Isaiah 3 and jewelry...

[rdp]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

What does "literal" mean to you in terms of exegesis? That it can't be exegeted? That it means only what presuppositions you bring to the Text?

When you say "literal" so proudly, what are you meaning?

When Jesus says tells us to take up our cross and follow Him, what does that mean? Literally? When Jesus says we must be perfect, what does that mean? Any exegesis needed?

You must be careful when you confuse "literal" as being the opposite of allegorical or as something meaning non-exegeted. When Paul says "not with gold," you must allow the entire paragraph, section or letter to speak. It's literal gold, but what's the point here? What's the purpose here? Those exegetical basics inform our suppositions about what the "literal" text mean. When one says something isn't literal, they aren't always saying allegorical.

And when I said "your book" that wasn't literal

Exegesis is the art of lifting out original authorial intent Jeffrey. Haven't you ever heard, "Scripture can never mean what it never MEANT"? Honestly here, why do you guys fight the plainness of this passage...esp. when you concede above that the verse is referring to "literal gold"? We're making progress here! If it's "literal gold," then it's also a literal "not with"!