One Literal Meaning
Only when you take the Bible “literally”, we all speak the “same thing” (note this phrase in the verse below which is highlighted as the key to not be carnally divided – as stated literally (again) in these same verses).
A note:
Only when one takes the Bible “literally”, it’s never a teaching of a man simply because it’s independent of my “interpretation” of it (what I think – my opinion – about it).
Literal translation states the first meaning of Holy Scripture.
There may be secondary (hidden/allegorical/…) meanings of a set of verses but let’s not speculate about it until it’s revealed in the age to come (lest you fall prey into your own opinions & also become puffed up in yourselves).
It’s obvious that God didn’t intend the secondary meanings of Scripture to be “literally” written (proven by the very fact that you need to “interpret” against the first literal meaning of what’s actually written – go against this advice & you’ll be led by “fantasies” in your carnal mind, usually – one allocating his/her “opinion” (secondary interpretive meaning) above another’s causing strives, divisions and denominations in Christianity).
I repeat, literal interpretation is “no man’s” interpretation simply because it just states what’s written as the first meaning intended by the Holy Scriptures regardless of who says/reads it.
“And I call upon you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the same thing ye may all say, and there may not be divisions among you, and ye may be perfected in the same mind, and in the same judgment, 11for it was signified to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe, that contentions are among you; 12and I say this, that each one of you saith, ‘I, indeed, am of Paul’ — ‘and I of Apollos,’ — ‘and I of Cephas,’ — ‘and I of Christ.’ 13Hath the Christ been divided?…” (1 Corinthians 1:10 – 13)
“for the mind of the flesh is death, and the mind of the Spirit — life and peace;” (Romans 8:6)
“let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and in worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,” (Colossians 2:18)
Yes. “One Literal Meaning” is the anecdote to “end all heresies” (literally).
Ignore this and you’ll always have heresies in Christianity evidenced by the various denominations all “claiming” to be “called by God”.
Someone asked:
“So God has Wings?”
also, “didn’t Joseph interpret the dreams?”
Reply:
An example: Apostle John’s visions in the Book of Revelation.
I’ll be clearer (literally):
I believe that apostle John saw those creatures in his visions as it is (literal meaning).
But as to its “secondary meanings” (if there may be):
The advice written above suffices:
“There may be secondary (hidden/allegorical/…) meanings of a set of verses but let’s not speculate about it until it’s revealed in the age to come (lest you fall prey into your own opinions & also become puffed up in yourselves).”
Whether we have seen such a creature or vision or not is irrelevant (our opinions – not Scripture).
Joseph interpreted the “dream” given to him.
But…
Joseph interpreted “correctly”. You may go ahead and interpret it for yourself. If you get it wrong, it’s your own “opinion”.
I know that I’ll most likely interpret it wrongly. Since it’s “not” a Command to “interpret the secondary meanings of Scripture” for every believer, I’ll choose the “not interpret” path unless God divinely tells me to do so.
