Should the Bible Be Read Literally? (Jerome Van Kuiken)

[@rutherglenroad8109]

My understanding of the word 'literal' is that we should understand scripture as the writer intended it to be understood. On that basis 100% of Christians should read the Bible literally. Rather than asking,as we tend to do today, is something scientifically or historically true, instead we should ask the question that the original hearers would have asked; "What does it mean?"

[@jfrontier1]

The Bible makes no sense if we assume God wanted us to take it literally. Myth should be taken as myth, same with parables, history etc. God inspired the Bible, He did not dictate to the authors like some Holy scribe. Genesis 1 is meant to be a functional ontology, not a material. Most of the early chapters are not literal but myths.

[@MichaelTheophilus906]

Your opinion. Do you believe this? John 17:3, John 20.17

[@jfrontier1]

@@MichaelTheophilus906 By His teaching the word of God, His disciples came to know the Father and the Son. Yes, as some of the Bible is meant to be taken as the authors meant it to be taken. However not all the Bible should be taken as we understand literalism.

[@MichaelTheophilus906]

Deut 6.4-6, Mark 12.28-32, John 17.3, John 20.17, Rom 15.6, Rom 16.27, I Cor 8:6, II Cor 11.31, I Tim 2.5, Rev 3.2, Rev 3.12. These and many others can be read literally.

[@theodorechavez7058]

I (✓ed-out) your Scripture references. I agree. Then there are other Bible references that are Symbolic - Allegorical. For example, 2Cor.4:5,6 shows that Gen'.1:3,4,5 is (not) talking about an extra (star - sun). Connect the previous 2 Bible text's with John.1:3,4. Paz y Amor.

[@frankc-k3q]

Literally or figuratively or both.

[@whataworld1528]

I have been struggling with this thought regarding Jesus's second coming... could you clarify please So I understand that Jesus will come along with His army and we will go and meet Him just like we receive a King to our City. So we are coming back to earth along with Jesus right? But 1.Thess 4:17 says so shall we ever with the Lord ..So when are we coming back? I mean while we are staying with Him on the clouds, this old earth will be destroyed by fire and New earth will be established..and we will come along with Jesus to this New earth to establish His Kingdom...Is that correct? This is what I get from the scriptures.. please post a video or help me with your reply or ....I'm sorry I have been struggling with this

[@jfrontier1]

If I may suggest something, you might want to study the preterist point of view here. You seem to believe a premillennial system in the Olivet discourse when that does not make sense. Jesus was speaking about the end of the temple age, not the end of the world. That is why He said some of the people there would witness the end times. If I can help you think about this some more feel free to let me know. God Bless.

[@whataworld1528]

​@@jfrontier1thanku for replying. I didnt know what is preterist view and searched for it...and they say Second coming has already happened 🤔🥺infact they deny all future events that Bible talks about...Now I'm confused more😢

[@momdunse322]

@@whataworld1528 no need to be confused. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see, your spiritual ears to hear and your heart to understand. Also, one of the most important things to remember about God is that he sits above time and space. 2 Peter 2:38 says that a day with God is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. Jesus hasn't returned yet. We know this because there is prophecies that haven't been fulfilled yet. For example, if Jesus had come back in 70 A.D., the millennium would have been over a long time ago and sin would be no more and we would be living in a new heaven and earth. There are prophecies for the millennium that haven't been fulfilled yet. You have Ezekiel chapters 40-48 that describe a temple that will be around in the millennium, how Israel will be proportioned to the tribes of Israel and many other things. You also have verses in other books in the old Testament that speak about the millennium reign of Christ. Like Isaiah 11:6 that talks about the wolf lying down next to a lamb, and other animals that are predators now but won't be in the millennium. There are many other scriptures. If you ask God to help you understand and to show you scriptures that talk about the time from now until the end, he will help you understand. As for the rapture and when it is, that is located in Matthew 24:29-31. Verses 29-30 matches the six seal in Revelation 6:12-17. Verse 31 is where the rapture happens. Between God's wrath being poured out and the kingdom of God set up on earth, we will not be aware of time because we will be with God. I hope I answered your questions but I might have missed something. If I didn't, let me know which I didn't answer and I'll try to help.

[@jdwagman]

What you described is pretty much what I get out of it too. The only thing I would add here is that if you have questions you should ask Jesus, the only dependable, Rabbi and not the opinions of men. Have enough faith to ask the Lord instead.