Reading the bible literally or figuratively... that is the question

Recently, I had a casual chat with ChatGPT on how we should read the bible.
I gave an example from the book of Isaiah.
Please find the conversation below.


My view is to read the bible straightforwardly, as I do not want to interpret the bible the way I want to see it.
ChatGPT is so polite that it dances on the head of a pin, as you can see.

But, I want to know what your opinions are.

Kind regards,
James



Q. Prophet Isaiah talks about a peaceful time when lions and lambs graze grass together and the spears of war are used as farming equipment. What is the consensus on this picture among Christians? Do they take this literally or figuratively




A. The passage you are referring to is from Isaiah 11:6-9, which says:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
Their young ones shall lie down together;
And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,
And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea."

Theologians have different opinions on whether this passage should be interpreted literally or figuratively. Some believe that it is a literal description of a future time when peace will reign over the earth, while others see it as a symbolic representation of the peace and harmony that will exist in the spiritual realm.
Those who interpret this passage literally usually believe that it refers to the millennial reign of Christ, a period of 1,000 years when Christ will rule the earth in righteousness and peace. During this time, the animal kingdom will be transformed, and even natural enemies like the lion and the lamb will live together in harmony.
On the other hand, those who interpret this passage figuratively see it as a metaphorical description of the spiritual transformation that will occur when the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth. They believe that the lion and lamb represent different aspects of human nature and that the peace described in this passage will come as a result of the transformation of the human heart.
Overall, there is no consensus among theologians on the interpretation of this passage, and it is ultimately up to each individual to study the text and come to their own conclusion.



Q. Some believe we are already living in the millennium. I don't see wolf and lamb dwelling together. do they believe the passage to be a metaphor?




A. Yes, some Christians believe that we are already living in the millennium, a period of time that began with the resurrection of Christ and will continue until his second coming. This view is known as amillennialism.
Amillennialists typically interpret the passage from Isaiah figuratively, seeing it as a symbolic representation of the peace that believers can experience in their hearts through faith in Christ. They believe that the prophecy is not meant to be understood literally, but rather as a poetic and prophetic expression of the coming age of peace and harmony.
In this view, the wolf and lamb dwelling together represent the reconciliation between God and humanity, and between people of different backgrounds and cultures. It is seen as a metaphorical representation of the peace that comes when people turn away from sin and turn toward God, and the love and compassion that flows from that transformation.
Overall, the interpretation of this passage depends on the theological perspective of the individual. While some Christians interpret it literally, others see it as a metaphorical expression of spiritual truths.

Oh hello again.
Sure I will tell you my opinion.

If you read the Bible literally, you are most likely a Protestant of some sort and depending on your level of literal technicalities you might even believe that the universe and all of the existence was created in 6 days.

I hope that you have enjoyed my opinion mushrooms guy.

Do you need evidence for your faith, or faith for your evidence?

Both, Plus even more. Have you ever heard of PaRDeS. The P stands for Peshat =The surface or literal meaning. R stands for Remez = The deeper Meaning. D stands for Drash = The Comperative Meaning. and S stands for Sod = The Secret or Mystery level.

4 Levels of Scripture Understanding

There are multiple literary devices/styles used in Scripture, so many, in fact, that listing them all with explanations and
examples could probably not be accomplished in one post (10,000 character limit). Here (<=link) is a page on them .

Point being, the Bible cannot be read in just one way or another.

Thanks for your comment.

I just don't wanna be those guys in Jesus's days when Pharisees and Sadducees knew about the prophecy in the book of Micah 5:2 but didn't even bother going to see the birth of Jesus. Perhaps they interpreted the prophecy as a figurative one.

In terms of the creation of the universe in 6 days, I don't have any problem believing in the bible in the literal sense, as God is not limited by anything. If the bible said the universe was created in one day, I still would have believed it.

Am I too radical in saying this?

Absolutely not !
During a discussion we also learn about each other so now I know where you stand with this.
In regards to the birth of Jesus you are bringing up a multilayered topic there which involves prophecy, interpretation of prophecy, thinking that everything is prophecy and finally that only YOU know these things and nobody else does.

So with this being said after knowing a bit more about each other, if believing in God gives you Hope, Purpose and Joy by interpreting things literally, then interpret them literally.

Not at all .. God could have created all that is in a nanosecond .

God was establishing a pattern pointing forward to Christ, even in the act of Creation.

When speech departs from normalcy you usually have a figure of speech which would not be taken literally…. Any more than if I stated “the cat is outta the bag”.

Thee are around 219 known figure of speech….at least 214 have been used in the Bible primarily the OT due to the limits of the Hebrew language. Of the 214 there can be several variations to a specific figure.

E.W. Bullinger does a wonderful job of identifying most used in the Bible His book Figure of Speech used in the Bible is a valuable asset in biblical research available on A- - - - -n.

In addition to figure of speech…there are Orientalism’s of the Bible which are closely related to eastern customs and idioms and are another resource to explaining the meaning behind some passages…. K.C. Pillai has a few books on orientalism.



As for the universe being created the Bible does not say. But from Genesis_1:2 on …God is referring to the earth …NOT being created…. but speaking it back into existence. He had already created the things that were spoken into existence between 1:2 and 1:21. (In 1:21 He once again creates something which was soul life.) Once God creates something He does not need to create it again and He had already created those things (that He spoke back into existence) in Genesis_ 1:1

The 6 days is not discussing the universe it is discussing the earth and it is literal…. as God sets the standard for a 24 hour period in Gen 1:5, Gen 1:8, Gen 1:13, Gen 1:19, Gen 1:23, Gen 1:31.

i have spent over 50 years researching the Holy Word of God to find where my own personal opinion actually matters.
still have yet to find that one single and specific Verse that reads: you know better than God

I do not think that you can know all my mind based on my belief that God gives his word both with literal and spiritual facts at the same time.

As for creating the world in six days, Genesis 1:2 tells us there wa something here before that first day, it was formless and empty.

Colossians 2:2-3
That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power.

1 Thessalonains 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Do you want a deep knowledge of the scripture or do you want a true knowledge of God's mystery?

A literal translation of Genesis 2?

Genesis 2:17
But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.

Your claiming that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a real tree?

When people read an historical text, usually they will put it all in context.

So they will see a line..'hats cannot be worn outside'

And not take it on its own . But ask ..

Who is this about? Who is writing this?

Who is receiving this writing?
What is the time and place?

So it may be that it is about army hats.. on the occasion of a wedding, that a bridal party might have brung to the party because they are all from the army.

(A weird example, but just showing how scripture needs it context)

Does that depart from normalcy …. Do trees have knowledge or good and evil?

I'm against figurative interpretation, but not because of dreams and visions. I just happen to have read more figurative and symbolic encyclicals on the book than most people, there are several modernist writers who think they know the Bible, on is Emmanuel Swedenborg. He subscribed to the theory that absolutely everything in the Bible is purely symbolic, as did Mary Baker Eddy. I know that there are extremely short passages in Daniel and Revelation which explain the meanings of symbols that appear in dreams and visions, as well as these being present in Genesis, and I can see that Jesus interpreted as well as fulfilling prophecy, especially Isaiah. But the symbolists, including the psychologist Carl Jung, who uses Swedenborgian symbolist theory to support his materialistic comparison of communion with alchemy, are writers of absolute reducto ad absurdum trash.

You would be wise to shun ChatGPT altogether. The Bible must be read in its plain literal sense unless there is a compelling reason not to. There are metaphors, symbols, and parables in the Bible. But unless you have the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach you the meaning, it will all be very obscure.

Question: "No man knows the hour or day". Is it literal or a "hint"?