Are We to Take the Bible Literally?

With no direction from learned and skilled theologians, the Bible can be a very difficult collection of books to understand. The Bible is indeed a collection of ancient documents written thousands of years ago. Because the books are so old, many say they are antiquated, outdated and not relevant for today. Others are convinced the Bible contains numerous errors, and that it contradicts itself. The ones that have this attitude toward the Bible are those who do not want it to be true. For if it is, it will bring certain conviction and judgment on those who hate its truth.

Social Media has allowed many to easily become critics of the God of the Bible. Many people no doubt are parroting others who discount its truth having never investigated the claims of the Bible for themselves. These individuals are the ones that are making a fool of themselves – thinking that somehow blaspheming God and His word is a virtue. It is important that the writer point out why so many are quick to ride on the unbelief train of scriptural truth. It is in the sinful nature of rebellious man to reject holy writ. Man by nature is an enemy of God. So, it is no wonder that he would resist Biblical truth - it goes against the dictates of his corrupt mind and heart.

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible contains actual history, not fables like many claim. Because many deny the words of the Bible originated from heaven, they conclude it was written by flawed imperfect men. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that the word of prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished for every good work.

So, what we have is God revealing His words to men that transmitted them to books. The words in the Bible are not men’s words, they are God’s. Men are the human authors only. They are not the original authors. Think about it, why would sinful man who hates God write about his own sins and his need for a Savior? Evil people do not bemoan their sins, they celebrate them. Men called by God like Moses, Daniel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, and John all wrote embarrassing details of their lives because they were moved by the Spirit to record precisely what God told them to write. Wicked men would never do that, but flawed holy men of God led by the Holy Spirit did. Once we realize the holy God we are dealing with, then we can rest assured that nothing is impossible for Him. He has all the power to make weak people strong.

So, with all the aforementioned I want to help the reader understand some of the literary genres that are in the Bible.

·         Parables – This was one of the literary devices Jesus used in the gospels to explain and hide mysteries regarding the kingdom of heaven. The word parable means to throw alongside. Jesus would tell a short fictional story to explain a literal truth about the kingdom.

·         Hyperbole – Is exaggerated language to amplify an existing reality [(e.g. it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than for it is a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matt 19:24; Luke 18:25)]. What Jesus was saying just like it is impossible for a camel to go through a needle’s eye because of its size, it is equally impossible for a rich man (or anyone) to enter heaven without the Lord.

·         Metaphor – This is when a person may be described in different organic and inorganic forms. For example, Jesus refers to Himself, as bread, light of the world, a door, a vine. John The Baptist described Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus is likened unto these things based on the context under discussion, but He is not literally any of those things. Jesus is comparing Himself to items to amplify His sufficiency to us. It is like He is using His life and character as a parable – throwing it alongside earthly objects that we can relate to.

·         Allegory – The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures or events in narrative, dramatic or pictorial form. An allegory would be the beasts that John sees in the book of Revelation chapter 13 of the antichrist and false prophet. The beast is described as a veracious composite animal with seven heads and ten horns. This was obviously not literal, but a vision the apostle saw. The allegorical image described the nature of this future evil ruler that will be possessed by Satan.

·         Poetry – Biblical poetry was often set to music. Unlike modern poetry, it doesn’t have that rhyme and meter feel. The majority of the poetic verses appear in the books of Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon. The psalms have varied moods. Many are joyous. Some involve pain and sorrow. Some are penitential – meaning they involve confession of sin. Some are imprecatory – meaning the writer is pronouncing a curse on their enemies. Others are Messianic, dealing with the life of Christ. These psalms are also prophetic.

·         Anthropomorphic – This is when human attributes are used to describe God in the Bible. In other words, God is described as having ears, a mouth, hands, feet, etc. Jesus said in John 4:24 that God the Father is a Spirit. This means God the Father does not actually have these features. But since we do, it makes sense for the Bible writers to describe God in language that we humans can understand. Anthropomorphic comes from the word anthropology which is the study or doctrine of man.

When a writer of scripture is using one of these literary devices, it will be a representation of something or someone that is real. There is no section of the Bible that is fable. For example, there are those that say Adam and Eve were not actual people, but they are allegory along with the creation account. If we are saying Bible origins are not literal, then one can compromise on other parts of the Bible they do not like or understand. That type of schizophrenia has massive disastrous implications.

The Bible is to be taken literally for it is historical narrative. The OT is dealing primarily with the nation Israel and their relationship to God. The NT is primarily focused on Jesus, the apostles, and the First Century Church. The purpose of these literary devices was under the direction of the Holy Spirit to the men of God who wrote the books to explain to their audience what thus says the Lord. God sovereignly chose to use different methods to communicate His truth to mankind.

All of these genres should come as no surprise to us as we use the same communication methods today.