The Bible is stuffed full of imagry, but have you ever wondered if this new and wonderful book of Biblical interpretation is...well...neo orthodox or heterodoxical nonsense? I have to admit that I kind of like reading material which shows the secrets behind biblical numerology, the use of the sun in scripture or what exactly is meant by an obscure verse that my pastor choked on last time he came across it. I'm just wired that way. And because of this I can be led astray rather quickly. I need to keep some basic things in mind.
1. The Bible never uses a symbol if a literal statement will do. If scripture recounts Moses combing his hair, well, that's pretty much what it means. It has nothing to do with foretelling the parting of the Red Sea or women wearing headcoverings. It means that a few moments later Moses probably looked better than he did when he started...
2. Biblical Symbolism is not isolated. If the the symbolic meaning of the stars means one thing in Genesis, it also means the same thing in Revelation. If you want to know what future prophetic symbols meant, look at the prophetic symbolism of already fulfilled prophecy. If a grasshopper isn't a helicopter in Genesis, it' probably ain't one in Revelation.
3. All Symbolism must be interpreted from the Bible and not just other ancient literature. Whatever the literary conventions of Gilgamesh were, they are only slightly helpful with regard to Biblical interpretation.
4. Solid historical teachings should not be flippantly tossed aside. This one really gets me. Dispensationalists claim they have the truth and what has been taught for over a thousand years is rubbish. While they may have the truth (I doubt it), coming to those conclusions without looking at the works of people who spent much more time than I did studying in the past is foolish. See Ephesians 4:8-12
5. Biblical philosophy is useful, but not complete, when studying Biblical Symbolism. Extra biblical philosophy is not useful at all. Philosophy changes, the meaning of scripture does not. It's not whether this symbol or that can be viewed within an Existential Framework, it's whether Existentialism is consistent with the Bible. Taking this to the logical conclusion, you don't put an existential meaning to a symbol in scripture unless you can find proof from Scripture itself that this is a legit thing to do.
Now why were there only two of some animals and seven of others on the ark?
Thus scratched Lady Raven at
8:37 PM
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Name: Raven Shadowwinds From::Gaston, South Carolina, United States
I'm a 40ish mother of two; wanna-be historian, webdesigner, thinker of deep thoughts, and gothic princess. I am a perplexing and arcane person, creative writer, artist and photographer. I’m a voracious reader of anything Celtic, Norse, Confederate, Reformation, Renaissance, Medieval, World War two, political, philosophical or theological subject matter, as well as vampires, werewolves and other “darker” gothic themes. I’m an amateur historian, philosopher and theologian. I’m a confederate constitutional libertarian. I like antiquity goth, romanti-goth and period-goth styles mostly, though my hair has punk tendencies. In music I prefer celtic, renn, medieval, gregorian chant, ethereal darkwave, gothic rock, punk, melodic metal, medieval metal, hair bands, dark ambient, new age. I drink Coca-Cola, Chai Latte or British style tea.
Legalism is a sin, one cannot bind the conscience of another believer without direct scriptural compulsion to do so. Where there is no commandment or restriction there is liberty. Twisting scripture and
misinterpreting it to take away the liberty of a believer is legalism.
No culture can honestly claim to be Christian unless it has been ordered by and initiated by God. All cultures have been polluted by sin as all men are sinners. The Body of Christ should remember this...When attempting a conversation with a member of another culture...in that conversation, there will be two sinful cultures and two people who have a sin problem. This does not change whether the conversation is in deepest africa, or the goth club down the road.
**Warning** the below linked blog rolls contain sites which may not be acceptable or Christian. I have placed them here to increase traffic to my blog and possibly expose unbelievers to the truth. Click out at your own risk!!
