Introduction
When it comes to taking someone or something (a written document, a movie, or a song) literally, there are some pretty serious pitfalls to avoid. This true and even more so when it comes to the Scriptures. Some people strenuously object to taking the Bible literally because of the “danger” a literal interpretation produces. They bring up issues like stoning, fire from heaven that wipes out entire groups of people, God striking down people, or hell as the “dangerous” implications of taking the Bible literally. Others insist that we must take the Bible literally because if we don’t then we end up making the Bible say whatever we’d like it to say. These people bring up topics like salvation, the resurrection of Jesus, miracle healing, or heaven as a warning to those who want to get rid of the literal interpretations. They insist that an abandonment of the literalness of the Scriptures will inevitably result in getting rid of these wonderful gifts from God.
Now, as the title makes plain, I’ve asked the question “Must we take Jesus literally?” I’ve asked this question not to try and solve this non-literal/literal argument that’s been going on for a long time now, but to give what I think is a helpful interpretive boundary marker related to matters of literalness. I’d like to do this by focusing on two statements Jesus makes in the Gospel of John What I want to do with these two statements is to set up the boundary markers and then explore what it looks like to interpret the verses within those markers.
Boundary Markers
When any sort of biblical interpretation is undertaken there needs to be boundary markers clearly established so one does not find themselves off wandering on their own and inevitably coming up with some interpretation only connected to the text in the slightest of ways. In order to avoid this type of wandering I’d like to suggest three boundary markers.
First, I should probably say something about the boundary markers. They are listed 1, 2, 3, but they are not intended to be implemented in a particular order of rank. As I see it, these boundary markers are best used when they overlap and crisscross each other while you’re working hard to understand a passage of Scripture.
Another thing I’d like to say about the boundary markers is that they are not the means by which you will understand what Scripture says—the Holy Spirit is. These boundary markers could be a great help to you, and they may be a means the Holy Spirit uses to bring you to a good understanding of a particular text, but he is the means, so rely and trust him.
The last thing I’d like to say about the boundary markers that are going to be listed is that these aren’t the only ones—the list isn’t complete. In this list I haven’t said anything about archaeology, textual criticism, genre, or historical, practical, biblical, and systematic theology. These three are simply a safe place to move forward from. A place that will hopefully prepare you to recognize the rest of the boundary markers.
Now, with all that being said, the boundary markers.
Allow the text to say what it says. (We didn’t write Scripture; therefore, there’s no reason for us to be importing our meaning onto the text.)
Assume the best from the text. (Scripture has not been given by God to us to trip us up; it’s given to tell us about him and grow us up into greater sanctification.)
Use normal rational interpretation for difficult sections. (If a text is particularly difficult to understand, trust that you have the natural rational abilities to break it down.)
Example
John 10:9 (NIV): I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The decision between non-literal and literal really comes into focus in a verse like John 10:9 because Jesus says that he’s a gate. Now, for those out there who don’t think we must take what Jesus says literally, they’re probably quick to point out that Jesus doesn’t believe he is an actual gate. Why in the world would Jesus think that? That’s something a crazy person says and Jesus isn’t crazy. That much is right and good. Of course, though, it’s not quite that simple.
Those who think we must take Jesus literally would probably very much want to say that Jesus is a gate because Jesus said he was. The literal folks, however, would most assuredly say that Jesus is not a gate in the sense of something on hinges, attached to a fence. It’s here where both groups have more in common than they might assume.
Neither group believes that Jesus thinks he is a actual wooden gate. What both groups need to be cognizant of is what Jesus means by saying he is a gate. We get help in this interpretive matter by looking to what else Jesus says. After saying he is the gate he says, “whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” Through the context of the rest of the statement we can see that Jesus has called himself the gate because he is the means by which his sheep will enter the pasture. It’s a word picture.
Again, the question we get to ask is: Must we take Jesus literally when he calls himself the gate?
Answer: Yes, but….
Jesus is literally the gate—that much is clear from the context. And, Jesus is not literally a gate that swings on hinges—that much is clear from the context.
Conclusion
What do we do then with the rest of the interesting or difficult verses? We look at them one by one and diligently work through what they are saying. It probably also wouldn’t be a bad idea to drop using the term literal when interpreting the Scriptures. As we can see from the example given, the question isn’t really over what’s literal. The question is over whether or not we’re going to take what Jesus says seriously.
To brush Jesus aside because only fools call themselves gates is to miss the point completely. To insist that one must use the language of literal when driving home the point that Jesus didn’t actually mean he was a gate in the physical sense is to probably miss the point as well. To take Jesus seriously and on his own terms is the best way to both understand what Jesus means and to apply that meaning to our lives.