Literal Sense Flashcards
what is the literal sense quote
that which has been expressed directly by the inspired human authors
how is the literal sense discovered
by careful and attentive study of the biblical texts using all interpretive tools
who discovered the importance of literal sense
St Thomas Aquinas
what did Aquinas recognise
all senses are founded on one - the literal sense - from which alone can any argument be drawn
who repeated the importance of this
Pope Pius XII
some literalist’s believe the bible is
God’s direct word
- so there can be no theological, historical or cultural errors
some literalist’s also believe the bible is dictated as
each word is deliberately inspired by God through the Holy Spirits guidance
a weakness of the literal sense is that it is very
fragile
- only one inconsistency or error in the Old or New testament is enough to shake it’s position
weakness : some writers such as James Barr argue what
that the fundamentalist approach often distorts the original intention and meaning of the biblical writer
weakness : there problems with what principles
verification and falsification
weakness : it is inconsistent in
application
Strength : moral decisions present
fewer problems
strength : it is
simple, clear and to some extent consistent
strength : it takes seriously what
the integrity of the bible as an historical record
