[Pastor Isaac Peters]

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

[Pastor Rune Enoe]

You had me worried for a moment, Brother, when I read the title of your post. Of course, the Bible should only be read allegorically when the text itself makes clear that it's an allegory.

Remember the story of Jonah and the fish:



Now, some people might find this story a little *ahem* hard to swallow, but Christ Himself told us that the story of Jonah should be read quite literally:

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus made it clear that He would only make one sign (which means that curing the blind, walking on water and raising the dead doesn't even count as signs compared to this - the big one) and that He considered His resurrection to be a re-enactment of Jonah's fish story extraordinary.

If you don't believe in Jonah and the whale, then you can't believe in the resurrection. And you know what Paul tells us about not believing in the resurrection:

1st Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1st Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1st Corinthians 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

[TwinkBoy]

See if you can get this MSTT...it's ALL ALLEGORY AND SYMBOLISM with NOTHING literal about it!!

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Originally Posted by TwinkBoy

See if you can get this MSTT...it's ALL ALLEGORY AND SYMBOLISM with NOTHING literal about it!!

So, when Jesus drop-kicks you into hell, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth, you'll just say that it's all an allegory? Okay, fine. Have fun.

[OnYourKnees]

Originally Posted by TwinkBoy

See if you can get this MSTT...it's ALL ALLEGORY AND SYMBOLISM with NOTHING literal about it!!

ALL of it, TB?

ALL of the Bible is allegory and symbolism? None of those people were real, even the ones recorded by other historians?

[Brother Love]

The HOLY BIBLE KJV1611 says what it MEANS and it means what is SAYS, literally! To think it's all nothing but allegory and symbolism is ridiculous, not to mention, being a DECEPTION by the DEVIL himself!!

[Virginia Day Templeton]

Originally Posted by Prune Danish

Remember the story of Jonah and the fish:
Attachment 1133

Creation scientists have even confirmed the species of fish that swallowed Jonah—Leedsichthys problematicus, the biggest fish God ever made. It was almost as big as a Blue Whale! Why Jesus would decide to exterminate such a marvelous creature is beyond me, but it's not up to us to question His infinite wisdom. Praise!

[OnYourKnees]

Originally Posted by Virginia D. Templeton

Creation scientists have even confirmed the species of fish that swallowed Jonah—Leedsichthys problematicus, the biggest fish God ever made. It was almost as big as a Blue Whale! Why Jesus would decide to exterminate such a marvelous creature is beyond me, but it's not up to us to question His infinite wisdom. Praise!

Well, if something kept swallowing all your favorite people, what would you do?

BAD fish! Spit out that Jonah right now! BAD, BAD fish!

[Virginia Day Templeton]

Good point!