Is the Bible Allegorical or Literal?

[Apostle John]

So you don’t accept scientific evidence of the earth’s age? How old do you believe it is?

No I cannot accept that, it’s highly speculative, total guesswork. I believe God made a young Earth which is 6000 years old.

 

[Kenny]

In reference to?

All of it. The allegorical parts and the literal parts.

 

[Kenny]

Always happy to share understandings with my Christian brothers and sisters.

Suppose if one wrongfully interprets an allegorical as literal or literally when it should be allegorical one can be led astray but thinking one has the truth! So how does one ‘know’ their interpretation is the correct one?

Some of it is obvious and some we will never know if it is allegorical or not.

Take Adam and Eve. Some say "allegorical" and others say "literal"..

luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, 33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, 34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, 36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, 37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Some say Adam and Eve were allegorical. Maybe so, maybe not. At which point did this list become allegorical and cease being literal?

 

[InvestigateTruth]

To distinguish the sincere from the insincere.

But God already knows the hearts of sincere and insincere, no?

 

[InvestigateTruth]

He seemed to have a good reason if I remember correctly. The late workers did as much work and got as much pay if I recall correctly. Your analogy fails due to that not being the case just because of where someone was born.


Back to the drawing board.

Then why did the previous workers complain? Maybe a review on the related Bible passage helps.

 

[Alien826]

No I cannot accept that, it’s highly speculative, total guesswork. I believe God made a young Earth which is 6000 years old.

So, all science that tells us the age of the Earth is total guesswork? That's a lot of science, but I can respect that if you are consistent. Let's see what other science you reject.

If you are ill do you take antibiotics, or is medical science total guesswork?

Do you travel by plane? If so you you feel that at any minute the plane could fall out of the sky? After all it was designed according to scientific principles and therefore total guesswork.

If you are lost do you trust a GPS receiver to tell you where you are? Lots of science went into that. Was it all total guesswork? Probably not too trustworthy then.

When you are on the top floor of a skyscraper are you in constant fear that it may all collapse? Lots of science went into the design of that building. If it's total guesswork, you should be afraid, no?

 

[Alien826]

He seemed to have a good reason if I remember correctly. The late workers did as much work and got as much pay if I recall correctly.

No, that was their complaint. They didn't do the same amount of work.

‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

Good thing (for the employer) they didn't have a union, I always think.

As I understand it, Jesus (who was talking about the Kingdom of Heaven) was saying that those who come late to the table, so to speak, get the same rewards as those that have served for a longer time.

 

[Subduction Zone]

No, that was their complaint. They didn't do the same amount of work.

‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

Good thing (for the employer) they didn't have a union, I always think.

As I understand it, Jesus (who was talking about the Kingdom of Heaven) was saying that those who come late to the table, so to speak, get the same rewards as those that have served for a longer time.

You are correct, but the workers all got paid. And they knew that the early morning workers got paid what they were promised. No one was screwed. What you are proposing is not paying many people because of were they were born. It does not apply.

 

[PearlSeeker]

Another question disputed for ages causing Christian unity to be split into thousands of sects over interpretations of the Bible.

Everything in the Bible can be read allegorically but the original meaning and intent is not always allegorical.

For example ancient stories about prehistoric times were certainly myths and they were believed to be literally true. I don't think it was meant to be allegorical. They are a reflection of information and knowledge at the time. Modern archeological knowledge shows a more accurate picture of the past.

On the other hand some parts are clearly meant to be allegorical, for example the parables.

 

[Apostle John]

So, all science that tells us the age of the Earth is total guesswork? That's a lot of science, but I can respect that if you are consistent. Let's see what other science you reject.

Yes that’s complete guesswork not a bit grounded in fact. Not blowing my own trumpet but I’m a PhD scientist and can tell the difference between theoretical science and established science. This is all going to God’s plan. God told Daniel knowledge would increase before end times and conversely said that people would believe lies so that they didn’t believe in God.

Don’t get on your hobby horse again Mr F, I’m not going to debate this with you yet again.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Yes that’s complete guesswork not a bit grounded in fact. Not blowing my own trumpet but I’m a PhD scientist and can tell the difference between theoretical science and established science. This is all going to God’s plan. God told Daniel knowledge would increase before end times and conversely said that people would believe lies so that they didn’t believe in God.

Don’t get on your hobby horse again Mr F, I’m not going to debate this with you yet again.

Nope, no guesswork at all.

You claim to hold a PhD in the sciences. What branch? Where did you earn it? So far you have not even demonstrated a middle school level of scientific literacy so I find your claim rather dubious.

 

[Apostle John]

Nope, no guesswork at all.

You claim to hold a PhD in the sciences. What branch? Where did you earn it? So far you have not even demonstrated a middle school level of scientific literacy so I find your claim rather dubious.

You claim not to know. You do know. It was you that put Pegasus spyware on my devices in order to get my biography.

 

[Subduction Zone]

You claim not to know. You do know. It was you that put Pegasus spyware on my devices in order to get my biography.

Are you serious? How could I do that? I don't know you. I don't know what Pegasus spyware is, in fact my computer knowledge is rather lacking.

 

[Apostle John]

Are you serious? How could I do that? I don't know you. I don't know what Pegasus spyware is, in fact my computer knowledge is rather lacking.

Good luck when you stand in judgment.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Good luck when you stand in judgment.

Good luck with you. If a God exists at least I do not call him a liar.

 

[metis]

Some say Adam and Eve were allegorical. Maybe so, maybe not. At which point did this list become allegorical and cease being literal?

Ya, but the list of genealogies actually is not uniform in Numbers and Deut.

 

[Kenny]

Ya, but the list of genealogies actually is not uniform in Numbers and Deut.

Lol so is one allegorical and the other historical?

 

[Kenny]

No, that was their complaint. They didn't do the same amount of work.

‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

Good thing (for the employer) they didn't have a union, I always think.

As I understand it, Jesus (who was talking about the Kingdom of Heaven) was saying that those who come late to the table, so to speak, get the same rewards as those that have served for a longer time.

Do you think it also includes that if someone agrees to a wage - it should be accepted as such? And that if one wants to give extra to another person, since it’s his money, he should be allowed to do so?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Some of it is obvious and some we will never know if it is allegorical or not.

Take Adam and Eve. Some say "allegorical" and others say "literal"..

luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, 33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, 34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, 36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, 37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Some say Adam and Eve were allegorical. Maybe so, maybe not. At which point did this list become allegorical and cease being literal?

From a Baha'i and Islamic perspective, Adam was a real person and a Prophet. He is the first known Prophet. That would account for the genealogy. However the story of His life in relation to Eve, God, the snake and tree of life appear allegorical to me and make little sense if taken as literal history. Each one of us needs to find a theology and narrative that makes sense and fits with what we know.

 

[Kenny]

From a Baha'i and Islamic perspective, Adam was a real person and a Prophet. He is the first known Prophet. That would account for the genealogy. However the story of His life in relation to Eve, God, the snake and tree of life appear allegorical to me and make little sense it taken as literal history. Each one of us needs to find a theology and narrative that makes sense and fit with what we know.

I would agree with your sentiment. Each person needs to find something that makes sense to them.

We may differ in perspective but that is what makes the world go round (allegorically speaking)

 

[CG Didymus]

Unfortunately there is no agreement on one correct interpretation among Christians so people do not know which sect to follow.

Don't even worry about the minor sects, is there any Christian sect, going all the way back to the time of Jesus, that the Baha'is believe had the correct interpretation? If not, then not one Christian sect ever had it right. Lots of Atheists will probably agree with you. I would probably agree with you, but then Baha'is say their interpretation of the Bible and the NT is the correct one. With that, Baha'iis have lost a lot of us.