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Various people calling themselves Christians argue that parts of the Bible, particularly Genesis, should be read allegorically rather than literally, even though the Bible itself presents them as true history. Such people believe that history taught in the Bible is simply a set of stories provided to convey moral lessons. Yet the Bible itself argues against such a reading.
First, both the Old and the New Testaments contain genealogies beginning with Adam; those in the New Testament lead to Christ Himself. If Genesis were to be read allegorically, then at some point, an allegory would have to "beget" a flesh-and-blood human being. In other words, where do you draw the line between allegory and literal truth? Is Christ just an allegory, too? If we discount any part of Scripture that we don't like as allegorical, what stops homers from doing the same about the account of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Second, later parts of the Bible treat earlier parts as true history, not as allegory. Thus, reading Genesis allegorically calls into question the entire Bible. For example:
Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
While the account of Cain and Abel is used to convey a moral lesson, it is also treated as having actually happened. There is no mention of what we can learn from the allegory of Abel for the simple reason that it isn't an allegory at all.
Finally, and most importantly, an allegorical reading of Genesis nullifies our entire faith. Christ's passion was a response to Adam's sin:
Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Otherwise, there would be no need for grace to overcome Adam's disobedience, and we could get to heaven just by being good people, as the fluffy bunnies assure us that we can. Yet Scripture says:
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
In other words, if Adam is just an allegory, then God's temporary sacrifice of Himself to Himself was a waste of time. Therefore, in order to be a Christian, you must accept the literal truth of Genesis
First, both the Old and the New Testaments contain genealogies beginning with Adam; those in the New Testament lead to Christ Himself. If Genesis were to be read allegorically, then at some point, an allegory would have to "beget" a flesh-and-blood human being. In other words, where do you draw the line between allegory and literal truth? Is Christ just an allegory, too? If we discount any part of Scripture that we don't like as allegorical, what stops homers from doing the same about the account of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Second, later parts of the Bible treat earlier parts as true history, not as allegory. Thus, reading Genesis allegorically calls into question the entire Bible. For example:
Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
While the account of Cain and Abel is used to convey a moral lesson, it is also treated as having actually happened. There is no mention of what we can learn from the allegory of Abel for the simple reason that it isn't an allegory at all.
Finally, and most importantly, an allegorical reading of Genesis nullifies our entire faith. Christ's passion was a response to Adam's sin:
Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Otherwise, there would be no need for grace to overcome Adam's disobedience, and we could get to heaven just by being good people, as the fluffy bunnies assure us that we can. Yet Scripture says:
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
In other words, if Adam is just an allegory, then God's temporary sacrifice of Himself to Himself was a waste of time. Therefore, in order to be a Christian, you must accept the literal truth of Genesis
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