--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jesus certainly was not a “Bible…" description: "\"“Jesus certainly was not a “Bible believer,” as we use that term in the post Billy Graham era of American fundamentalist religiosity that’s used as a t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/frank-schaeffer-8107_face-value_jesus-certainly-was-not-a-bible-believer_1744703.jpg" --- # Jesus certainly was not a “Bible believer,” as we use that… ![“Jesus certainly was not a “Bible believer,” as we use that term in the post Billy Graham era of American fundamentalist religiosity that’s used as a trade-marked product to sell religion. Jesus didn’t take the Jewish scriptures at face value. In fundamentalist terms, Jesus was a rule-breaking…” quote by Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/frank-schaeffer-8107_face-value_jesus-certainly-was-not-a-bible-believer_1744703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/frank-schaeffer-8107_face-value_jesus-certainly-was-not-a-bible-believer_1744703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/frank-schaeffer-8107_face-value_jesus-certainly-was-not-a-bible-believer_1744703.jpg) > ““Jesus certainly was not a “Bible believer,” as we use that term in the post Billy Graham era of American fundamentalist religiosity that’s used as a trade-marked product to sell religion. Jesus didn’t take the Jewish scriptures at face value. In fundamentalist terms, Jesus was a rule-breaking relativist who wasn’t even “saved,” according to evangelical standards. Evangelicals insist that you have to believe very specific interpretations of the Bible to be saved. Jesus didn’t. He undercut the scriptures.”” [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jesus challenged literalist interpretations, emphasizing deeper spiritual insight over rigid doctrine. **In simple terms:** Jesus broke strict biblical literalism. Key Takeaway Embrace nuanced, compassionate faith. Themes religion interpretation spirituality Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type philosophical theological advice When to use this quote - church teaching - personal study - interfaith dialogue - educational curricula Key Concepts theology biblical criticism historical context Questions to Reflect On - How can faith communities honor tradition while encouraging critical thought? - What does “rule‑breaking” mean for modern believers? A Different Perspective Traditional believers may view reinterpretation as heresy, causing conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Face value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-value/) [Fundamentalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalist/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that everybody I am interested in doing business with is a fundamentalist in terms of the approach to teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-believe-that-everybody-i-am-interested-in-doing-business-with-is-a/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [The love of the Bible will show itself in a believer's actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-love-of-the-bible-will-show-itself-in-a-believer-s-actions/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [“The love of the bible will show itself in a believer's readiness to bear evil as well as to do good. It will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/the-love-of-the-bible-will-show-itself-in-a-believer-s-readiness-to/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [“The public image of the leaders of the religious right I met with so many times also contrasted with who they really were. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/the-public-image-of-the-leaders-of-the-religious-right-i-met-with-so/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [OUR INSPIRATION: Billy Graham, July 2, 1962 “World events are moving very rapidly now. I pick up the Bible in one hand, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/our-inspiration-billy-graham-july-2-1962-world-events-are-moving-very/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I honor Billy Graham. He is a category by himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-honor-billy-graham-he-is-a-category-by-himself/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [Billy Graham isn't about politics - Billy Graham is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/billy-graham-isn-t-about-politics-billy-graham-is-about-god/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [ \[ Billy Graham \] is a hero to us all. His life of integrity. Somebody that can stick with it for that long and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/billy-graham-is-a-hero-to-us-all-his-life-of-integrity-somebody-that/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The man the world knew as Billy Graham was always 'Daddy' to me. I was well into my teens before I fully comprehended that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/the-man-the-world-knew-as-billy-graham-was-always-daddy-to-me-i-was/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [I've written enough books with real celebrities, such as Walter Payton and Hank Aaron and Billy Graham, to know that fame looks good only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/i-ve-written-enough-books-with-real-celebrities-such-as-walter-payton/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [I remember going to see Billy Graham in a cinema in Glasgow, and he was down in London. I used to go and hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/i-remember-going-to-see-billy-graham-in-a-cinema-in-glasgow-and-he/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [I've done a lot of Super Bowls and appeared in a lot of big, big events and places and the Masters and what have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summerall/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-super-bowls-and-appeared-in-a-lot-of-big-big/) [Pat Summerall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summerall/) > [Worship leader George Beverly Shea kidded Billy Graham that the latter would be unemployed in Heaven -- while Shea would still have a job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/worship-leader-george-beverly-shea-kidded-billy-graham-that-the/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I put off writing the first Left Behind book for a year because I got invited to assist Billy Graham in his memoirs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/i-put-off-writing-the-first-left-behind-book-for-a-year-because-i-got/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [Billy Graham talks about how he doesn't judge people. I don't either. Some people I am just pissed at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/billy-graham-talks-about-how-he-doesn-t-judge-people-i-don-t-either/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) ## More by Frank Schaeffer > [We don't just change our minds, we change the way we see things. 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Who cares about labels when someone is saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/labels-don-t-mean-anything-who-cares-about-labels-when-someone-is/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [We are not evolved but evolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/we-are-not-evolved-but-evolving/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [“Luckily for the people she helped, my mother was gloriously inconsistent. She lived according to the more enlightened parts of the Bible and ignored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/luckily-for-the-people-she-helped-my-mother-was-gloriously/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [“education and money. I go to church with the kids for the same reason Genie and I play our grandchildren classical music and litter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/education-and-money-i-go-to-church-with-the-kids-for-the-same-reason/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [“If we wait for correct ideas to save us—theological or otherwise—we’ll never be saved, even from ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/if-we-wait-for-correct-ideas-to-save-us-theological-or-otherwise-we/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [Of course as soon as I say something or write it that sounds like I believe it, and really I'm never entirely sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/of-course-as-soon-as-i-say-something-or-write-it-that-sounds-like-i/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) [Explore all 84 Frank Schaeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) ## More Face value quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. 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