Theology Notes 3/7

literal sense: the meaning assigned to a text by its author(s) at the time(s) of composition

literalism (or “literalist reading” or, perhaps, “literalist sense”): conviction that the bare words of the biblical text alone are sufficient to tell you their meaning

figurative or spiritual sense: meanings assigned to biblical texts by later readers that contain non-literal elements

sensus plenior: any meaning assigned by a later reader of a text

literal sense in the “curses” of Job

• “bare words” of the Hebrew read “bless God”

• therefore a literalist reading would be convicted that the meaning of the text is established only by the words on the page

• literalist reading translates “bless God”

• cultural practices and other things outside the text led the scribes to write “bless God,”

with

that its