Literal and Contextual Approaches to the BibleLiteral and Contextual

Approaches to the Bible

How to Interpret the Bible

How to Interpret the Bible

Literal ApproachLiteral Approach

•Word for word•Exactly as written•No interpreting

•Word for word•Exactly as written•No interpreting

Contextual ApproachContextual Approach

•Read within its context–Who wrote it and why–What was going on in society to influence the writer

–What is the ‘religious’ truth?

•Read within its context–Who wrote it and why–What was going on in society to influence the writer

–What is the ‘religious’ truth?

Contextual ApproachContextual Approach

•Read in between the lines to understand the main message.

•Catholics read the Bible within its context to understand its deeper meaning

•Read in between the lines to understand the main message.

•Catholics read the Bible within its context to understand its deeper meaning

Types of Truth in the BibleTypes of Truth in the Bible

• Not all facts and ideas that we believe are provable beyond a shadow of a doubt.

• Not all facts and ideas that we believe are provable beyond a shadow of a doubt.

•At some point we must simply believe, and have faith that what we are told is true.

e.g., The glass floor in the C.N. Tower will hold you up.

•At some point we must simply believe, and have faith that what we are told is true.

e.g., The glass floor in the C.N. Tower will hold you up.

Religion and TruthReligion and Truth

• Some truths in religion are historical, some are moral and some are ‘religious’.

• Some truths in religion are historical, some are moral and some are ‘religious’.

Religious TruthReligious Truth

•Religion is concerned with human relationships with God

•The deeper meaning that God intends to reveal to people through historical events.

•Religion is concerned with human relationships with God

•The deeper meaning that God intends to reveal to people through historical events.

Moral TruthMoral Truth

•A lesson is being taught of what is right and what is wrong.

•Example: “Thou shalt not kill”

•A lesson is being taught of what is right and what is wrong.

•Example: “Thou shalt not kill”

Symbolic TruthSymbolic Truth

•A teaching in which we must read between the lines in order to understand the truth being presented.

•Example: “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

•A teaching in which we must read between the lines in order to understand the truth being presented.

•Example: “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

Proverbial TruthProverbial Truth

•A short saying, used to embody a general truth.

•Example: “The early bird gets the worm.”

•A short saying, used to embody a general truth.

•Example: “The early bird gets the worm.”

Historical TruthHistorical Truth

•The Bible contains the recorded and oral history of the Hebrew people and the early Christians from 4000yrs ago.

•The Bible contains the recorded and oral history of the Hebrew people and the early Christians from 4000yrs ago.

Scientifc TruthScientifc Truth

•The scientific understanding of biblical writers was very primitive.

•Example: The Bible describes the Earth as flat, the Sun as the center of the universe

•We do not look to the Bible for scientific truth.

•The scientific understanding of biblical writers was very primitive.

•Example: The Bible describes the Earth as flat, the Sun as the center of the universe

•We do not look to the Bible for scientific truth.

RevelationRevelation

•Revelation is concerned with religious truth, not scientific truth.

•The Hebrew people didn’t need to know that the world was round in order to be closer to God.

•Revelation is concerned with religious truth, not scientific truth.

•The Hebrew people didn’t need to know that the world was round in order to be closer to God.

What type of truth?What type of truth?

1.Water freezes at 0 celsius2.To know the road ahead,

ask those coming back3.God told Noah that the

rainbow would be a sign of hope.

1.Water freezes at 0 celsius2.To know the road ahead,

ask those coming back3.God told Noah that the

rainbow would be a sign of hope.

4. David replaced Saul as King5. Jesus teaches us that

everyone should be treated equally

6. The Roman empire began to crumble after Jesus’ birth

7. It takes 365 days to complete one circle of the sun

8. Be faithful to your spouse

4. David replaced Saul as King5. Jesus teaches us that

everyone should be treated equally

6. The Roman empire began to crumble after Jesus’ birth

7. It takes 365 days to complete one circle of the sun

8. Be faithful to your spouse