Literal vs. figurative in the Bible
True meanings are of the spirit[edit]
The true circumcision was of spirit[edit]
"This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you."
“Real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal”
“...For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit.”
Man without Spirit does not accept things that come from the Spirit[edit]
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught us by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Paul's letters contain some things that are hard to understand[edit]
“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
Christ interpreted Old Testament spiritually in prophecy with no literal fulfillment[edit]
Despite John the Baptist denying being Elijah, Christ said he was[edit]
"They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
"He said, “I am not.”
"“Are you the Prophet?”
"He answered, “No.”"
"Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist."
The Apostles interpreted Old Testament spiritually in prophecy with no literal fulfillment[edit]
John son of Zechariah calling in the wilderness did not literally see every mountain and hill made low, etc. as foretold in Isaiah[edit]
"during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
"“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, "‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
"Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.
"The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
"And all people will see God’s salvation.’” [Isaiah 40:3-5]
Peter's reference to Joel being fulfilled did not literally see blood and fire and billows of smoke, etc.[edit]
"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
"“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
"Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
"Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
"I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[Joel 2:28-32]
Paul interprets literal account of veil over Moses' face as symbolic of veiled minds[edit]
"When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord."
“...not like Moses who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not see the end of the fading splendor...for to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.”
See also[edit]
Table Of Contents
- 1.1 True meanings are of the spirit
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2.3 Man without Spirit does not accept things that come from the Spirit
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3.4 Paul's letters contain some things that are hard to understand
- 4.5 Christ interpreted Old Testament spiritually in prophecy with no literal fulfillment
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5.7 The Apostles interpreted Old Testament spiritually in prophecy with no literal fulfillment
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5.1.8 John son of Zechariah calling in the wilderness did not literally see every mountain and hill made low, etc. as foretold in Isaiah
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5.2.9 Peter's reference to Joel being fulfilled did not literally see blood and fire and billows of smoke, etc.
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5.3.10 Paul interprets literal account of veil over Moses' face as symbolic of veiled minds
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5.1.8 John son of Zechariah calling in the wilderness did not literally see every mountain and hill made low, etc. as foretold in Isaiah
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6.11 See also