--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But to read all Scripture narratives as…" description: "\"But to read all Scripture narratives as if they were eye-witness reports in a modern newspaper, and to ignore the poetic and imaginative form in which ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/j-i-packer-1856_bible_but-to-read-all-scripture-narratives-as_556246.png" --- # But to read all Scripture narratives as if they were… ![“But to read all Scripture narratives as if they were eye-witness reports in a modern newspaper, and to ignore the poetic and imaginative form in which they are sometimes couched, would be no less a violation of the canons of evangelical literalism than the allegorizing of the Scholastics was.” quote by J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/j-i-packer-1856_bible_but-to-read-all-scripture-narratives-as_556246.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/j-i-packer-1856_bible_but-to-read-all-scripture-narratives-as_556246.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/j-i-packer-1856_bible_but-to-read-all-scripture-narratives-as_556246.png) > “But to read all Scripture narratives as if they were eye-witness reports in a modern newspaper, and to ignore the poetic and imaginative form in which they are sometimes couched, would be no less a violation of the canons of evangelical literalism than the allegorizing of the Scholastics was.” [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating biblical stories as literal news reports ignores their literary genre, violating honest interpretation as much as forced allegory. **In simple terms:** Reading Scripture as factual news misrepresents its poetic nature. Key Takeaway Respect genre and context when interpreting. Themes interpretation genre theology Mood reflective thoughtful Type theological interpretive When to use this quote - preaching - Bible study - academic research - personal devotion Key Concepts literalism allegory hermeneutics Questions to Reflect On - How does genre shape meaning? - What risks arise from ignoring literary form? A Different Perspective Literal reading can miss deeper theological meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Canon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon/) [Evangelical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelical/) [Imaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginative/) [Literalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literalism/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Reports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reports/) [Scholastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholastics/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Violation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violation/) ## Related quotes > [“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to-loosely-interpret-or-simply/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [In reality, there are no biblical literalists, only selective literalists. 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Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. 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