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Broderick Lemke
THRS 320A
Christian Tradition
7 February 2017
A Case against Figurative Biblical Interpretations, in Support of Literal Readings

Taking a literal or hermeneutical approach to reading sacred texts, such as the Bible,

greatly effects the perception of the texts. With a literal approach, readers are presented with

direct and clear instruction, or a story that relates to God. On the other hand, a figurative

approach provides a grey area in which interpretations of a single verse can be numerous and

could have conflicting messages. For this reason, biblical texts should be read literally.

Various approaches have been developed, in order to analyze the Bible figuratively.

These techniques have many flaws, all of which can be settled by literal readings. For example,

Origen proposes a figurative approach to scripture, claiming that holy texts are locked by a seal

and must be interpreted.1 He assumes that philosophy and other scripture must be used to

understand a hidden meaning in the text. 2 Origen also claims problems exist that that are hard or

impossible to resolve,3 however, if this were the case, why would God not have given some

indication of this? If God did not give us the facility to understand the truths, a kind and just God

would tell us this in scripture, and tell us that we must toil over these puzzles to come closer to

an understanding we would never truly achieve. Origen believes this is stated in Revelations, but

his reading quires a figurative interpretation initially to get that message. Instead, by reading

scripture literally, we receive answers to various truths such as creation. By attempting to bend

1
Origen, Commentary on Psalms 1-25, Fragment from Preface, 69-70.
2
Ibid.
3
Ibid, 71.
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scripture to fit our own arguments and beliefs, we are going against what God inspired biblical

authors to write, and instead using it to champion our beliefs.

Another example of this is Augustines reading of the Bible. He claims that there are two

rules to use while interpreting the Bible. He believes that everything in the Bible must follow the

rule of love,4 and the rule of faith.5 The rule of faith is based off of the trinity, which is a concept

that is not mentioned in the Bible. His rationale for understanding scripture is based off of this

trinity interpretation, which he views as true, and uses this to interpret the text in ways that fit

this belief. Additionally, the fourth book in his text was used to teach people how to share his

message, because his interpretations did not make sense without someone teaching them.

Instead, a literal reading relies on the text in the Bible solely as being inspired by God, rather

than relying on outside ideals and can be practiced by anyone with access to the text.

There are complications with relying on a literal interpretation of the text, including

translation errors, understanding what the verses mean today,6 and internal conflicts.7 The best

way to counter these problems is through continual editing of biblical texts. By regularly

returning to the most complete original manuscripts and using the latest historical translation

techniques the versions of the Bible should continually be updated to best fit our understanding

of the ancient language. To solve conflicts in the text, and ensure texts are relevant today, the

biblical the canon should be redefined.

4
Aurelius Augustine, On Christian Teaching, trans. R. P. H. Green (New York: Oxford University Press,
2008), 17.
5
Ibid, 68-70.
6
A.J. Jacobs, Year of Living Biblically.
7
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, 1.
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While being compiled initially, many books beyond the current canon of the Bible were

circulating.8 A current re-evaluation of texts should be undertaken to find a proper setting of the

Bible, much as was done initially. Modern scholarly research should continually shape the Bible,

allowing additions of books found to be spiritually significant and deletion of conflicting

messages once the true one is discovered. This process, carried out by a committee of educated

theologians would provide for the most correct Bible, one that can be read literally by any

Christian follower and utilized to truly understand God. This eliminates any outside explanations

of the Bible, which clouds the true meaning of the text, and instead relies on the inspired word of

God.

8
Bart D. Ehrman, Lost Scriptures (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003), 1-5.