Updated 03:46 pm.EST, Mon November 23, 2009

Ministries|Mon, Aug. 25 2008 09:41 AM EDT

How Much of the Bible is Literal?

By Billy Graham|Christian Post Guest Columnist

Q: How much of the Bible is literal and how much of it is a myth? Take Jonah and the whale, for instance. Surely that must be a myth, because I can't imagine anyone being swallowed by a whale and then living to tell about it. - S.L.

A: It might surprise you to learn that there actually have been several documented cases of people who were swallowed by whales and lived to tell about it (although the Bible simply says that Jonah was swallowed by "a great fish," not necessarily a whale).

But the real question is this: Did the miracles recorded in the Bible actually happen - or are they simply myths or legends? The Bible's testimony is clear: They actually happened - and the reason is because God made them happen. If we leave God out of the picture and say He isn't powerful or doesn't have anything to do with the world, then there isn't any room for miracles.

But once we understand that God is all-powerful, and that He cares what happens to us, then the miracles recorded in the Bible won't be a problem for us. The Bible says, "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you" (2 Samuel 7:22). The Bible's miracles were a demonstration of God's power and authority.

The greatest miracle of all, however, is the miracle of God's love for us. We aren't worthy of His love, for we have sinned and turned our backs on Him. And yet He still loves us - and the proof is that He sent His Son into the world to save us and give us eternal life. Don't be ruled by your doubts any longer, but by faith open your life to Christ's transforming power today.

________________________________________________

Affectionately known as the “World’s Preacher” for more than 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to ten American presidents and has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history — nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories — through various meetings. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
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  • Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:16 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    No tears here, Laura is the mother of Jesus too.

  • Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:09 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    light, why settle for second best when you can go directly into the Throne Room of God through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

  • Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:02 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Prophet-

    We don't pray to mary. She prays for us. Now, all mothers may be mothers of God, but Mary was the mother of Jesus, who WAS God. God is not Jesus, but Jesus is God. It counts as a bonus when someone who was the mother of Jesus prays for you. Calm down, ok? No tears please ;)

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:02 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    prophet, we're cool and have a great Lord's Day tomorrow, believer

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:41 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer,
    I see where you're coming from, and I was suspicious that that was your understanding. I was under the assumption that TLIML was talking about Christians alone, and not unbelievers. Maybe he can clarify that.

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:20 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    prophet, but is this talking to believers or to non-believers as well? I took light to mean that God is in every person saved or unsaved alike.

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:56 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Believer,
    Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

    John 15:4 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    light, please explain how the one true God is in all of us and although I don't believe it is possible please cite Bible to support that, thanks believer?

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:24 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Amen,
    So there is no need to pray to Mary.

  • Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:07 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Well, sure she is since God is in us all, all mothers are mothers of God.

  • Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:04 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    I'm not whining. I'm just stating that Lois is a mother of God too.

  • Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:47 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Prophet-

    Well, Mary is the mother of God, you agreed to that and said "Well she's the mother of me then, too" I agreed to THAT... so what's your problem? Since God is in all of us Mary is the spiritual mother of us all. Stop whining and please grow up.

  • Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:12 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    And why isn't anyone prayng to me? I'm a saint.

  • Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:24 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Funny. My momma's name isn't mary.....And my momma's still alive.
    But I think that Mary should be in the Record Books for giving birth to the most children in the world....even after she's dead. That's a record in itself.

  • Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:18 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Prophet-

    Of course she is. But she isn't the mother of me. Mary is. She is the mother of us ALL.

  • Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:03 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Yes, my wife is the mother of God too. I'm glad you agree.

  • Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:56 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    Prophet-

    absolutely right, Mary IS our universal mother, now you're catching on ; )

  • mike »
    Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:26 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Literal? SELF DENIAL is biblical yet pastors, televangelist & christians do not DENY themselves! hypocrites

  • Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:50 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    I also know of another literal part...
    When Jesus says who is my mother and who are my brothers, but they who do the will of my Father. So Mary isn't the only "Mother of God". There are millions...

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:51 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Well I think I'm done here ;)

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:51 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    I know ONE part of the bible that's literal :D Jesus said "This is my body, eat it..." and "this is my blood, drink it..." He also said "Those who do not eat the flesh of the son of God have no life." he also said "Go in my name and forgive. Those you forgive, my father forgives." he also said "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I build my church." He continued to say "Thou art Peter, and I give to thee the keys of heaven" Another part of the bible that is literal is the ten commandments. If you count/read them off, you will find that seventy percent of what God commands to us... is about WHAT we DO and how we DO it. Not how we FEEL and how we FEEL it, or what we BELIEVE and how we BELIEVE it, but what we DO!

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:51 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    w1, that's what concerns me about what is being propagated by some in this discussion. My sense is there is a hidden agenda that by discrediting some of God's Word as not literally being God's Word in the original autographs, it gives us free license to accept or reject as our feelings and opinions dictate. But as I've asked on several occassions if the Word of God does indeed contain myths, contradictions, and errors then when does God finally start telling the truth. To which yet I have received an answer from those who do not believe that the Bible in it's original autographs is the God-breathed, inerrant, plenary, Word of God. It appears to me this issue has truly revealed both wheat and chaff in our midst.

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:43 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    DP, your referral to Romans 12:2 is right on target and as I shared a number of posts back, that is one of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer to illumine his mind to be able to not only understand God's Word but to apply it to his daily living as well.

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:46 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Unfortunately, there are those who do not want Jesus to open "their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." There is sin in the camp, and they do not want to drive it out or come out from that camp.

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:30 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "It looks like you're still calling purple red and red purple."

    They are both red. Purple is red with blue in it.... Sorry, just had to go there....

    One major problem with software is that it doesn't run right on all computers. Some require 'patches' to work right. It's the same program but on different computers. The same can be said of the Bible. Romans 12 talks about the renewing of your mind. This is required for the program of Scripture to run right.

    In the software world, a program that cannot firmly run on the OS is said to 'skate' on the OS. This means it may run but it will occasionally 'fall on the ice' if you will. This is the problem with fallen man. We try to blame the software when in fact it is our ability to run it that is the problem. This is why there are so many different variations. The accuracy of what is 'believed' is based on the level of renewal of the mind.

    This is why they say with virus software to keep running it until you get a clean report. Some stuff is 2 or more levels down. I have found people are quite satisfied with the virus software I have recommended (Norton, BTW) once I have taught them how to use it correctly!

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:44 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    abhodim, thank you for sharing a lesson in how to read and keep the Word of God in its proper context, be blessed as you continue to serve Him, believer

  • Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:09 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Following the line of debate, I was impressed with the points raised on both sides of the issue of hermeneutics and inspiration. I would advance these points:
    First, the simplest approach to any type of writing is the literal approach, whether it be mama's letter from home to the latest book on your summer read-list. They have a message that they wish to express, and over-interpreting their message may cost us the understanding of that message. Indeed, the methods of the early Alexandrian school (featuring the church father Origin) sought deeper meanings and truth than what the Scripture offered. The seeking of analogical and anagogical levels of understanding often obscured the central truth the Bible verse or section intended to express.
    Second, we have to understand the extent of poetry within the Bible, Psalms, Job, Isaiah, etc. being rather poetic in their expression. Understand the message that the poet or prophet was expressing, and the richness of their poetry only enhances. The same with the parables. Jesus chose to be cryptic with those who rejected His teachings (Mt. 13: 10-17), while offering an opportunity for His followers to find a "heavening meaning in an earthly story." In such cases, an understanding of metaphor, simile, symbol, and other concepts of figurative language helps us understand Jesus' point. I am thankful He took the time to explain the parables of The Sower and The Weeds in the Wheat (found also in Mt. 13).
    Finally, understand how right Dr. Graham was. "But once we understand that God is all-powerful, and that He cares what happens to us, then the miracles recorded in the Bible won't be a problem for us." Our position on God's ability to perform the miraculous affects our view of the Bible as God's inspired Word. SJ's citing his opponents as "bibliolatrous" is another strawman; no Christian worships the Book. We make no prayers to the Bible. But we revere it as the sole revealed message of God to the people of the planet. It's how it caries on from there as the Word, Law and Gospel, bad news of sin and good news of redemption in Christ, impacts each individual who takes the time to read and ponder its message.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:05 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, if anyone is trying to turn God into their own image it is you my friend as you continue to discount His Word and attempt to rewrite it to suit your fancy. You are now even advocating the lie that we are saved by works and not by grace if you truly believe that we are saved by obedience to the Great Commandment.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:01 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer, your insistent question about 'when does God start finally telling the truth' is clever, like the Pharisees, but also misleading, trying to turn God into our own image. But as Isaiah reminds us, God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are our ways God's ways.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, plus please get your colors correct, it is scarlet and not red. Red is a basic color whereas scarlet is a mix of red and orange and purple is a mix of red and blue.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:53 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    ifeelfine, when are you going to realize that the color of the robe is not relevant to the fact of the inerrancy of God's Word? Plus, there are several expalnations to the different colors mentioned, but the bottom line is how does the difference in colors impact the context of what was being told? And the answer is it doesn't.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:35 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Believer: It looks like you're still calling purple red and red purple.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:18 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, just out of curiousity, do you believe that Daniel in the Lion's Den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedenego being thrown in the fiery furnace actually/literally took place?

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:02 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, as far as the account recorded in Luke there are several Bible scholars who think this was a totally different incident than the one recorded in Matthew and Mark.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:48 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, the traditional site of Judas's death is a field at the bottom of a cliff outside of Jerusalem.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:40 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Here's the simple truth...Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might; and love your neighbor as yourself.

    Since these two are a full time job, I tend not to focus too much on the jot and tittle. It does make for a nice diversion though!

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:37 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "Law happened THREE different times"

    Actually no. The reason there are 4 different Gospels is because they are written to 4 different groups of people. There is quite a bit if redundancy in the letters of Paul because they are going to different places. That doesn't change what is being said.

    When I worked in prepress I would speak one way to customers and another way to other artists. There were still other ways I would communicate to the sales staff. For example, I would tell an artist that their file 8133'd. Unless you know PS code that doesn't mean much now does it. Now when it comes to the sales staff and customers...now there was more similarity. That error wouldn't apply. Another error would be 'stack overflow -image pg83. This means that there is something wrong with a picture on pg 83 and it is sending more data then the header (intro) said was suppose to be there. Now when I talk with the sales staff or normal client it becomes "there's something wrong with one of the picture files but we're fixing it". Please note that all ways of saying it are completely accurate.

    There would be no point of having 4 seperate Gospels if they all contained and were worded the exact same way now would there? As I remember my Gospels and Acts class, one of the Gospels (don't ask me which one right now!) was written with gentiles in mind so 'Jewish' things had to be explained.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:27 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, if you keep the text in the context of what the writer was saying it is usually pretty easy to see what is a metaphor and what events actually took place. Plus, I see your still avoiding my question as to when does God finally start telling the truth?

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:20 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, so are you saying that we are saved as a result of obeying God's Great Commandment, because God's Word says in Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift, not from works, so no one can boast." Or did Paul make a mistake here to?

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:27 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Actually I suspect that you biblioaltrous contortionists will require that the story of the Summary of the Law happened THREE different times, since Jesus' words differ slightly in Matthew's and Mark's accounts, and since the lawyer said them in Luke. How silly to be distracted from the Gospel in 'explaining' the differences, since Jesus affirms them either way. Don't you see how the defense of your personal view of the Bible distracts you from Jesus' message?

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:10 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer, can you cite me one real example where someone hanged themselves from a tree and their bowels split open and their intestines spilled out? Never in my many years have I heard such a thing and if it did happen,it must be usual and I would be surprised that Matthew didn't mention it. Secondly, if the four corners spoken of by Ezekiel, Isaiah and John the Divine are just a 'metaphor' as you say (not as they said), then you are right, how do we know whether or not Daniel and the lion's den or the fiery furnace isn't just a metaphor too? You 'cafeteria' Christians just pick and choose what you want to be metaphors? As far as the way to Salvation, I think Jesus said it best, love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind, and your neighbor as yourself. No confusion there.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:52 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, every reliable translation says that he fell headlong specifically falling headlong not one said he threw himself. Webster's Dictionary defines headlong 1. as with the head first; headfirst 2. with uncontrolled speed and force. Falling with uncontrolled speed and force. This could be very easily done as a result of someone hanging themselves by jumping out of a tree and would have caused his body to literally explode which would account for his bowels or intestines falling to the ground.

  • igh »
    Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:30 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    o ya on the 'earth being flat' thing. Well we still use, North, South, East, and West to this day. You know the "four corners." So.......

  • igh »
    Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:23 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    St. John's the Bible is given to us by God. And is complete. Without error. Now i cant prove to you it is without error, but to say it is fallible yet complete because it tells of Salvation and how to be Saved is contradictory. If it is fallible, the Bible, then how to be Saved could be wrong! When we say this is right and that is wrong we open a door thats full of dangers. What if daniel never came out of the lion den alive? Or the firey funace consumed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? What if there are those who say "i believe in the Bible but not Prophecy." Then we negate alot of Daniel, so now we have those who have torn apart one book, so lets just throw it out because it isnt important to Salvation anyways. In fact we can throw out all the Old Testament, no Adam and Eve, no Cain and Able. Noah? what do we need him for? Nor do we need Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses? that was 3500 years ago! Old news we just need the New Testament. Pslams and Proverbs? dont think so, besides, we dont know who really wrote them anyways. So there ya go, all we need is how to be Saved. All else is fallible. ermm if the Bible is fallible then the way to the Father must be error prone too. something to think about.

    And one more thing, judas did have his guts fall out. Bible says so.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:10 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    sj, we have shown you example after example to show that these passages you shared do not contradict each other and you choose to negate them as if men like Dr. Norman Geisler have not thoroughly done their homework in these matters. And then you claim to speak for Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John with regards to the four corners of the earth issue. And even there I shared a passage of Scripture from the book of Isaiah where he acknowledges the world as being round and yet you choose to discount that as well. Well it is truly apparent that you have your mind made up in this matter and there is no need for anyone to confuse you with facts or more importantly God's Word. So I close with a question I've asked several people who don't believe that the Bible in its original autographs is the God-breathed, inerrant, plenary, Word of God and who profess to be Christians and I know I've asked you this already, but for whatever reason you chose not to answer so I'll ask again in closing. When it comes to the Word of God, when does God finally start telling the truth?

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    DP, thanks for both the support as well as the encouraging words, be blessed as you continue to serve Him, believer

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:37 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Daniel Paul, why you've become a 'cafeteria Christian' picking and choosing which passages in the Bible YOU believe as written. You 'believe' both Acts and Matthew about Judas' death, even though they contradict each other, and so you distort and contort the stories to 'explain' away the obvious contradiction, and THEN you 'disbelieve' Ezekiel, Isaiah and John the Divine when they say that the earth has four corners, when they actually believed the earth did. I have no fear of Judgment Day, my friend, and I don't have to be a biblioaltrous extortionist or contortionist to get there! My faith is in God! Yours is in the fallible hands of human writers! As the Scriptures say 'to err is human' but you've made these writer superhuman! You've made idols of them, which I think is against one of the Commandments.

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:18 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    "You are the one distorting and contorting the Scriptures, adding things that are not there to make them say things they do not say so as to avoid any contradiction that would upset your personal views of the Bible."

    I thought you didn't believe the Bible as written. Believer's position is consitant with what is taught by people like Billy Graham and hundreds of Bible college professors I have grown up around in two different countries.

    But no matter, for some reason ... "I told you so" just isn't going to be enough on judgement day. Keep preaching it bro believer!

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:49 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    believer, I guess the question is when are you going to finally start telling the truth. You are the one distorting and contorting the Scriptures, adding things that are not there to make them say things they do not say so as to avoid any contradiction that would upset your personal views of the Bible. The Scripture do NOT mention a broken rope or a tree or a cliff or a bank (which aren't there geographically, by the way). What the Scriptures do say in one place is that Judas hanged himself (no mention of bowels splitting open, unusual for a hanging) and in another place that he threw himself down headlong, with bowels opening. It is easier to believe that one of the writers got part of the story wrong than to make up stuff to avoid the obvious contradiction. Similarly, what Ezekiel, Isaiah and John the Divine said is that there are four corners to the earth. Not surprising if you think the world is flat, and the heavens are above and Sheol is below. But again you distort the Scriptures and suggest this is just a metaphor (how do you know? what else is metaphor?), because to simply acknowledge that that writers were wrong upsets your personal view of the Bible. You avoid the 'plain sense' of the Scripture to make them say something other than what the writers meant literally. Proof of biblioaltrous extortionism and contortionism while you want to be all self-righteous about your personal view of the Bible. Have some faith for God's sake, in God, not the Bible!

  • Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:34 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    moe, Christ was asking His Father to forgive them, unless they repented of their sins individually they were not forgiven. He also asked His Father to take away the need for Him to go to the Cross and God chose not to and thankfully out of His love for both His Father and us, He went all the way to the cross. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one can come to the Father but through Me." He did not offer any alternatives to salvation, He didn't say Me or, or Me plus. Plus when it comes to opinions there is only one that matters, God's opinion which in a majority of cases can be found in His Word.

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