Question: How do Christians decide which parts of scripture should be viewed a historical fact and which should be viewed as ethical imperative?

In the search for knowledge.

LP

Answer: Dear LP,

Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God, but most also know that it was not dropped from heaven with a red ribbon tied in a bow. The Bible was written, edited, preserved, translated – God used human beings, and he gave a message to an original audience in a historical context and milieu and spoke to them through the author he inspired.

He used the symbols of human language to communicate with earth bound humans from eternity that does not know the limitations of time and space. Not only did he use human language to communicate, but he used literary genre. Thus, the Bible is not all one genre, but many writing styles are present, from poetry, narrative, history, ethical teaching, personal letters, law, and prophecy.

In order to properly understand the Bible, all of this is taken into consideration (or should be – abuses and proof texting of the Bible is a historical fact – but mis-use of the Bible is simply a commentary against imperfect humans, not against our Sovereign God). Paul reminded Timothy (a younger minister) to be a "workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

Short answer, big question.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht