The following article, The Difference between Literal and Contextual interpretation of the Bible" will help students to write their own theological reflections with a rather "prophetic twang.")
Difference between a Literal and Contextual
interpretation of the Bible?
Usually, when people talk about taking the Bible literally,
they mean reading it straightforwardly and trusting it as a reliable historical
record. That's hardly a "fundie" thing to do. It's possible to be
aware of the usual problems in Biblical scholarship and still think the Bible
is historically trustworthy.
The contextual approach to reading the Bible is multifaceted, because there are so many different contexts that inform the way we read it (the social context, the political context, the theological context, the historical context, etc). A person who uses this approach might or might not take the Bible literally.
The contextual approach to reading the Bible is multifaceted, because there are so many different contexts that inform the way we read it (the social context, the political context, the theological context, the historical context, etc). A person who uses this approach might or might not take the Bible literally.
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If you are using sound principles of Biblical exegesis the
difference lies in recognizing what type of writing section you are in. If you
are reading a historical section of the Bible like the gospel accounts then the
events are literal. However, even in a historical section there may be a
passage where someone is speaking prophetically.
Prophetic passages often use symbols that represent literal truths but are not to be taken literally. Poetic passages do the same thing at times. Also parables use word pictures that are meant to convey literal truths but you have to see beyond the symbols to discover the truth.
Matthew 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
In the context of the above passage it is literally true that the Lord Jesus said these words. However He was speaking in parables while teaching so you know that a "mustard seed" is supposed to represent something and it is not to be taken literally.
Prophetic passages often use symbols that represent literal truths but are not to be taken literally. Poetic passages do the same thing at times. Also parables use word pictures that are meant to convey literal truths but you have to see beyond the symbols to discover the truth.
Matthew 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
In the context of the above passage it is literally true that the Lord Jesus said these words. However He was speaking in parables while teaching so you know that a "mustard seed" is supposed to represent something and it is not to be taken literally.
(Source: unknown)
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