The Bible is divided into many literary genres, inclusive of, but not limited to:

Historical Narrative
Law
Poetic
Proverbial
Genealogies
Prophecy
Statutory
Apocolyptic
Parables
Letters

I think the idea that the Bible is one packaged gargantuan book is because we are constantly reinforced that idea through...well, it's packaging. Today, we have the Scriptures nicely bound into one convenient book; however, it is not one single book. The Bible is merely the canonical compilation of 66 books for Protestants and an additional 7 for the Catholic. It is important to remember though, that these are all different books. Many of the authors are the same, as many of styles and languages are the same. However, as a whole, it is a combination of literary styles and authors spread over thousands of years written to different audiences and contexts. This last part is paramount, especially concerning culture and assumptions carried within; however, it is also important if the writing is intended for an individual or a community, and secondarily, the question of for the community at that specific time or a teaching or promise more universal. Combine all of this with the fact that these texts are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine; and further, consider that the New Testament writer is largely writing in his second language and relating to the Old Testament through the Septuagent, which is Greek translated Hebew texts, and things get really, really interesting. It might almost be easier for us if we still had all those separate scrolls and actually read Scripture as they were intended: letters, stories, prophecy, etc...not just jerking a verse from each like they are merely from different chapters from Moby Dick.

So, here is the point.

Q. Is the Bible interpreted allegorically or literally?
A.Yes.

Not one or the other, but Yes. The real question regards what book or section of book are we talking about.

Q. Is a Pauline Epistle interpreted allegorically or literally?
A. Literally.

Within narratives and most other genres, a book will have both allegorical and literal. Remember that one of God's favorite ways to teach His people is through stories. Think of Christ's own teaching during His ministry; He largely used Parables. We see this in both
the Old and the New Testament writings.

Furthermore, there is a very distinct separation of assumption between the way we read things and the way the ancient Jew read things. This sounds really strange to us, but the ancient Jew really wasn't as concerned with detailed facts. Truth is not communicated through the specific numbers of army personnel or a literal number of days of Creation (Aside: which itself requires our own interpretation shifting from God's perspective to that of man, based on a unit of time tied to the Sun, which wasn't even created until the second half of the process - the fourth day...if we're being literal...), etc. The point of such stories is that God conquers for man when the situation is impossible for him and that God created everything. Again, this was story telling. Think of every culture of oration. One generation would tell the story to the next, and they would pass those same stories to their own children. (Aside: remember how Israel would fall away because one generation didn't pass on the stories of their fathers to their sons...) These stories were not recorded until much later than their origination. This is just a small part of the context. It is one of story telling and the truth being larger than the details or specifics...these merely set the stage to communicate such truth. It is very difficult to communicate how different ancient Jews (and all peoples) would look at truth and avail themselves to it compared to us. It might be easier for us to return to parables. Is the truth communicated within stories of The Good Samaritan or The Prodigal Son found in the specific historical referents? We certainly hope not, but we also know not. It seems incomprehensible for us to say there is not the truth of God in those stories because they didn't actually happen in history. These are perhaps the two most preached stories of the New Testament! Think about it. There is not historical basis at all for these events, yet the truth is so powerful that we preach these stories more than the rest. Still, we are able to muster so much angst over mere details of Old Testament stories told to the ancient Jew. Amazing. God story-tells both through Christ and His Spirit, each read within Scripture.

As such, our current age bickers about and attempts to reconcile points of the Old Testament that don't add up or are merely controvertible, and we try to explain them away. Well, they're there, and to be honest, they don't matter. It's the truth behind the story that matters. Much of this tension is also seen between different camps of interpreting Revelation, which again is missing the point largely. Sadly, few people, including many pastors, have been educated and trained in this and other parts of Biblical Hermeneutics and Bibliology as a whole. So, we get bent out of shape and take our eyes off of what matters. We preach sermons that if you don't believe in a literal 7 day creation then you don't believe the Bible is true, and then logically, you can't trust when Paul says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We're back to either the Bible is blankety allegorical or literal. Either/Or. There were exactly "x" number of troops in the Israelite army, or Christ really didn't rise from the dead...he was just maybe asleep or something. This is the horrific tragedy from pastors who don't know or at least don't consider at all how the Scriptures relate. In their irresponsibility or mere ignorance, they cause their parishioners heartache in having their foundations of faith rumbled every time someone questions Jonah or asks if Adam had a belly button or enjoyed the massive incest to populate the earth. You see it not only in direct sermons on topics such as above but also in how they search for biblical support for their whimsical sermons. Such is a great hardship on the Body of Christ. Let us then hope for better effort and teaching from our pulpits and lectors, for so much that is truly consequential is subconsciously communicated and ingested into the parishioners' basic assumptions by way of merely the manner of argument in which the cleric sermonizes his thesis, if such thesis is itself not disastrous.

Undersea eruptions near Tonga. Click on the photo above for an amazing photo set.

I think I often struggle with Identity; in that, I define myself too closely to current activity. If that is work, for instance (which it regularly is) then I consider my worthiness based on my career, and my emotions dive and resurface according to how I satisfy those worldly views of success. One of the greatest blessings of fatherhood, however, has been the challenging of this indeliberate yet highly consequential assumption. Progressively since the birth of Caroline, clarity has emerged in seeing my identity assigned to the stewardship of my family. (To be clear, I'm speaking at the moment to identity respective towards a vocational slant. My identity as personhood is unwaveringly centered in Christ and inclusion within His Body. At least cognitively - I'm still working on living this out, as evidenced by what I am writing now.)

So, with regard to the success of my life, I now more clearly see it related to how I am leading and loving my family. To the extent that I am able to present Katie as holy and blameless, to care for her and protect her in the love of Christ, in His provision and grace, is the measure of my husbandry. Similarly, to raise Caroline in Christ, modeling for her the love and wisdom of the Father, echoing to her as best I can the grace and provision of Her Creator, represents my call in fatherhood.  The combination of these two represent the major thesis of my life. (Obviously, appendices exist inclusive of stewarding relationships entrusted to me within the Community of Believers as well as declaring the Gospel to the outside world. In sum, faithfully living in community within the Body of Christ and representing to a groaning world its Savior).

Thus, my career, which seemed to so severely define my life, is now placed in a supporting role as a provision for the call of my life. And so, I return to friendship. Old friends remind me that I am larger than my job. I am an adopted child of God, procured in Christ and sealed in the Spirit. My calling in life finds definition and meaning in this - not my W2s and 1099s. Before I do what I do now, and before I did what I did before, these comrades and sages knew me...and knew me well. So, when I am blinded by my circumstance, unsure of the future and anxious about the present, old friends provide me perspective and assure me of hope in the future. Specifically, they remind me that God has always been faithful and will continue to be. Further, my calling in life is larger than my current occupation or what I will do in the future. My career is, of course, a ministry to those placed within my sphere, and I must work as to honor God; however, my work is not my determinant of joy and meaning. My occupation will most likely change and my circumstances will surly traverse through many seasons. My identity and my calling, however, are consistent and secure in my Savior and in being created and redeemed in His image to be a light in a dark world.

Still, I miss the blogosphere of words.  Very little, I miss the useless and harmless of what I often randomly throw up here.  More than this, I miss the opportunity to update friends and family with the goings on of the Moore household, which has changed greatly of late. Very much, though, I miss the most remote of my posts: the well thought out and meaningful script that leads to outside discussion and the occasional conflict resolution. Without a doubt, most of my 2.0 time has been spent on facebook, which is fine, but I don't want it to serve as a replacement for this site, intertwined with those of you, my friends.  My blogroll is lengthy, yet I have until recency been faithful to read through the vast majority with honorable consistency.

So, all this to say, I shall return.  I will begin again to post here, and I will regain consistent readership of your own blogging.  I may not work though all that I have missed, but I'll at least get back on the horse from where we are now.