Literal Sense Essential for Understanding Spiritual Sense in Scripture
The literal sense of Scripture is foundational for understanding its spiritual sense, as the divine message is conveyed through human language and historical contexts. Scripture is considered "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16), meaning God is fully responsible for its content, even while human authors were actively involved [5]. This divine inspiration extends to the very words used, making the literal meaning a direct conduit to God's revealed will [3].
The Bible itself emphasizes the importance of understanding its words. Paul writes in Ephesians that reading his words can lead to an understanding of his "insight into the mystery of Christ" [2]. This suggests that comprehension begins with the text as written. The "word of God" is described as "living and active," capable of discerning thoughts and intentions, implying a direct and powerful engagement with its content [1].
While the literal sense is paramount, the Bible also indicates that spiritual understanding requires more than mere intellectual assent. The Holy Spirit is essential for comprehending spiritual truths [4]. For instance, 1 Corinthians 2:13 suggests that spiritual truths must be communicated and learned "in the dimension and power of the Spirit," not solely through rational human exercise [4]. Similarly, John 6:63 states that "life and understanding come through the gift of the Spirit," not human effort [8]. This spiritual wisdom allows for a personal and experiential knowledge of God, beyond just intellectual understanding [9].
The concept of "spiritual understanding" is not detached from the literal text but rather illuminates it. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 119:32, speaks of a "spiritual understanding" of the law, recognizing its perfection and purity, and an understanding of the Gospel and Christ [6]. This understanding, he argues, is a gift of grace that enables a spiritual observance of the law [6]. Common sense, too, is described as an "intuitive understanding built through listening to God’s words and observing his world" [7].
The New Testament consistently refers to the Old Testament as "Scripture," a definite collection of sacred books given by inspiration of God [3]. This collection was enlarged over time as God raised up individuals to record His revelation [3]. The emphasis on the divine origin and authoritative nature of these writings underscores the importance of their literal content as the basis for any deeper spiritual meaning. The ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God is also a necessary gift for the Christian community [10], further highlighting the need for careful engagement with the content of revelation.
Sources
- Hebrews “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. -- Hebrews 4:12”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:4 (LEB) — so that you may be able when you read to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 2:13: 2:13 using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths: Just as spiritual wisdom is different from human wisdom, so the way spiritual wisdom is taught must be different from the way human wisdom is taught. The communicating and learning of spiritual truth must be done in the dimension and power of the Spirit; it is not simply a rational, human exercise.”
- 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:32: Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 2:7: 2:7-8 Here, common sense is intuitive understanding built through listening to God’s words and observing his world. God is a shield who guards and protects those who live in relationship with him.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:63: 6:63 The essence of Jesus’ gift is found in the Holy Spirit alone, not in human effort (literally the flesh). Life and understanding come through the gift of the Spirit (see 14:15-20; 20:21-22). True life can be found only when the Holy Spirit infuses human life.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:17: 1:17 spiritual wisdom (or the Spirit of wisdom): The word spirit can refer either to the Holy Spirit or to the human spirit. • Knowledge of God is to know God personally and experientially, not just to know about him intellectually (see John 17:3).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:10: 12:10 The ability to prophesy does not refer primarily to predicting the future, but to speaking a special message directly from God (see 11:4-5; 13:2, 8; 14:1-25, 29-33; 1 Thes 5:20; cp. Acts 13:1-2; 21:4, 10-11). • The ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit is a necessary gift for any Christian community that is open to hearing a word directly from God (see 1 Cor 14:29; 1 Thes 5:19-21; cp. Acts 16:16-18; 1 Jn 4:1-3). • For Paul, the ability to speak in unknown languages here refers to spiritual language that”