A common question is whether or not the Bible should be taken literally or figuratively. In many cases the answer is both. Scripture is so much more complex and richer than most people give it credit for.

Like an onion, there are layers to scripture. The rabbis tell us there are four levels to scripture:

1) The literal meaning
2) The hint of something deeper
3) The practical application
4) The hidden meaning of the text.

Take, for example, the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. The literal message there is Abraham had faith and trusted God. But on a deeper level Abraham sacrificing Isaac is a type of the crucifixion of Christ. If you study that story you find types of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the Church all represented.

The Bible contains several types of writing styles:

1) Historical narratives
2) Poetic
3) Apocalyptic literature
4) Parables
5) Sermons

And others. We have to consider the type of writing as well as the context, audience, and social setting when studying Scripture.

But just because a passage may contain some allegorical elements doesn't mean there isn't a literal meaning to the passage. While there are different layers to scripture the rule is that a text never looses its literal meaning.

For example, in John 10:1-16 Jesus refers to Himself as a shepherd and His followers as sheep. Is He really a shepherd? Are we really sheep? Of course not. He's simply using the relationship between the two to effectively illustrate His point. He's using figurative language to deliver a literal message.
 

SOME STUDIES THAT SHOW THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF SCRIPTURE:

• 4 Types Of Christians
• 10 Things Noah's Ark Teaches Us About Jesus
• Creation And Our New Birth
• Passover
• Old Testament Types Of AntiChrist
• More Studies