Part One
How Was the Bible Written?
There are 66 books in the Bible (Holy Scriptures) with approximately 40 different human authors. It was written over about 1500 years. The authors were always men. They were kings, fishermen, priests, government officials, farmers, shepherds, and doctors. They include books of law; historical books; books of poetry; books of prophecy; biographies; and epistles (formal letters). From all this diversity comes an incredible unity, with common themes woven throughout. Jesus Christ is the great and consistent theme of the Bible. Its unity is because it has one Author—God Himself. The Bible is “God-breathed.” Therefore, it is critical that you interpret the Bible literally.
"All Scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed) and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
The human authors wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, and the result was the perfect and Holy Word of God
"for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21).
Truth Under Attack
We live in a time that tends to shrug its shoulders when confronted with the truth. The 21st-century postmodern man says, “Nothing is true,” or perhaps, “There is truth, but we cannot know it.” “I have my truth, and you have your truth.” “There is no absolute truth; everything is relevant.” We’ve grown accustomed to being lied to, accused of being intolerant, and harassed to the point of death. They either say, “There is no God,” or “We are all gods with a divine nature.” Many people seem comfortable with the false notion that the Bible can be interpreted by their own truth, whims, culture, and moral preferences.
Our confidence is in God the Holy Spirit, not our own good intentions, education, or intellect. The same Holy Spirit that lives in every born-again believer wrote the Bible, then we can rest assured that He can and will help us interpret the Scriptures.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26).
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you” (John 16:13-14).
Biblical Inerrancy
The doctrine of biblical inerrancy (perfect, correct) is critical because the truth does matter. This issue reflects on the character of God and is foundational to our understanding of everything the Bible teaches. Here are some reasons why we should absolutely believe in biblical inerrancy.
1. It is essential to remember that the Bible judges us, not vice versa. The Word of God judges the heart and mind's thoughts, desires, and attitudes.
"For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Notice the relationship between “the heart” and “the Word.” The Word examines; the heart is being examined. To discount parts of the Word for any reason is to reverse this process. We become the examiners, and the Word must submit to our “superior insight.” Yet God says,
"But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?” (Romans 9:20).
2. The Bible itself claims to be perfect. These claims of purity and perfection are absolute statements.
"And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6). "The law of the Lord is perfect” (Psalm 19:7). "Every word of God is pure” (Proverbs 30:5 KJV).
3. The Bible’s message must be taken as a whole. It is not a mixture of doctrines that we are free to select from. We simply cannot pick and choose what we like about the Bible and throw the rest away. If the Bible is wrong about hell, for example, then who is to say it is right about heaven or anything else? If the Bible cannot get the details about creation, then maybe the facts about salvation cannot be trusted. If the story of Jonah is a myth, then perhaps so is the story of Jesus. On the contrary, God has said what He has said, and the Bible gives us a complete picture of who God is.
"Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89).
4. The Bible is our only rule for faith and practice. If it is unreliable, then on what do we base our beliefs? Jesus asks for our trust, including what He says in His Word. Jesus had just witnessed the departure of many who had claimed to follow Him. Then He turns to the twelve apostles and asks,
"You do not want to leave too, do you?” At this, Peter speaks for the rest when he says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (Jn 6:67-69).
Do you have the same trust in the Lord Jesus and in His words of life? Christians do not accept what the Bible says blindly. We are commanded to study the Word and search out what is true.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
"Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Also, we recognize that there are difficult passages in the Bible, as well as sincere disagreements over interpretation. Our goal is to approach Scripture reverently and pray fervently that our eyes see, our ears hear, and our hearts believe what the Word and Spirit are saying.
18 Reasons Why We Interpret the Bible Literally
Every prophecy about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament was fulfilled literally.
Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection all occurred precisely as was predicted in the Old Testament.
There is no non-literal fulfillment of messianic prophecies in the New Testament. It argues strongly for the literal method.
All prophecies are literal.
The Lord Jesus Christ took the Bible literally.
Whenever the Lord Jesus quoted from the Old Testament, it was always clear that He believed in its literal interpretation.
As an example, when Satan tempted Jesus in Luke 4,
He answered by quoting the Old Testament.
If God’s commands in Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, and 6:16 were not literal, Jesus would not have used them and
they would have been powerless to stop Satan’s temptation and lies.
The disciples also took the commands of Christ literally.
Jesus commanded disciples to go and make more disciples in Matt 28:19-20.
In Acts 2 and the following,
we find that the disciples took Jesus’ command literally and went throughout the known world of that time preaching the gospel of Christ.
telling them to “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Taking Jesus’ words literally assures all believers of their salvation.
I believe Jesus when He says He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10),
He paid the penalty for my sin (Matthew 26:28),
He provided forgiveness of sins when I believe in Him (1 John 1:9).
And He gives eternal life (John 17:3).
Apostles teach us the Gospel or good news of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is condensed in 1 Corinthians 15:3–6:
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
he was buried,
he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time.
Here the elements of the gospel are clearly stated.
Notice, first, that Paul “received” the gospel and then “passed it on”; this is a divine message, not a man-made invention.
Second, the gospel is “of first importance.” Everywhere the apostles went, they preached the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
Third, the message of the gospel is accompanied by proofs:
Christ died for our sins (proved by His burial),
and He rose again on the third day (proved by the eyewitnesses).
Fourth, all this was done “according to the Scriptures:”
the theme of the whole Bible is the salvation of mankind through Christ.
In the Apostle Paul’s first epistle in the book of 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 gives us another important aspect of the gospel.
For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you,
and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
and to wait for His Son from heaven,
whom He raised from the dead, that is,
Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.
This is the Blessed Hope in Titus 2:13 or the Rapture.
"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Biblical Hermeneutics
One, the most important law of biblical hermeneutics is to interpret Scriptures Literally.
It is the only way to determine what God is trying to communicate to us. When we read any piece of literature, especially the Bible, we must determine what the author intended to convey. The literal interpretation gives each Word the meaning it would commonly have in everyday usage. So, I intend to understand the Bible in its ordinary or plain sense unless the passage is meant to be symbolic or if figures of speech are employed. The Bible says what it means and means what it says.
The purpose of language itself requires that we interpret words literally.
God gave the languages for the purpose of being able to communicate.
Words are vessels of meaning.
For example, when Jesus speaks of having fed “the five thousand” in Mark 8:19, the law of hermeneutics says we should understand five thousand literally—
there was a crowd of hungry people numbered five thousand, fed with real bread and fish by a miracle-working Savior.
Of course, allowances are made for symbols, figures of speech, and types, of rhetoric, we still interpret the Bible literally. But I understand that even symbols and figurative sayings have literal meanings behind them. So, for example, when the Bible speaks of “a thousand years” in Revelation 20, I interpret it as a literal period of 1,000 years or the dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom. Therefore, I believe in a literal:
Evangelism—all are born in sin and need the Savior Jesus.
It is a fact that Christ alone saves.
The Scriptures are inspired, God-breathed.
Creationist—God made everything in six (6) solar days.
Noah’s flood covered the whole earth with water, and only Noah and his family were saved.
No new revelations from God need to be added to Scripture.
God’s historical/scientific facts represented in the Bible are true.
Israel is not the Church; each is separate and distinct.
There is a literal Seven-year Tribulation called Jacobs Trouble.
The wrath of God is poured out in twenty-one judgments.
o Seven seals
o Seven trumpets
o Seven bowls
Twelve tribes of Israel,
Twelve Apostles,
On the 40th day, the Church was born on Pentecost,
Five hundred believers saw Jesus alive after His resurrection,
A premillennial interpretation of Christ’s second coming,
A pre-tribulation rapture, etc.
The second crucial law of biblical hermeneutics is Scripture is interpreted historically, grammatically, and contextually.
Interpreting a passage historically means we must seek to understand the culture, background, and situation that prompted the text. It does not mean we try to change the meaning to fit into modern cultures, norms, beliefs, or morals.
Interpreting a passage grammatically requires we follow the rules of grammar and recognize the nuances of Hebrew and Greek. This is where you could use the expertise of commentaries or lexicons.
Interpreting a passage contextually involves considering the context of a verse or passage when determining the meaning.
The context includes the verses immediately preceding and following,
the chapter, the book, and, most broadly, the entire Bible.
The third law of biblical hermeneutics is that Scripture is always the best interpreter of Scripture.
We constantly compare Scripture with Scripture when determining the meaning of passages.
The fourth law of biblical hermeneutics is what I would refer to as focusing and depending on God.
Realizing that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit, who wrote the Scriptures through men, will divinely help Christians interpret them.
"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20, 21).
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26).
Dangers When You Don't Interpret the Bible Literally
Finally, suppose a literal interpretation is not used in studying the Scriptures. In that case, there is no objective standard to understand the Bible. Each person would be able to interpret the Bible as he saw fit. It would devolve into “what this passage says and means to me” instead of “the Bible says.” It diminishes the authoritative truths spoken from the breath of God (2 Tim 3:16). Therefore, when we make ourselves the final judges, we elevate ourselves above God.
Who is to say that one person’s interpretation of biblical events or truth is more or less valid than another? This is why we have cults, religions, and even divisions among those who call themselves Christians. This is why God sent the flood to destroy a world of lawlessness; literally, every man doing what is right in their own eyes. The confusion and distortions resulting from such a system would render the Scriptures null and void. Sadly, this is already the case in much of what is called Bible study today. The Bible is God’s Word to us, and He meant it to be believed—wholly and literally.
Other Forms of Literary Interpretation in Scriptures
We interpret the Bible literally, but this does not mean we ignore symbols and metaphorical.
language. Figures of speech in which a word or phrase denoting, in a way that isn’t true, one kind of object, action, or idea is being used instead of another to suggest a likeness or comparison between them. They help explain an idea, concept, or thought. God’s written communication to the world is a richly textured literary masterpiece. It fully uses language tools, including allegory, metaphor, symbolism, parables, epistles, narrative, prophecy, apocalyptic literature, simile (imagery), and motif (themes). We will address allegories, metaphors, and parables. The rest will be addressed in the section on genres.
Allegory
The allegorical (or spiritualizing) method of interpretation was prominent in the church for about 1,000 years. Until it was displaced during the Reformation. The Reformers sought the “plain meaning” of Scripture. Allegorical interpretation looks for a deeper, spiritual meaning within the text. While not necessarily denying that the text has a literal sense or that the historical incidents reported are accurate. Allegorical interpreters will look for a deeper symbolic meaning.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary device that uses an implied comparison between two, unlike things to help explain or expound an idea. The Bible uses metaphors heavily, especially when talking about Christ. A metaphor claims that one thing is another thing. (This is slightly different from a simile, an explicit comparison using the Word like or as.) However, it’s understood that the two entities are not literally the same when metaphor is employed. The Bible uses multiple literary devices. As a work of literature comprised of many genres, from poetry to history to epistles, it’s important to recognize when a statement in the Bible is meant to be taken literally. We don’t fall into strange or faulty assumptions when it is not so.
The Bible uses metaphor to help us make connections that allow us to understand more profound truths. Jesus often used metaphors to make statements about Himself; examples are below:
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). This confused some people. “The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” (John 6:52). But Jesus did not mean He was a loaf of bread. Instead, He meant that He gives life and sustains us spiritually, the way bread sustains the body.
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus did not mean He literally gave the world light like the sun. Instead, He pointed to His role of driving back spiritual darkness and illuminating the way of life and truth.
“I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). This metaphor has several layers. Here, we, humanity, are represented by the sheep—helpless, rather foolish creatures at the mercy of a shepherd to protect them. Jesus is the door to the sheepfold, the safe haven of the sheep. He is the only way to enter into the place of protection and rest.
The language of the Bible is rich with metaphors. The biblical writers used familiar, everyday objects to symbolize spiritual truth. As you can see, Jesus’ teaching was full of symbolism. He presented Himself as a Shepherd, a Sower, a Bridegroom, a Door, a Cornerstone, a Vine, Light, Bread, and Water. He likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding feast, a seed, a tree, a field, a net, a pearl, and yeast. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other symbols in the Bible.
Note that a literal interpretation of the Bible allows for figurative language. Here’s a simple rule: if the literal meaning of a passage leads to obvious absurdity, but a figurative meaning yields clarity, then the passage probably uses symbols. More examples would include:
Hearts of stone or flesh: A heart of stone is emblematic of a spiritually dead heart that cannot respond to God’s grace. God promises to remove our heart of stone and replace it with a living, loving heart that can follow Him (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26).
Whitewashed tombs: A whitewashed tomb is a stone crypt that is clean and well-kept on the outside but filled with bones and death. Jesus used this image as a symbol to represent hypocrites—religious people who do not follow God in their hearts but try to look good on the outside (Matthew 23:27 & Luke 11:44.
Capstone: A capstone is one of the top stones on a wall. Metaphorically, it is the finishing touch or the crowning achievement. Jesus used this symbol of Himself (Mark 12:10: 1 Peter 2:6-7).
Parables
A parable is, literally, something “cast alongside” something else. Jesus’ parables were stories that were “cast alongside” a truth to illustrate that truth. His parables were teaching aids and can be considered extended analogies or inspired comparisons. A typical description of a parable is that it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus also told many parables, essentially extended metaphors to get His points across.
There are about 35 of Jesus’ parables recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. It had not always been that way. In the early part of His ministry, Jesus had not used parables. He begins telling parables exclusively, much to the surprise of His disciples, who asked Him, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10).” Jesus explained that His use of parables had a two-fold purpose: to reveal the truth to those who wanted to know it and to conceal the truth from those who were indifferent. In the previous chapter (Matthew 12), the Pharisees publicly rejected their Messiah and blasphemed the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:22-32).
It Is Vital to Understand Bible Genres
An understanding of the genres of Scripture is vital to UNDERSTANDING. If the wrong genre is assumed for a passage, it can easily be misunderstood or misconstrued, leading to an incomplete and fallacious understanding of what God desires to communicate. God is not the author of confusion.
"For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints" (1 Corinthians 14:33),
He wants us to correctly [handle] the word of truth.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who [a]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
You are not alone when reading and interpreting the Scriptures. Your confidence is in God the Holy Spirit, not your own good intentions, education, or intellect. The same Holy Spirit that lives in every born-again believer wrote the Bible, so we can rest assured that He can and will help us interpret the Scriptures.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26). “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you” (John 16:13-14).
God wants us to know His plan for the world and us as individuals. How fulfilling it is to come to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep” the love of God for you in His Word!
"For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19).
Therefore, Bible genres are classifications of Bible literature according to literary features, such as writing style, tone, form, structure, content, and design. The main genres found in the Bible are law, history, wisdom, poetry, narrative, epistles, prophecy, gospels, and apocalyptic literature. Some books of the Bible fit neatly into one genre, while others have a mixture of genres. Being familiar with or understanding the various Biblical genres will make a huge difference in how accurately you interpret the text.
Law
The books of the law are made up of rules, statutes, and instructions, and are generally concerned with how people live. They're meant to instruct and lay out the conditions of God's covenant with the nation of Israel.
Wisdom
Ranging from the pithy sayings of Proverbs to the cyclical laments of Job, wisdom literature is concerned with making sense of life and how to live well. It includes advice for navigating conflict, how to achieve a sense of perspective, and the painful cry of the heart as the realities of loss set in. The aim is to make sense of the meaning of life as experienced and observed.
Prophets
What was God saying? God spoke to the nation of Israel through prophets who acted, sang, spoke, and sometimes wrote down these messages. Other times a school of scribes or prophets documented them during or after the time they gave their message. They aimed to share God's direct message to the people of Israel, calling them back from sin and giving them hope and comfort.
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Epistles/Letters
An epistle is a letter, usually in a formal style. There are 21 letters in the New Testament from the apostles to various churches or individuals. These letters have a style very similar to modern letters, with an opening, a greeting, a body, and a closing. The content of the Epistles involves clarification of prior teaching, rebuke, explanation, correction of false teaching, and a deeper dive into the teachings of Jesus. The reader must understand the original recipients' cultural, historical, and social situation to get the most out of an analysis of these books. The letters written to the early churches capture the challenges and theology of the early Church as Christianity began to spread across the Roman Empire. They contain practical, theological, and relational instruction as well as evidence, of the reality of Jesus.
Narrative
This narrative genre is a descriptive story, It includes the Gospels, biographical narratives about Jesus, and the books of Ruth, Esther, and Jonah. The Book of Ruth is a perfect example of a well-crafted short story, astonishing in its succinctness and structure. The narrative books or portions of the Bible give us a story meant to capture the experience of the people of God. In the Old Testament, they span 1,000 years of Israel's history; in the New, they tell the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and the birth of the Church. Its purpose is to document communal stories and histories for official record to faithfully pass them on to future generations, and to show God at work in the lives of his people.
History
The Old Testament is full of historical narratives. Genesis and Exodus describe the beginnings of the people of Israel, their exile in the land of Egypt, and Moses giving them the law. You can see a distinct difference between books like Exodus, which largely relates events, and Leviticus, which mostly lays out prescriptions. Later books such as Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles also expand upon the history of God’s people. Another common feature is genealogies which are long lists of people with unusual names, all forming a long line of descendants. When you come to the New Testament, Matthew, and Luke’s Gospels also include the genealogies of Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles relate the history of the early church and God’s power at work through the disciples.
Poetry
The Bible contains poetic literature, often found in the Old Testament in the form of Hebrew poetry. This isn’t purely poetry in the way we might understand it in modern literature today. Hebrew poetry employs various devices to get its point across. These include books like Psalms (which are essentially a bunch of songs) and the Song of Solomon (which is almost like a collection of love letters where two people are expressing their feelings for one another). There are also parts of other books of the Bible which include poetic elements such as in Isaiah or Jeremiah.
Gospels
Although the Gospels contain elements of historical narrative, they go beyond this, making them their own genre altogether. The purpose of the gospels is to proclaim Jesus and to point to him, his teaching, and his works. As Luke writes at the beginning of his gospel:
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:1-4).
Scholars often refer to John’s Gospel as a book of signs, as Jesus’ miracles (or signs) point to Jesus as the Messiah.
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).
Therefore, when we read the gospels, although we read it as a historical narrative, we ultimately engage with it in a way that we may encounter Jesus as well, just like the disciples.
Also, we recognize that there are difficult passages in the Bible, as well as sincere disagreements over interpretation. Our goal is to approach Scripture reverently and pray fervently that our eyes see, our ears hear, and our hearts believe what the Word and Spirit are saying. Again, the same Holy Spirit that wrote the Bible through men, will interpret the Bible for His children.
In my next blog, "Why Interpret Revelation Literally?" (part two), we will discuss the literal interpretation of Apocalyptic Literature regarding the Book of Revelation.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY AND FEEL HIS LOVING PRESENCE?
This is the ultimate Christian online course on learning how to be intimate with God, not just knowing about Him, but to experience Him so He influences your heart, your marriage, family, church, and world.
JESUS PLUS NOTHING SAVES YOU
This is a detailed discussion on who Jesus is and how you get saved!
We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.