Shannon Costello

I am interested in how one should go about deciding when a passage of scripture is to be taken literally.

Augustine talks about layers of interpretation:  “But just as, I think, they err greatly who are of opinion that none of the records of affairs in that kind of writings mean anything more than that they so happened, so I think those very daring who contend that the whole gist of their contents lies in allegorical significations.”

Later he discusses interpretations again in regard to another passage: “Beyond doubt, whatever interpretation is put on what is here expressed somewhat darkly in figurative language, ought to be in agreement with these most manifest things.”

I like both the idea that passages may have multiple meanings (which is commonly preached), and it is pretty reasonable to suggest that interpretations should match the more obvious meanings of the text.  But they are still very broad ideas, and do not prevent me from possibly disagreeing with Augustine  later on when, speaking of Psalm 3:5 (I lie down and sleep, I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.) he says, “Is there perchance one so stupid as to believe that the prophet chose to point it out to us as something great that He had slept and risen up, unless that sleep had been death, and that awaking the resurrection, which behoved to be thus prophesied concerning Christ?”

Why could it not be contemplated as a great think that we sleep and wake up because the Lord sustains us?  Besides that, the Psalm was written when David was fleeing from Absalom. I had never thought of that verse as having anything to do with Christ. I wonder if it does.