How many meaning can a biblical passage have?

Elaborate... Please

I can give you an example... "Thou Shalt Not Steal"... one meaning.. don't take anything that doesn't belong to you.

The right and the wrong meaning, so two

It all depends on interpretation.

There are some passages that are clear, like the one that Kit pointed out. Other passages seem to be open to many different interpretations, a lot of it depends on who is reading it and what they want to get out of it.

That's why there are so many arguments when people discuss the bible. Everyone thinks their interpretation is right.

Do you have a passage in mind?

I agree with Altenweg. I grew up with one very definite interpretation, and when I looked at other interpretations they seemed pretty good too. If there was only one definite meaning of everything, God sure made it hard to find. But the Bible is a spiritual book which means that it guides every sincere reader into the same spiritual direction. By trying to understand it something internal takes place. There is only one Spirit of the Bible and that is righteousness through a relationship with God. The Bible never contradicts the Spirit. Everything else is just details to keep nosy people occupied. :)

VERY well said, deepinthough!

That one spirit is what we call Sanatana Dharma. The one thing that makes ALL religions the same, is loving service to God. I choose to call him by His Sanskrit name of Krishna, Christians speak His name in Hebrew. One God, One Dharma.

Namaste.

Hi, cyk1989!

Probably about as many meanings as a person can imagine, if they're creative enough and want to find ways to "read into" that which has already been stated in any one section of the Bible.

Thanks!

Hi, cyk1989!

Probably about as many meanings as a person can imagine, if they're creative enough and want to find ways to "read into" that which has already been stated in any one section of the Bible.

Thanks!

You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT


Hi Joe,

Depends on if you are a realist or an idealist.

Regards

Tut

The Bible is true. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments they were meant for everyone.

When Jesus said , "My grace is sufficient for all", he meant everyone.

When Jesus died on the cross he died for all of us.

When he said; "If you love me you will keep my commandments", he was talking to all of us.

When he said, "i go to prepare a place for you, he was talking to all of us.

When he said, "I am the way , the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me".

He was giving everyone a choice to accept or not.

Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, cyk1989!

Probably about as many meanings as a person can imagine, if they're creative enough and want to find ways to "read into" that which has already been stated in any one section of the Bible.

Thanks!


You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

Hi, JoeT!

Please don't try to "read into" what I wrote. Original poster didn't mention anything about wanting to know about truth of any kind, only about how many meanings a Biblical passage could have.

I took the question at face value without reading anything into it.

Thanks!

You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

Please elaborate on what passage you are speaking of. Peter was in the Bible as a disciple. He had a temper. He denied Christ three times. Christ forgave him. He was also known as "The Big Fisherman'.'

Hi, JoeT!

Please don't try to "read into" what I wrote. Original poster didn't mention anything about wanting to know about truth of any kind, only about how many meanings a Biblical passage could have.

I took the question at face value without reading anything into it.

Thanks!
Gosh, you act like I kicked your cat. Usually when you ask a question like, “how many meaning can a biblical passage have?” you're asking how many different truths are being presented in any one passage. The answer is, one. There is only one truth (meaning) contained in scripture. Why would you ask, how 'many misinterpretations' (untruths) are in scripture?




Hi Joe,

Depends on if you are a realist or an idealist.

Regards

Tut

Truth only has one meaning, it's absolute.

JoeT

Gosh, you act like I kicked you cat. Usually when you ask a question like, “how many meaning can a biblical passage have?” you’re asking how many different truths are being presented in any one passage. The answer is, one. There is only one truth (meaning) contained in scripture. Why would you ask, how ‘many misinterpretations’ (untruths) are in scripture?





Truth only has one meaning, it’s absolute.

JoeT



Joe be a little kinder with your replies. I'm working on doing the same.

Truth only has one meaning, it’s absolute.

JoeT


Hi Joe,


Perhaps a better way of saying it would be, 'absolute truth is one of many truths".


Here are a few examples of different truths...

Truth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth)

Hi Joe,


Perhaps a better way of saying it would be, 'absolute truth is one of many truths".


Here are a few examples of different truths....

Truth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth)

Don't make me laugh so hard! ---- if it's one of many then it's not absolute ---- or if it's absolute then there are no others.

God and Truth are convertible

St. Thomas says, “Whence it follows not only that truth is in Him, but that He is truth itself, and the sovereign and first truth. “ Summa Prima Q, 15 a5” Consequently we can say that there is an absolute truth.


God exists >Truth exists. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,2,3).
God is Immutable >Truth is immutable. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,9, 1).
God is Eternal >Truth is eternal. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,10 2).
God is Spiritual > Truth is spiritual. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,3,3 & 6)




I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten. Psalm 118:30
And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words, I have hoped exceedingly. Psalm 118:43 (Truth is from God)
I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me. Psalm 118:75 (Truth is humbles our intellect)
All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me. Psalm 118:86 (Truth is dogmatic Truth)
Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth. Psalm 118:90 (Truth is eternal)
Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth exceedingly. Psalm 118:138 (God’s justice is Truth)
Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth. Psalm 118:142 (God’s law is Truth)
Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth. Psalm 118:151 (God’s ways are Truth)
The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are forever. Psalm 118:160 (God’s words are Truth)


JoeT

Don't let me laugh so hard! ---- if it's one of many then it's not absolute ---- or if it's absolute then there are no others.

JoeT

Love one another as I have loved you". "Be ye kind one to another"

This is one I need to work on... Kit

Don't make me laugh so hard! ---- if it's one of many then it's not absolute ---- or if it's absolute then there are no others.

God and Truth are convertible

St. Thomas says, “Whence it follows not only that truth is in Him, but that He is truth itself, and the sovereign and first truth. “ Summa Prima Q, 15 a5” Consequently we can say that there is an absolute truth.


God exists >Truth exists. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,2,3).
God is Immutable >Truth is immutable. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,9, 1).
God is Eternal >Truth is eternal. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,10 2).
God is Spiritual > Truth is spiritual. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,3,3 & 6)





JoeT


Come on Joe... You don't think I am going to make a mistake like that... do you?

Of course there are absolute truths. By the examples you have given it seems you are referring to logical truth. Logical truth is only one category of truth >it can't include other truths because logical truths set the boundary conditions (roughly speaking) to develop a truth which can't be proven false.

Other contingencies that are not included 'in the boundary' are not covered by 'absolute truth' and therefore not subject to conclusions drawn.


Regards

Tut

Love one another as I have loved you". "Be ye kind one to another"

This is one I need to work on....Kit

You’ve got the wrong impression – I’m quite good at giving it too.

If I’ve offended somehow, write out the offending words, then reword them the way you would have me say them. I’ll explain or I’ll see if I can come around to correcting my statements. If I’ve made an error somehow, please feel free to point it out. I’m not so hard headed I can’t learn a thing or two.

JoeT

You’ve got the wrong impression – I’m quite good at giving it too.

If I’ve offended somehow, write out the offending words, then reword them the way you would have me say them. I’ll explain or I’ll see if I can come around to correcting my statements. If I’ve made an error somehow, please feel free to point it out. I’m not so hard headed I can’t learn a thing or two.

JoeT

I find myself sometimes typing things that seem sharp and unkind.
I have to work on that a lot. I try to remember something my dad alwasys said, "A kind word turneth away wrath. I'm not saying you're unkind". Okay.

What do you mean?

Truth is not a concept, philosophy, or argument.

Truth is the Man Jesus Christ.

Wasn't that what He told Pilate?

Truth is not a concept, philosophy, or argument.

Truth is the Man Jesus Christ.

Wasn't that what He told Pilate?


Hi Gal,

I think it is... but I don't think it excludes Jesus from being the truth.

In my opinion 'absolute truth' is a problem of universals. The seeking of absolute truth can be seen as a Greek tradition which carried over to the early Christian thinkers. Notably, Plato and Aristotle.

We could perhaps look at it this way.

Plato claimed to have discovered absolute truth. However, I am sure Aristotle would want to make the same claim. The problem is that both their absolute truths are different absolute truths.

The problem here is that we end up involved in a very dry argument about logic, and ontology. Some people might say that we may as well be discussing how many angels can dance on the point of a needle.

I think," Truth is the man Jesus Christ'" is a good way to look at it.


Regards


Tut

Traditionally, Bible passages had four levels of meaning - literal, allegorical, moral and eschatological (dealing with the end times).

how many meaning can a biblical passage have?

As many meanings as do not contradict the teaching of the Church.

Literal, metaphorical, Spiritual, and others. Here is the teaching of the Catholic Church:
The senses of Scripture

115 According to an ancient tradition, one can distinguish between two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual, the latter being subdivided into the allegorical, moral and anagogical senses. The profound concordance of the four senses guarantees all its richness to the living reading of Scripture in the Church.

116 The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation: "All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal."83

117 The spiritual sense. Thanks to the unity of God's plan, not only the text of Scripture but also the realities and events about which it speaks can be signs.

1. The allegorical sense. We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian Baptism.84

2. The moral sense. The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. As St. Paul says, they were written "for our instruction".85

3. The anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, "leading"). We can view realities and events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true homeland: thus the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem.86

118 A medieval couplet summarizes the significance of the four senses:

The Letter speaks of deeds; Allegory to faith;
The Moral how to act; Anagogy our destiny.87

119 "It is the task of exegetes to work, according to these rules, towards a better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture in order that their research may help the Church to form a firmer judgment. For, of course, all that has been said about the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgement of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of God."88

See this page for more info:
Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 1 SECTION 1 CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE 3 (http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a3.htm#101)