemption of mine.
I'm reading the Bible from a to z for the first time and I'm currently at Ezekiel's book. Was him not allowed to mourn his deceased wifed a literal command from the Lord? This part of the Book is quite heartbreaking actually.
Same. I'm reading the Bible through for the first time. I haven't reached Ezekiel yet. Still in 1 Samuel. But if God did not allow Ezekiel to mourn, it won't be the first time He doesn't allow someone to mourn someone else's death. Like when Aaron's 2 sons died and He asked that their bodies be taken away and they continued the ritual. I felt that too for Aaron, especially when he seemed he might lose his next two sons and himself too (i think don't remember exactly here, but they made a mistake not eating the offering and Moses asked why they didn't)
Yes, it was. It was supposed to be indicative of how the people back in Jerusalem would have no time to mourn for the loss of their land and city. I find it to be a highly problematic passage for sure. I don’t personally think the Biblical deity represents what God really is by any means. Blessed and truly good beings do not play emotional games with their closest people, if we understand God in that way. There are plenty of studies that show the psychological effects of suppressing natural emotions. I am glad you pointed this little-known anecdote out.
@@strangerinmoscow6858 Yes, that is a very troubling scene. Also in 2 Samuel alone there are two separate times that even David calls out God’s seemingly disproportionate justice-first, in the case of Uzzah trying to save the ark from falling ans in the affair with the census where God kills 70,000 people of Israel with a plague for essentially David’s mistake. Also, it suggests very eerily that God can cause people to sin so that he has a pretext for punishing. It’s horrifying. And yet so many contemporary Christians try to tell myself and others that this god wants a relationship with us? What Devil whispers into their ears?
@@keatsiannightingale2025 I have read about the 70,000 people of Israel. Ik the story. I may not have read the entire Bible, but I know enough and I know for sure it is out of God's nature to "cause" someone to sin. That is impossible. Please don't agree with me on such things and just cause God does things we find "disturbing" like killing that many people. It shows what He requires and how serious about what He requires is. And the idea is God judging people based on what they deserve and that's why Jesus died on the cross paying what we deserve. The God you have in your head is not the God of Israel of the Bible. I have read a number of things in the Bible that cause me to Question, like "why aren't You doing anything?" And funny thing is that's the same in our world, "why isn't God doing anything about what we see happening around us?" You claim to know the narrative of the Bible which I think you actually might but do not understand it and have a bent version based on ur understanding. But God can never cause anyone to sin and yes lol God does want a relationship with you. You just have to see it first :) I only recently became a Christian and it is the Holy Spirit that makes me enjoy the Bible. I would never have read through more than 4 chapters in the past lol and that was like twice every 17 years or whatever
@@keatsiannightingale2025 I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean by "psychological effects of suppressing natural emotions." I am not sure I understand what you mean in the context of our discussion. I am also not sure what anecdote you are talking about. I won't be commenting on the rest of what you said because I am not sure it will be productive lol, but I would like to understand your comment in full
I take the metaphors as metaphor.
Obeying , Loving ADONAI [ FATHER, SON YESHUA HAMASHIACH, HOLY SPIRIT is ] is key. The HOLY SPIRIT will literally bring appreciation of Scriptures to those who seek wisdom from HIM. 🙏✝️⚓🛐🤲. Thank You Very Much Alisa Childers for your insight. ADONAI blessing.
Yes, I take the Bible literally, I believe it from front cover to back cover.
Nobody does
Maybe watch the video to understand what literally means first…?
@@DentGal83 If that's what you mean by literal I agree with you. I thought you meant it in the cliche way.
Someone said in answer to that questions
“We should take the Bible seriously”
Love it!!
There are different literary styles of course, but it is all to be read in context and with original intent!
When I say I take the Bible literally, I mean I take it for what it says and the way it says it. If you don't throw your bible away.
I like the way you use the phrase 'common sense'. I find thats the one thing you cannot use when approaching the entire bible, starting all the way in beginning with the unnecessary tree in the garden.
Although we now know about the big bang and how life evolved to higher forms, no-one was around to witness how the world came in to existence. People of ancient times wanted answers as well and since they could not find any, they made up a story in the form of a myth to explain it. That's how we get the Genesis story. Unfortunately Christian fundamentalists have not only literalized the story, they even keep promoting it as a historical fact. However once you understand how to read and understand the Genesis account, understanding the rest of the bible becomes reasonably easy, because one could then apply the same logic to interpret the rest of the book.
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Believers take Jesus literally.
John 1:14
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
What happens in the case of disagreement when one expert disagrees with another? How is it decided who gets to determine the correct hermeneutical rule or interpretation? If hermeneutics is an art form rather than a science, then multiple interpretations are inherent to it.
Well said. Then the proof is in the pudding. We need to look for the fruit of the interpretation and judge that.
@@duncescotus2342 This is a most unsatisfactory process. You don't know until it's too late.
@@Frankie35533 Well, LOL, yes, it's already too late to be going over this 16th century material. The fruit of Calvinism is evident to those who have eyes to see. To others, they have their hermeneutics.
@@duncescotus2342 I'm not sure I made my point clear or if I failed to understand your response so I'll reword my previous comment. A interpretation process that requires you to wait and see the outcome to determine its correctness is not very effective for people seeking to rely upon the correct interpretation. They have no means to avoid the potential harm of being wrong until it's too late.
I'm not sure how your observations about Calvinism relates to that.
@@Frankie35533 You're too lovely to get my snarkiness. Ok, so I'll do my best to give you some tips.
1. Scripture interprets Scripture. An obvious example would be where two Gospels says something similar but slightly different. The one will shed light on the other, especially where there is a superficial contradiction. e.g. "Blessed are you poor." (Luke 6:20) vs. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." (Matthew 5:3).
A simple explanation could be that poor people have more than their share of troubles, depression, need of all kinds. The reward for earthly poverty is closeness to God in spirit, something like that. You could then search for verses to back this theory up. Let's see: From the NT, "the poor have the Gospel preached to them..." (Matthew 11:5) and from the OT, "The humble will increase in joy, and the poor among us shall rejoice in the God of Israel." (Isaiah 29:19). Something like that. Gather evidence. Which could be as simple as:
2. Do a word study. This involves using what they call "helps," sources outside the actual Bible. Go to Strong's Concordance and find every place the word "poor" occurs in the original Greek. Here's how you do that:
biblehub.com/greek/4434.htm. (Strong's G 4434 "ptochos")
Which brings up the most important rule of all--When in doubt, go to the Greek!
3. Or you can do a topical study. For example "poverty" from "The Dictionary of Bible Themes" (another "help")
biblehub.com/topical/dbt/5449.htm
this shows you every place the SUBJECT of poverty comes up, not just a word like "poor"
4. Ok, so there's helps. Some people use Commentaries, and those can be good, but you want to develop your own powers of interpretation. So let's just say Commentaries are out for now. What other principles apply?
There's the principle of "first mention." The first mention of a name or a place or a number or anything is highly significant. So the first place we hear of say, Israel is where? Somewhere in Genesis probably. We look it up and we find Genesis 32:28:
"Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with man, and have prevailed."
So we find some interesting ideas here. 1. God has done another name change. He did this to Israel's grandpa Abram aka Abraham. 2. Israel has something to do with struggle, very interesting, even struggling with God. The Jewish people haven't had it easy, that's for sure.
5. Ok, some other principles. Anything that is found in all 3 synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke is highly significant. Again look for the differences in between the accounts. There is always a secret hidden in the differences. For example the parable of the Sower is in all three. This is the most important parable because it's the key to the other parables. So here Jesus is helping us. He gives us the interpretation. Let's look at it:
"The farmer sows the WORD. Some are seeds along the path, where as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Some are like seeds sown on rocky ground. They remain only for a season, when trouble or persecution comes, they fall away. Others are like seeds among thorns. The hear, but worries, wealth, and other things choke the word..."
(Mark 4:13-18)
We should at this point compare this with Matthew 13:18-23 and Luke 8:11-15 and see what we can find. Note that Mark is the most concise, lease wordy Gospel, somewhat blunt.
6. Now we can look for teachings which parallel other teachings but in a different light. So on the subject of seed, which as we said is super-important, we go and find some other parables about seed--and we come up with
--the Parable of the wheat and the tares, found only in Matthew
--the Parable of the mustard seed found in Matthew and Luke
What then are some common ideas concerning "seed." What can we say FOR SURE about seed? Well, we can confidently say it represents the WORD of God. Right here we're ahead of the hermeneutical game.
Way ahead.
7. Ok, we can look for patterns, repetitions, and the like. This is not so much about content, as about literary artistry. Take Romans 5. Ignoring what Paul is trying to say, and just looking at HOW he's saying it, we find some interesting repetition and variation on the theme. Like music. Ok?
So you might notice that v. 15, v.16, v.17, v. 18 and v. 19 all say the same thing in a slightly different way. Very much like music. What could be God's purpose here? Why repeat something 5 times? Could the number 5 have some significance in itself?
8. Enter the subject of Biblical numerics. The man who wrote the book on this is the incomparable E. W. Bullinger. Second only to Strong's Concordance for necessary helps in my opinion. What does Bullinger say about the number 5? Is he valid in his conclusions? You have to decide.
9. Always keep the overarching narrative in mind. The Bible is a story with a protagonist, mankind. It has a beginning and a conclusion. The Gospel is a narrative within the narrative, a story within the story, with a protagonist, Jesus. Within that story are other stories, that of St. Paul for example. Always keep the flow of events in some kind of chronology.
As for everything else, hermeneutical I couldn't care less. As I said, that crap is Calvinism. Systematic Theology, mostly garbage. But I'm a cynic. You're you. God uses me, and God uses you!!!
So the creator of the universe doesn't want bible writing be obvious to everyone yet hell (to those believing) is eminent?
I’m not sure I understood the question, but no he in fact does not want everyone to understand. It is not I that understands to begin with, it’s my heart. Many can read the Bible and can’t make heads or tails of it. Do you ever ask why?
Love that you put the Law into the context of covenenat. That is spot on! But as to breaking the Law into parts (i.e. moral law), there is no evidence in existence that the Jews of Jesus's day saw the Law in 'parts.' There was the Law and that was it. Further, nowhere in the New Testament does it say or even indicate this "moral law." This is a fiction because it's what we want it to be, not what it is.
"If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death-the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help..."
If this isn't to be taken literally, then what is this a metaphor for? Why even give a "command, law, allowance" in the first place if it's not to be taken literally? Are the 10 commandments literal? Who decides what is and isn't literal? If you say it's metaphor, I say it's literal, who's to decide who's wrong?
To me it sounds like cherry-picking. Just throw out what you don't like and interpret the rest the way you want it...
We literally have 2000 years of biblical teaching and exegesis so it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel. I like the way that Irenaeaus of Lyons explained it in the second century:
Paraphrasing:
“Scripture, then, is an excellent source for the Rule of Faith. It is divine and must be believed. But the Scriptures are not always clear, nor did all of Scripture exist from the beginning. Hence, it is not an absolute Rule of Faith. Scripture is ultimately subject to the criterion of tradition, of the doctrine of the Church; of the Rule of Truth itself…..Tradition must be derived from the Apostles. Any tradition outside the apostolic Tradition must be absolutely rejected….Since Tradition existed before the writings of the New Testament it is an absolute source of revelation. It is the teaching of the living Church, which would have existed even if nothing had been committed to writing.”
- Ancient Christian Writers, Ireneaus, “Against the Heresies” Book 1. Introduction, Scripture and Tradition, pp. 10-11, paragraphs 30-33, 180 AD
👏👏👏👏
Why didn’t God just make a covenant with the whole world instead of just Israel?
The problem with biblical interpretation is that it is clear the worst of devils can use all the tools given them and at the end of the day, don't we think there is something missing still?
When Jesus said if you had faith as much as a mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain remove itself and it would be done. Obviously had a spiritual meaning and not literal.
Yeah, I'm still trying to find a mustard seed so I can try it. Gotta be one around here somewhere.
Where does it say Jesus was a rabbi? Just curious
Where its meant to be, yes. Where its not meant to be, no.
Everything on earth is up for interpretation. We have two possible teachers to give us their meaning. One is through God and the other is through the world.
Jesus said we have the kingdom of God within us. With that understanding we don't need worldly interpretation rules. They are within the message we get.
To fulfill the law means to complete it. The law is written within our inward parts.
@@SimonWoodburyForget The prodigal son, who we all are, left God and his inheritance/ wisdom and tried to do it on his own. He realized he failed. If he'd blamed God he wouldn't have wanted to return home. Why go back to a Father who failed you? He realized he had no one to blame but himself and down deep, He knew God was prefect love and truth.
yes and no...
And that is exactly how Christianity of today took a crazy wrong turn. From the school of moody, Schofield and John Nelson Derby. People of today don’t recognize Hebrew items when they read them in the Bible. They don’t recognize historical context within the text that need to be known in order to really know what’s going on. People just read it as if it was written to them and understand the words as we use them today. And that is the problem people. Let’s take the perfect example in revelation the mother of all harlots Babylon. No one today knows what a harlot is. We translate that term into what we think it means today. But what it meant to them 2000 years ago it’s not what it means today. A harlot is a wife who goes outside of her marriage. There was only one people married to God. I love it I left hysterically when I hear people say the Catholic Church is the harlot. LOL I’m gonna call Jesus when I called this generation a blind and deaf generation. The mother of all harlots and revelation is Israel. Israel stepped out and sought other gods Israel played the harlot. Revelation is judgment on Israel. Mainly the southern kingdom of Judah member got divorced the northern kingdom second Kings chapter 17 because of harlotry. Open up your eyes Christiania today learn Hebrew items studied the culture and history of the day from when the book was written. Bible is it literal because they didn’t speak a literal style of language. Hebrews in the ancient spoke picture language. Metaphorical descriptive. They thought the complete opposite of how we think and that is why today’s Christianity and all of its doctrine is false and not in the Bible
An important subject. For me Christ himself is the most important key to understanding scripture. We read the Bible from Christ, with Christ, and to Christ. It all points to him, discloses him, and makes sense through him. Adam in the garden? Moses and the exodus; David, Solomon and the building of the temple; the prophets, Proverbs and wisdom-all of it anticipates Christ and culminates in Christ. We read scripture Christologically.
Well said, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Anyone can create any context necessary to make the Bible fit their ideology. Don’t believe it? Count how many different Christian denominations exist based on all the various contexts read into scripture. Same for atrocities like slavery. The Bible can be used to justify good or bad, simply assert “context.”
Fyi, the reason we dont stone people for crimes like they do in the bible is because Jesus said Let he who is with out sin throw the first stone. So its a law that we cannot follow cause we have all sinned, there for no one can throw the first stone.
I must admit Skepticism at the start. BUT this is w/out a doubt 1 of the only videos Ive watched along w/ the comments where all (incl. Alisa) seem to b genuinely trying to advance these 4 tenets of hermeneutics in an honest fashion. It all seems to wrap together so smoothly until one realizes that even using this way of trying to hone in on the truth of scripture very seldom arrives at any common consensus. If it was so simple to arrive at Biblical TRUTH why would their b so many interpretations which vary to such grand degrees as to b completely unrecognizable 1 from another.The truth is there r very few occasions in the Bible where absolute, total agreement can b arrived at by all much less more than a few!! Interpretation is scriptures ultimate downfall.
I would say that there are very few occasions where there isn't absolute, total agreement among mainstream Christianity, but those occasions are blown up by humans arguing over them. The good news, literally, is that we all agree on big points: the one, true living God who manifests Himself in three persons, Jesus Christ, the Son and our Savior who gave Himself up for us, so that we could be reconciled with Him in spite of our sin and will return one day to take us back live with Him forever, The Holy Spirit dwells within those of us who have given our lives to Christ Jesus. The Apostles' Creed says it better, of course.
@@johndoe-ln4oi Very nice sermon tho Ive preached it myself a 100 times in the past. Unfortunately not 1 stmt u made is in fact agreed upon by all Christians/Humans?? In what manner does he live? Don't EVEN get me started on the Trinity. The whole returning bodily vs. spiritually is now being debated seriously. The Apostles Creed??? Take another serious look at it word for word. Creationism vs. evolution is certainly not a clear subject. I assure u I'm not trying to b sarcastic I simply seek the truth as best as can b ascertained w/ what info we have.But in light of today's knowledge soooo much simply does not make sense. How u interpret it makes sense to u but have no doubt the person standing next to u in worship probably does not c it the same way.
"Everyone" is a Christian until it gets biblical.......
Thankyou
As for me I take God's word as literal . Yes Jesus is the gate but I don't think of hinges etc but if my Lord saysa he's the gate ? I know that through him alone is forgiveness and eternal life.
It's the same as balams donkey ? I know that happened. I know in genesis it says there were giants in the world th those days? It's because the world was full of giants. Everything the word says is true and literal
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