Not wise to take all scriptures literally - better to prayerfully compare them to decide more accurately what the Bible teaches on things

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
MyrtleTrees

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
#1
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#1
Of course, we are not to willfully reject any of the scriptures, as God meant them all to be for us to learn from and they are all true. But prayerfully "rightly dividing" (II Timothy 2:15) the scriptures, helps increase likelihood that we interpret the scriptures correctly. . II Timothy 3:16.
Here are some examples:
Rom 16:16
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
KJV
1 Cor 11:5
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
KJV
Comment: The ones above, have to do with ancient customs that were proper to adhere to back then - but improper or not required in modern times, due to changes in customs. Though the head covering for women still stands, except it is no longer to wear a visible head covering to show her respect for the headship of her husband. Instead, it is to be in her heart.
Matt 5:48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
KJV
Taken literally, this means to be completely sinless - which none of us are able to be. Though yes, we can be counted as perfectly sinless through the forgiveness that comes through Jesus' blood on Calvary.
Rom 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
KJV
James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
KJV
Comment: The last 2 verses might appear contradictory to each other, due to their wording. But one needs to compare the scriptures in this to avoid being overly literal and to arrive at the correct meaning that these verses implies on the subject of righteousness.
Ex 20:8
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
KJV
Comment: If Christians thought that both the Old Testament laws and the New Testament laws both need to be obeyed - they'd find themselves failing to live according to the New Covenant, rather than the old one. The scriptures say that the old one is done away.
 
GraceAndTruth

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
#2
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#2
Good points for good study habits. Other areas of misunderstanding are symbolism and understanding prophecy and its reference in history.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#3
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#3
MyrtleTrees said:
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
KJV
Taken literally, this means to be completely sinless - which none of us are able to be. Though yes, we can be counted as perfectly sinless through the forgiveness that comes through Jesus' blood on Calvary.
Click to expand...
Perfect never means sinless in the bible. Perfect means complete, not lacking anything, whole.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#4
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#4
MyrtleTrees said:
James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Click to expand...
If you're part of the twelve tribes scattered abroad during the tribulation, you would be wise to take this verse literally.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#5
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#5
MyrtleTrees said:
Of course, we are not to willfully reject any of the scriptures, as God meant them all to be for us to learn from and they are all true. But prayerfully "rightly dividing" (II Timothy 2:15) the scriptures, helps increase likelihood that we interpret the scriptures correctly. . II Timothy 3:16.
Here are some examples:
Rom 16:16
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
KJV
1 Cor 11:5
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
KJV
Comment: The ones above, have to do with ancient customs that were proper to adhere to back then - but improper or not required in modern times, due to changes in customs. Though the head covering for women still stands, except it is no longer to wear a visible head covering to show her respect for the headship of her husband. Instead, it is to be in her heart.
Matt 5:48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
KJV
Taken literally, this means to be completely sinless - which none of us are able to be. Though yes, we can be counted as perfectly sinless through the forgiveness that comes through Jesus' blood on Calvary.
Rom 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
KJV
James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
KJV
Comment: The last 2 verses might appear contradictory to each other, due to their wording. But one needs to compare the scriptures in this to avoid being overly literal and to arrive at the correct meaning that these verses implies on the subject of righteousness.
Ex 20:8
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
KJV
Comment: If Christians thought that both the Old Testament laws and the New Testament laws both need to be obeyed - they'd find themselves failing to live according to the New Covenant, rather than the old one. The scriptures say that the old one is done away.
Click to expand...
Not taking Scripture literally, one can make it say whatever they want.
 
MyrtleTrees

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
#6
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#6
John146 said:
Not taking Scripture literally, one can make it say whatever they want.
Click to expand...
Indeed, that is also true! One needs to guard from interpreting it overly literally, just as much as they need to guard themselves from interpreting it overly loosely (to one's whims). One example I gave of taking the scripture too literally, is how some believe that one's should have church services only on Sabbath day (Saturday). And failing to take notice that the New Covenant has quite different laws, compared to the New Covenant. Or one could see in the Old Testament - that "women who commit adultery should be stoned to death." And think that law still stands! WHen it doesn't - under the New Covenant. Instead, people are to repent of their sins and to turn away from them.
 
MyrtleTrees

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
#7
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#7
John146 said:
If you're part of the twelve tribes scattered abroad during the tribulation, you would be wise to take this verse literally.
Click to expand...
Yes, indeed, some things are best taken literally. I'm just saying that not all things in the Bible should. One needs to be prayerfully careful to do one's best to interpret all scriptures as accurately as is possible!
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#8
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#8
MyrtleTrees said:
Indeed, that is also true! One needs to guard from interpreting it overly literally, just as much as they need to guard themselves from interpreting it overly loosely (to one's whims). One example I gave of taking the scripture too literally, is how some believe that one's should have church services only on Sabbath day (Saturday). And failing to take notice that the New Covenant has quite different laws, compared to the New Covenant. Or one could see in the Old Testament - that "women who commit adultery should be stoned to death." And think that law still stands! WHen it doesn't - under the New Covenant. Instead, people are to repent of their sins and to turn away from them.
Click to expand...
It's a simple matter of knowing how to rightly divide the word of truth.
 
MyrtleTrees

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
#9
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#9
John146 said:
Perfect never means sinless in the bible. Perfect means complete, not lacking anything, whole.
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree. But to someone who doesn't know that - it could confuse them. Another example of how one always needs to prayerfully seek God's guidance and help in reading and studying the scriptures.
 
MyrtleTrees

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
#11
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#11
John146 said:
Not taking Scripture literally, one can make it say whatever they want.
Click to expand...
True - one must be very careful not to be so careless as to make it mean whatever they want, without regard as to what God's opinion is on it. To knowingly reject any of the Bible truths in the Bible is a sin, and needs to be repented of!
 
L

lenna

Guest
#12
#12
John146 said:
If you're part of the twelve tribes scattered abroad during the tribulation, you would be wise to take this verse literally.
Click to expand...

John here does not believe the book of James was written to Jewish believers. He ignores such words as believer, brothers etc

this has skewed his view on the gospel
 
T

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
#13
Aug 3, 2018
10,887
2,112
113
#13
MyrtleTrees said:
Matt 5:48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
KJV
Taken literally, this means to be completely sinless - which none of us are able to be. Though yes, we can be counted as perfectly sinless through the forgiveness that comes through Jesus' blood on Calvary.
Click to expand...
In Matt5:48, "shall be" is "future INDICATIVE middle"... no "IMPERATIVE" [/command] in this verse.

This is ascertained solely by reading this verse for what it says. :D
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#14
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#14
lenna said:
John here does not believe the book of James was written to Jewish believers. He ignores such words as believer, brothers etc

this has skewed his view on the gospel
Click to expand...
I'm still waiting on another example in the Bible where the term "twelve tribes" means something other than the nation of Israel as a whole. There are dozens of references. Just give one. One. I'll wait.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#15
Jun 30, 2015
25,366
13,728
113
#15
John146 said:
I'm still waiting on another example in the Bible where the term "twelve tribes" means something other than the nation of Israel as a whole. There are dozens of references. Just give one. One. I'll wait.
Click to expand...
You're quite welcome to ignore the relevant context (author, overall message, cultural, historical, geographical, etc.) which all point to the letter being to Christians, but I see no reason to join you in your misunderstanding. :)
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#16
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#16
Dino246 said:
You're quite welcome to ignore the relevant context (author, overall message, cultural, historical, geographical, etc.) which all point to the letter being to Christians, but I see no reason to join you in your misunderstanding. :)
Click to expand...
Are we to ignore the audience? To whom this letter is written? Is it to me, or for me. There is much in James that cannot apply to a Christian. Things that would violate what Paul states to the body of Christ.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#17
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
#17
MyrtleTrees said:
Comment: The ones above, have to do with ancient customs that were proper to adhere to back then - but improper or not required in modern times, due to changes in customs.
Click to expand...
God already knew that customs would change. Yet what is written is for all times and cultures. But if we were to go by your reasoning, Christians would be constantly trying to keep up with the current trends (just like women with their fashion trends).

Woman's head covering -- a literal covering or veil to cover the head and hair during worship. Many Christian women today have no problem with this.

The holy kiss -- in the Middle East (and some parts of Europe) men greet men, and women greet women is this fashion to this day.
 
L

lenna

Guest
#20
#20
John146 said:
I'm still waiting on another example in the Bible where the term "twelve tribes" means something other than the nation of Israel as a whole. There are dozens of references. Just give one. One. I'll wait.
Click to expand...
you don't accept what scripture states. you reject the words believer, brothers etc

that is your problem. you have no excuse since you have been shown multiple times the truth of James being written to believing Jews

by now, it's just a sad joke on your part
 
You must log in or register to reply here.