When Luther and the Reformers set forth the principle of interpreting the Bible according to the literal sense,

here's what they meant.

No one ever has the right to come to a historical narrative, text of Scripture,

and turn it into some kind of moral symbolism.

Now I hear from people all the time about this business of interpreting the Bible literally.

People ask me, do you interpret the Bible literally?

In fact, that's not usually how they ask the question.

They usually put it in the form of a statement followed by a question.

They say, RC, you don't interpret the Bible literally.

That's the statement followed by the question, do you?

I mean like I can't imagine that anybody in the 21st century in their right mind,

who's gone beyond the third grade, would be so ignorant and fully says to interpret the Bible literally.

So that's the way it comes. You don't interpret the Bible literally, do you?

Well when people say that to me, I never say no.

Nor do I ever say yes.

Well what do I say?

When someone says you don't interpret the Bible literally, do you?

My answer is standard. I always give the same answer. It's this.

Of course I interpret the Bible literally. Like duh!

What other way is there to interpret?

Now there's a lot of confusion about what literal interpretation means.

When Luther and the Reformers set forth the principle of interpreting the Bible

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