upgraded August 22, 2008

Can the Bible be interpreted literally?

Some years back, I met and had conversation with a gentleman who was a student of Nazarene Theological Seminary at that time. In the course of our discussion, he disclosed to me that he knew of no scholar in the Nazarene Church who believed in the literal interpretation of the Holy Word of God. He personally felt that one person had written all four of the Gospels, and that person had credited them to known church leaders in order to give credibility to his work. This seminary student felt that the book of Revelation was easy reading or a "funny book" (his words) and that the only thing that could be understood from Revelation was "if things get bad, they will get better." He did not believe that the re-establishment of Israel was prophetic, or was in an ordained plan by God.

I was at a Nazarene church pastored by a graduate of Nazarene Bible College. In the course of discussion during a Wednesday night service, I asked the pastor if he believed Ephesians 4:11. He said no, so I made no comment. Others asked me what my point was. I stated that if the pastor did not believe the Holy Word of God, I had no foundation on which to make a point. In later conversation with that pastor, he told me that he did not believe that God gave all five callings, as he did not personally know individuals who were respectively called to all five. I told him that his faith was obviously limited to what he personally knew. You and I know that in accordance with Hebrews 11:1, that is no faith at all.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

I was in a service at a different Nazarene church and heard the pastor state in a message that because of what he had learned from reading the Jewish historian Josephus, he knew that the Holy Word of God in 1 Timothy 2:8-14 did not mean what it stated, and in fact really meant the exact opposite.

I had another pastor in the Nazarene Church advise me that one of the standing General Superintendents of the Nazarene Church was asked whether he believed that Job had ever existed as an actual man. The General Superintendent is reported to have said that he did not know whether Job had actually existed as a man, and it did not really matter to him, as it was only necessary to understand the principles that the book of Job teaches.

A senior registered evangelist in the Nazarene Church has advised me that there is a professor at one of the Nazarene Universities that does not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, but legal complications inhibit the professor’s removal from the faculty.

Jesus told the religious leaders of His day that they did not believe Him because they did not believe what Moses wrote. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. Like most of the religious leaders of today, the religious leaders of Jesus' day did not believe the Word of God.

John 5:46-47 (NIV) If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.  But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

The Holy Word of God is the key to knowledge about God. To minimize the Holy Word of God is to take away the key to knowledge.

Luke 11:52 (NIV) "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."

The fourth Article of Faith of the Constitution of the Nazarene Church is recorded in their Manual. That Article of Faith relates to the Holy Scriptures, and states:

4. We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by which we understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, in errantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation, so that whatever is not contained herein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith.

Luke 24:44-47 - 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - John 10:35 - 1 Peter 1:10-12 - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - 2 Peter 1:20-21

The devil, being most effective and most deadly when using his typical subtle method of operation, has elected to use the following "explanation" to introduce confusion into the understanding of the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. The devil accepts the fact that the Holy Scriptures are inspired by the Spirit of God, but then the devil puts forth this minimizing thought:

"One side of the spectrum is that God physically took a man’s hand and wrote each word. The other side of the spectrum is that a godly man wrote his own thoughts. The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures lies somewhere in between those two poles." - Lucifer

In so "clarifying" the devil introduces enough doubt in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures to damn a lot of people who have had the Scriptures negated in their minds when they read:

Acts 1:15-16 (NIV) In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--

It was not necessary for the prophets to understand about what they were writing, and consequently many of them did not.

Daniel 8:27 (NIV) I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

If the prophets did not understand the visions, how could they impose their own personal interpretations on the prophecies? It was only necessary that they write exactly as the Spirit of God directed them.

Malachi 2:7 (NIV) "For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction--because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.

Some of the prophecies were not given for their day. The prophecies were written for the edification of the church of the particular age effected by the prophesy.

1 Peter 1:10-12 (NIV) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Different prophets wrote Scriptures that give different views. One view may be panoramic, one view of minute detail, somewhat like an architect's drawings. One view may be drawn from a distance, one view from close up. As all of an architect's drawings must mesh perfectly and compliment one another in order to accomplish his plan, so must the Scriptures mesh perfectly, and compliment each other in order to accomplish God's plan. They do. It is certainly easy to believe that these prophets wrote exactly as the Spirit of God directed. History has proven, and is proving that, more than 40 different writers, across a period of about 2,000 years wrote concerning the Seven Thousand Years of Measured Time. All of the writers, and all of the Scriptures mesh perfectly. The Holy Word of God is truly magnificent.

We must interpret the Holy Scriptures by the Holy Scriptures, so let us determine what we can believe based on the Holy Word of God. As the Old Testament Scriptures used by the writers of the New Testament were so extensive, I elected to only reference them here but print them in the Appendix.

Matthew

By faith, I choose to believe that Matthew inspired by the Spirit of God wrote the original book of Matthew. If Matthew did not write the book credited to him, then the entire book is based on deception and fraud, or error. If Matthew did not write the original book of Matthew, then it is not inspired by the Spirit of God, as the Spirit of God would never be involved in deception and fraud, and the Spirit of God is incapable of error. If the book of Matthew is not inspired by the Spirit of God, then the book of Matthew is worthless.

Matthew believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he wrote. If Matthew was mistaken about the literalness of the Holy Scriptures, then we can only believe that he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God. If he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God, then we can be sure that he was mistaken about many other things that he wrote. If his writings were full of misinformation, then they are worthless, as we can never tell where he was correct and where he was mistaken.

Matthew starts with the genealogy from Abraham to the Christ. He started his record based on the foundation that Jesus was literally a descendant of Abraham. Matthew obviously believed that Abraham and all of his listed descendants were actual people:

Matthew 1:1-17

Matthew believed that the writings of Isaiah including the virgin birth were literal:

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Matthew 1:22-23 - Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 2:6 - Micah 5:2

Matthew 2:14-15 - Hosea 11:1

Matthew 2:17-18 - Jeremiah 31:15

Matthew 2:22-23 - Judges 13:7

Matthew 3:3 - Isaiah 40:3

Matthew 4:13-16 - Isaiah 9:1-2

Matthew 8:17 - Isaiah 53:4

Matthew 12:17-21 - Isaiah 42:1-4

Matthew 13:34-35 - Psalm 78:2

Matthew 21:1-5 - Zechariah 9:9

Matthew 21:9 - Psalm 118:26

Matthew 27:9-10 - Zechariah 11:12-13 - Jeremiah 32:6-9

Matthew 27:35 - Psalms 22:18

Matthew 27:46 - Psalms 22:1

Mark

By faith, I choose to believe that Mark inspired by the Spirit of God wrote the original book of Mark. If Mark did not write the book credited to him, then the entire book is based on deception and fraud, or error. If Mark did not write the original book of Mark, then it is not inspired by the Spirit of God, as the Spirit of God would never be involved in deception and fraud, and the Spirit of God is incapable of error. If the book of Mark is not inspired by the Spirit of God, then the book of Mark is worthless.

Mark believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he wrote. If Mark was mistaken about the literalness of the Holy Scriptures, then we can only believe that he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God. If he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God, then we can be sure that he was mistaken about many other things that he wrote. If his writings were full of misinformation, then they are worthless, as we can never tell where he was correct and where he was mistaken.

Mark’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Mark 1:1-3 - Malachi 3:1 - Isaiah 40:3

Mark 11:9-10 - Psalms 118:25-26

Mark 15:28 - Isaiah 53:12

Mark 15:33-34 - Psalms 22:1

Luke

By faith, I choose to believe that Luke inspired by the Spirit of God wrote the original book of Luke. If Luke did not write the book credited to him, then the entire book is based on deception and fraud, or error. If Luke did not write the original book of Luke, then it is not inspired by the Spirit of God, as the Spirit of God would never be involved in deception and fraud, and the Spirit of God is incapable of error. If the book of Luke is not inspired by the Spirit of God, then the book of Luke is worthless.

Luke believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he wrote. If Luke was mistaken about the literalness of the Holy Scriptures, then we can only believe that he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God. If he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God, then we can be sure that he was mistaken about many other things that he wrote. If his writings were full of misinformation, then they are worthless, as we can never tell where he was correct and where he was mistaken.

Luke references the genealogy from Jesus to Adam. Luke started his record based on the foundation that Jesus literally was a descendant of Adam. Luke obviously believed that Adam and all of his listed descendants were actual people, and that the creation story was an actual, historical event:

Luke 3:23-38

Luke 2:4

Luke’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Luke 2:22-23 - Exodus 13:2 - Exodus 13:12

Luke 2:24 - Leviticus 12:8

Luke 3:4-6 - Isaiah 40:3-5

Luke 19:38 - Psalms 118:26

John

By faith, I choose to believe that John inspired by the Spirit of God wrote the original book of John. If John did not write the book credited to him, then the entire book is based on deception and fraud, or error. If John did not write the original book of John, then it is not inspired by the Spirit of God, as the Spirit of God would never be involved in deception and fraud, and the Spirit of God is incapable of error. If the book of John is not inspired by the Spirit of God, then the book of John is worthless.

John believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he wrote. If John was mistaken about the literalness of the Holy Scriptures, then we can only believe that he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God. If he did not have good communication with the Spirit of God, then we can be sure that he was mistaken about many other things that he wrote. If his writings were full of misinformation, then they are worthless, as we can never tell where he was correct and where he was mistaken.

John believed in the actual people Cain and Abel, and the reality of the historical account referenced in Genesis:

1 John 3:12 (NIV) Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.

John’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

John 2:17 - Psalms 69:9

John 12:13 - Psalms 118:25-26

John 12:14-15 - Zechariah 9:9

John 12:38 - Isaiah 53:1

John 12:39-41 - Isaiah 6:10

John 18:9 - John 6:39

John 19:24 - Psalms 22:18

John 19:36 - Exodus 12:46 - Numbers 9:12 - Psalms 34:20

John 19:37 - Zechariah 12:10

Revelation 1:12-13 - Daniel 7:13

Revelation 2:27 - Psalm 2:9

Revelation 14:14 - Daniel 7:13

Revelation 19:15 - Psalms 2:9

John the Baptist believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his teaching. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he spoke.

John 1:23 - Isaiah 40:3

Peter believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his teachings and writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he spoke. Peter believed that the Scripture had to be fulfilled literally:

Acts 1:15-16 (NIV) In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--

2 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Peter believed in the reality of the historical flood account including the total destruction of all mankind with the exception of Noah and his family.

1 Peter 3:18-20 (NIV) For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,

Peter also believed in the historical creation account.

2 Peter 3:5-6 (NIV) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

Peter believed that the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures did not come from the emotions, logic, or values of the writer:

2 Peter 1:19-21 (NIV) And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter believed in the reality of Angels, fallen Angels, Noah, the Flood, Lot; and that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was an actual historical event at a literal place.

2 Peter 2:4-8 (NIV) For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--

Peter’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Acts 1:20 Psalms 69:25 - Psalms 109:8

Acts 2:16-20 - Joel 2:28-32

Acts 2:25-28 - Psalms 16:8-11

Acts 2:34-35 - Psalms 110:1

Acts 3:22-23 - Deuteronomy 18:15 - Deuteronomy 18:18-19

Acts 3:24-25 - Genesis 22:18 - Genesis 26:4

Acts 4:11 - Psalms 118:22

Acts 4:25 - Psalms 2:1-2

1 Peter 1:15-16 - Leviticus 11:44-45 - Leviticus 19:2 - Leviticus 20:7

1 Peter 1:23-25 - Isaiah 40:6-8

1 Peter 2:6-8 - Isaiah 28:6 - Psalms 118:22 - Isaiah 8:14

1 Peter 2:21-22 - Isaiah 53:9

1 Peter 3:10-12 - Psalms 34:12-16

1 Peter 3:14 - Isaiah 8:12

1 Peter 4:18 - Proverbs 11:31

1 Peter 5:5 - Proverbs 3:34

2 Peter 1:17-18 - Matthew 17:5 - Mark 9:7 - Luke 9:35

2 Peter 2:22 - Proverbs 26:11

Paul believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as Paul referenced the Holy Word of God in his teachings and writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he spoke.

Paul believed in the historical account of the prophets:

2 Timothy 3:14-16 (NIV) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Paul believed that what he was teaching came directly from the Spirit of God:

Galatians 3:22 (NIV) But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Paul believed that the Scriptures were to be interpreted literally giving credence to every "jot and tittle" and that the time stated was literal and accurate.

Galatians 3:16-17 (NIV) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

Paul believed that the Scriptural reference to Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and the Covenant was literal and accurate.

Galatians 4:22-23 (NIV) For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

Paul believed that what he was relating to the Thessalonians was the actual Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Paul paralleled the Word and sound doctrine while contrasting them to myths. When you preach the Word, you are preaching sound doctrine.

Acts 10:43 (NIV) All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Paul’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Acts 13:32-35 Psalms 2:7 - Isaiah 55:3 - Psalms 16:10

Acts 13:40-41 - Habakkuk 1:5

Acts 13:47 - Isaiah 49:6

Acts 23:5 - Exodus 2:28

Acts 28:25-27 - Isaiah 6:9-10

Romans 1:17 - Habakkuk 2:4

Romans 2:5-6 - Psalms 62:12 - Proverbs 24:12

Romans 2:24 - Isaiah 52:5 - Ezekiel 36:22

Romans 3:4 - Psalms 51:4

Romans 3:10-18 - Psalms 14:1-3 - Psalms 53:1-3 - Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Psalms 5:9 - Psalms 140:3 - Psalms 10:7 Isaiah 59:7-8 - Psalms 36:1

Romans 4:3 - Genesis 15:6

Romans 4:6-8 - Psalms 32:1-2

Romans 4:17 - Genesis 17:5

Romans 4:18 - Genesis 15:5

Romans 7:7 - Exodus 20:17 - Deuteronomy 5:21

Romans 8:36 - Psalms 44:22

Romans 9:6-7 - Genesis 21:12

Romans 9:9 - Genesis 18:10, 14

Romans 9:10-12 - Genesis 25:23

Romans 9:13 - Malachi 1:2-3

Romans 9:14-15 - Exodus 33:19

Romans 9:17 - Exodus 9:16

Romans 9:20 - Isaiah 29:16 - Isaiah 45:9

Romans 9:25-26 - Hosea 2:23 - Hosea 1:10

Romans 9:27-28 - Isaiah 10:22-23

Romans 9:29 - Isaiah 1:9

Romans 9:33 - Isaiah 8:14 - Isaiah 28:16

Romans 10:5 - Leviticus 18:5

Romans 10:6 - Deuteronomy 30:12

Romans 10:7 - Deuteronomy 30:13

Romans 10:8 - Deuteronomy 30:14

Romans 10:11 - Isaiah 28:16

Romans 10:12-13 - Joel 2:32

Romans 10:15 - Isaiah 52:7

Romans 10:16 - Isaiah 53:1

Romans 10:18 - Psalms 19:4

Romans 10:19 - Deuteronomy 32:21

Romans 10:20 - Isaiah 65:1

Romans 10:21 - Isaiah 65:2

Romans 11:2-3 - 1 Kings 19:10, 14

Romans 11:4 - 1 Kings 19:18

Romans 11:8 - Deuteronomy 29:4 - Isaiah 29:10

Romans 11:9-10 - Psalms 69:22-23

Romans 11:26-27 - Isaiah 59:20-21 - Isaiah 27:9

Romans 11:33-36 - Isaiah 40:13 - Job 41:11

Romans 12:19 - Deuteronomy 32:35

Romans 12:20 - Proverbs 25:21-22

Romans 13:8-9 - Exodus 20:13-15 - Exodus 20:17 - Deuteronomy 5:17-19 - Deuteronomy 5:21 - Leviticus 19:18

Romans 14:11 - Isaiah 49:18 - Isaiah 45:23

Romans 15:3 - Psalms 69:9

Romans 15:8-9 - 2 Samuel 22:50 - Psalms 18:49

Romans 15:10 - Deuteronomy 32:43

Romans 15:11 - Psalms 117:1

Romans 15:12 - Isaiah 11:10

Romans 15:21 - Isaiah 52:15

1 Corinthians 1:19 - Isaiah 29:14

I Corinthians 1:31 - Jeremiah 9:24

I Corinthians 2:9 - Isaiah 64:4

I Corinthians 2:15-16 - Isaiah 40:13

I Corinthians 3:19 - Job 5:13

I Corinthians 3:20 - Psalms 94:11

I Corinthians 5:12-13 - Deuteronomy 17:7 - Deuteronomy 19:19 - Deuteronomy 22:21 - Deuteronomy 22:24 - Deuteronomy 24:7

I Corinthians 6:16 - Genesis 2:24

I Corinthians 9:9 - Deuteronomy 25:4

I Corinthians 10:7 - Exodus 32:6

I Corinthians 10:25-26 - Psalms 24:1

I Corinthians 14:21 - Isaiah 28:11-12 - Deuteronomy 28:49

I Corinthians 15:27 - Psalms 8:6

I Corinthians 15:32 - Isaiah 22:13

I Corinthians 15:45 - Genesis 2:7

I Corinthians 15:54 - Isaiah 25:8

I Corinthians 15:55 - Hosea 13:14

2 Corinthians 4:6 - Genesis 1:3

2 Corinthians 4:13 - Psalms 116:10

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 - Isaiah 49:8

2 Corinthians 6:16 - Leviticus 26:12 - Jeremiah 32:38 - Ezekiel 37:27

2 Corinthians 6:17 - Isaiah 52:11 - Ezekiel 20:34 - Ezekiel 20:41

2 Corinthians 6:18 - 2 Samuel 7:14 - 2 Samuel 7:8

2 Corinthians 8:14-15 - Exodus 16:18

2 Corinthians 9:9 - Psalms 112:9

2 Corinthians 10:17 - Jeremiah 9:24

2 Corinthians 13:1 - Deuteronomy 19:15

Galatians 3:6-8 - Genesis 15:6 - Genesis 12:3 - Genesis 18:18 - Genesis 22:18

Galatians 3:10-13 - Deuteronomy 27:26 - Habakkuk 2:4 - Leviticus 18:5 - Deuteronomy 21:23

Galatians 3:16-17 - Genesis 12:7 - Genesis 13:15 - Genesis 24:7

Galatians 4:27 - Isaiah 54:1

Galatians 4:29-30 - Genesis 21:10

Galatians 5:14 - Leviticus 19:18

Ephesians 4:8 - Psalms 68:18

Ephesians 4:26 - Psalms 4:4

Ephesians 5:31 - Genesis 2:24

Ephesians 6:2 - Deuteronomy 5:16

1 Timothy 5:18 - Deuteronomy 25:4 - Luke 10:7

2 Timothy 2:19 - Numbers 16:5

The writer to the Hebrews believed that the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in his teachings and writings. If he did not believe that the Holy Word of God was to be understood literally, he would never have used it as conclusive proof of various events about which he spoke.

Hebrews 1:1 (NIV) In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

The writer to the Hebrews believed that Melchizedek, Abraham, Levi, and the situation that occurred immediately following Abraham's battle referenced in Genesis was a reality:

Hebrews 7:1-10 (NIV) This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

The writer to the Hebrews believed the creation account found in Genesis, the flood account, and the entire Word of God was a historical record and referenced them in Hebrews chapter 11 -

the FAITH Chapter.

The writer to the Hebrews believed that Esau was an actual, historical person:

Hebrews 12:16-17 (NIV) See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

The writer to the Hebrews believed that Abel was an actual, historical person:

Hebrews 12:24 (NIV) to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The writer to the Hebrews believed that the leaders had spoken the Word of God:

Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

The writer to the Hebrews references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Hebrews 1:5-13 -  Psalms 2:7 - 2 Samuel 7:14 - Deuteronomy 32:43 - Psalms 104:4 - Psalms 45:6-7 - Psalms 102:25-27 - Psalms 110:1

Hebrews 2:6-8 - Psalms 8:4-6

Hebrews 2:12-13 - Psalms 22:22 - Isaiah 8:17 - Isaiah 8:18

Hebrews 3:7-11 - Psalms 95:7-11

Hebrews 3:15 - Psalms 95:7-8

Hebrews 4:3 - Psalms 95:11

Hebrews 4:4 - Genesis 2:2

Hebrews 4:7 - Psalms 95:7-8

Hebrews 5:5-6 - Psalms 2:7 - Psalms 110:4

Hebrews 6:13-14 - Genesis 22:17

Hebrews 7:17-21 - Psalms 110:4

Hebrews 8:5 - Exodus 25:40

Hebrews 8:8-12 - Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 9:20 - Exodus 24:8

Hebrews 10:5-7 - Psalms 40:6-8

Hebrews 10:15-17 - Jeremiah 31:33-34

Hebrews 10:30 - Deuteronomy 32:35 - Deuteronomy 32:36 - Psalms 135:14

Hebrews 10:37-38 - Habakkuk 2:3-4

Hebrews 11:17-18 - Genesis 21:12

Hebrews 12:5-6 - Proverbs 3:11-12

Hebrews 12:12-13 - Proverbs 4:26

Hebrews 12:18-21 - Exodus 19:12-13 - Deuteronomy 9:19

Hebrews 12:25-27 - Haggai 2:6

Hebrews 13:4-6 - Deuteronomy 31:6 - Psalms 118:6-7

Paul & Barnabus believed the Word of God literally:

Acts 13:47 - Isaiah 49:6

Stephen believed the Word of God literally, as his dissertation was a historical recounting of a segment of Genesis, and he was a man that the Scriptures stated was full of God’s grace and power:

Acts 6:15 (NIV) All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen's references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Acts 7:2-7 - Genesis 12:1 - Genesis 15:13-14

Acts 7:1-60 - Exodus 2:14 - Exodus 3:6 - Exodus 3:5 - Exodus 3:7-8 - Exodus 3:10 - Deuteronomy 18:15 - Exodus 32:1 - Amos 5:25-27 - Isaiah 66:1-2

Peter, John, and the people believed the creation story:

Acts 4:24

Peter, John, and the people believed the Word of God literally:

Acts 4:25-26 - Psalms 2:1-2

The crowd of Jews around Jesus believed the Word of God literally:

John 6:31 - Exodus 16:4 - Psalms 78:24

Philip believed the Word of God literally:

John 1:45 (NIV) Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Philip and the Eunuch believed the Word of God literally:

Acts 8:26-35 - Isaiah 53:7-8

James believed the Word of God literally:

James 2:25 (NIV) In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

Acts 15:15-18 - Amos 9:11-12

James 2:8 - Leviticus 19:18

James 2:11 - Exodus 20:14 - Deuteronomy 5:18 - Exodus 20:13 - Deuteronomy 5:17

James 2:23 - Genesis 15:6

James 4:5-6 - Proverbs 3:3-4

The Bereans believed the Word of God literally:

Acts 17:11 (NIV) Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Sergius Paulus was the proconsul and an intelligent man, and he believed that what Barnabus and Saul were teaching was the Word of God:

Acts 13:7

Acts 13:12

Apollos believed the Word of God literally:

Acts 18:27-28 (NIV) When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Paul stated that King Agrippa believed the Word of God literally:

Acts 26:27 (NIV) King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."

The devil believed the Holy Word of God should be understood literally, as he referenced the Holy Word of God in the temptation of Jesus.

Psalms 91:11-12 (NIV) For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

The chief priests and Herod believed the Word of God literally:

Micah 5:2 (NIV) "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

King Herod believed the Holy Word of God, and the Magi’s understanding of the Word of God enough to kill all the boy babies in Bethlehem:

Matthew 2:16 (NIV) When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Zechariah believed the Word of God literally:

Luke 1: 69-70 (NIV) He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

Jude believed the Word of God literally, as he referenced the Exodus of the children Israel, the fall of Lucifer, Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, Balaam, Korah, and their respective historical accounts:

Jude 1:11 (NIV) Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.

Jude believed that Enoch was a historical person, and that the Genesis account of the descendants of Adam was accurate:

Jude 1:14-15 (NIV) Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

There were eight (debatably nine) writers of the New Testament:

Matthew - Mark - Luke - John - Paul, the writer to the Hebrews (probably Paul), James - Peter - Jude

Every single one of them believed the Old Testament, Moses, and the Prophets literally. All of the writers of the New Testament looked to the Old Testament not as allegorical, but as historical, and they made "jot and tittle" judgments on the meaning of the Scriptures. One would certainly believe that we should follow their example.

The New Testament writers and Jesus referenced the following books as literal and as substantive proof of their own teaching and writings:

Genesis - Exodus - Leviticus - Numbers - Deuteronomy - Judges - 2 Samuel - 1 Kings - Job - Psalms - Proverbs - Ecclesiastes - Isaiah - Jeremiah - Ezekiel - Daniel - Hosea - Joel - Amos - Jonah - Micah - Habakkuk - Haggai - Zechariah - Malachi

The New Testament writers and Jesus accepted the creation account as well as the history of Adam and his descendants all the way to Jesus including; Cain, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Job, Jonah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jepthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.

Most importantly, and truly the only singular significant fact is that Jesus Christ, Adonai Elohim who was in the beginning, created everything, and without Him, nothing was created - knew that the Word of God was literal, actual, and historical. He was in the beginning, and knew perfectly all of mankind’s history. Jesus Christ knew that the Holy Word of God is a historical account. Who is better qualified to testify as to the authenticity of the Word of God, than the very Creator who was with God in the beginning. He knew that the Word of God is to be understood and interpreted historically and literally; as He quoted it, and endorsed it, as well as the people referenced in it. (I hesitate to say this, but I must qualify for the simple minded and the spiritually blind that where Jesus gave something as a parable, then it was just that.) If Jesus is who He says He is, then the Word of God is what He knew and knows that it is. If the Word of God is not what Jesus thought it was, then He cannot be who He said He was. If the Word of God is not literal truth, then Jesus Christ by His actions and words is a fraud or never even existed, and certainly did not actually, literally, and historically rise from the dead.

Genesis 2:4-7 (NIV) This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-- 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-- 7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Jesus believed that the Word of God was to be understood literally:

Mark 14:49 (NIV) Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

Jesus certainly knew that the account of Elijah, Elisha, and Naaman the Syrian was accurate and real:

John 5:46-47 (NIV) If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

Jesus certainly knew that the Desert Wandering account was actual:

John 6:49 (NIV) Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.

John 20:9 (NIV) (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Jesus knew that if the people did not believe Moses and the Prophets, they would not believe Him either, and He relates that in the account in Luke. The writing of Moses and the Prophets is the Word of God:

Luke 16:27-31 (NIV) "He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’  "Abraham replied, ‘they have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’  "’No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’  "He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"

Jesus Christ’s references to the Old Testament Scriptures:

Matthew 4:4 - Deuteronomy 8:3

Matthew 4:7 - Deuteronomy 6:16

Matthew 4:10 - Deuteronomy 6:13

Matthew 5:21 - Exodus 20:13

Matthew 5:27 - Exodus 20:14

Matthew 5:31 - Deuteronomy 24:1

Matthew 5:38 - Exodus 21:24 - Leviticus 24:20 - Deuteronomy 19:21

Matthew 5:43 - Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 9:13 - Hosea 6:6

Matthew 10:35-36 - Micah 7:6

Matthew 11:10 - Malachi 3:1

Matthew 12:7 - Hosea 6:6

Matthew 13:13-15 - Isaiah 6:9-10

Matthew 15:4 - Exodus 20:12 - Deuteronomy 5:16 - Exodus 21:17 - Leviticus 20:9

Matthew 15:7-9 - Isaiah 29:13

Matthew 18:16 - Deuteronomy 19:15

Matthew 19:3-6 - Genesis 1:27 - Genesis 2:24

Matthew 19:16-19 - Exodus 20:12-16 - Deuteronomy 5:16-20 - Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 21:13 - Isaiah 56:7 - Jeremiah 7:11

Matthew 21:15-16 - Psalms 8:2

Matthew 21:42 - Psalms 118:22-23

Matthew 22:29-32 - Exodus 3:6

Matthew 22:37-40 - Deuteronomy 6:5 - Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 22:41-45 - Psalms 110:1

Matthew 23:39 - Psalms 118:26

Matthew 24:15 - Daniel 9:27 - Daniel 11:31 - Daniel 12:11

Matthew 24:29 - Isaiah 13:10 - Isaiah 34:4

Matthew 26:31 - Zechariah 13:7

Mark 4:11-12 - Isaiah 6:9-10

Mark 7:6-7 - Isaiah 29:13

Mark 7:10-13 - Exodus 20:12 - Deuteronomy 5:16 - Exodus 21:17 - Leviticus 20:9

Mark 9:47-48 - Isaiah 66:24

Mark 10:5-8 - Genesis 1:27 - Genesis 2:24

Mark 10:18-19 - Exodus 20:12-16 - Deuteronomy 5:16-20

Mark 11:17 - Isaiah 56:7 - Jeremiah 7:11

Mark 12:11 - Psalms 118:22-23

Mark 12:26 - Exodus 3:6

Mark 12:29-31 - Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - Leviticus 19:18

Mark 12:36 - Psalms 110:1

Mark 13:14 - Daniel 9:27 - Daniel 11:31 - Daniel 12:11

Mark 13:24-25 - Isaiah 13:10 - Isaiah 34:4

Mark 14:27 - Zechariah 13:7

Luke 4:4 - Deuteronomy 8:3

Luke 4:8 - Deuteronomy 6:13

Luke 4:12 - Deuteronomy 6:16

Luke 4:16-21 - Isaiah 61:1-2

Luke 7:27 - Malachi 3:1

Luke 8:10 - Isaiah 6:9

Luke 10:26-28 - Deuteronomy 6:5 - Leviticus 19:18

Luke 13:35 - Psalms 118:26

Luke 18:19-20 - Exodus 20:12-16 - Deuteronomy 5:16-20

Luke 19:38 - Psalms 118:26

Luke 19:46 - Isaiah 56:7 - Jeremiah 7:11

Luke 20:17 - Psalms 118:22

Luke 20:37 - Exodus 3:6

Luke 20:42-43 - Psalms 110:1

Luke 22:37 - Isaiah 53:12

Luke 23:28-30 - Hosea 10:8

John 6:45 - Isaiah 54:13

John 10:34-35 - Psalms 82:6

John 13:18 - Psalms 41:9

John 15:25 - Psalms 35:19 - Psalms 69:4

Jesus referenced the creation story as actual.

Mark 13:18-19 (NIV) Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now-and never to be equaled again.

Jesus referenced the flood account as historical:

Matthew 24:37-39 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Jesus referenced Abel as an actual person.

Matthew 23:35 (NIV) And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

While we have no record of Jesus referencing Job as literal, we do have record of Ezekiel, James, and Paul referencing Job as actual:

Job 5:13 (NIV) He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.

Jesus did reference Noah, Jonah, and the Creation account. It requires faith to believe that a great fish swallowed a man whole, the man stayed alive for three days in the fish’s stomach, and then the fish vomited the man out on the beach at God’s direction. It requires faith to believe the Genesis account of the flood that destroyed all of mankind except Noah and his family. It requires faith to believe the creation story that Jesus referenced. If you can by faith, accept those accounts that Jesus specifically referenced as actual, doesn’t it require much less faith to accept the account of Job?

Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV) As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Jesus knew that:

Jonah was real: Matthew 12:39-40, 16:4; Luke 11:29-30, 11:32

David was real: Matthew 12:3-8, 22:43-45; Mark 2:25-26; 12:35-37; Luke 6:3; 20:41-44

Solomon was real: Matthew 6:28-29, 12:42; Luke 11:31, 12:27

Sodom and Gomorrah were real: Matthew 10:15, 11:23-24; Luke 10:12, 17:28-29

Tyre and Sidon were real: Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13

Moses was real: Matthew 8:4, 17:3-4, 19:8; Mark 9:4-6, 10:3-5; Luke 9:30-33, 20:37

Elijah was real: Matthew 17:10-12, 17:3-12, Mark 9:4-6, 11-13; Luke 4:25-26, 9:30-33

Elisha was real: Luke 4:27

Naaman the Syrian was real: Luke 4:27

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were real: Matthew 8:11, 22:32; Mark 12:26, Luke 13:16, 13:28, Luke 16:19-31, 19:9,20:37; John 8:37-40, John 8:56-58

Ninevah was real: Matthew 12:41; Luke 11:32

Lot was real: Luke 17:28-29

Lot’s wife was real: Luke 17:32

Noah was real: Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27

The Flood was real: Matthew 24:37-39

The Queen of the South was real: Matthew 12:42, Luke 11:31

Jesus confirmed the twelfth chapter of Revelation before it was written - Luke 10:18

The Holy Word of God is Perfectly Consistent.

Humanity has been given five senses to procure information for analysis and review by the mind. The only other possible avenue for gaining information is a spirit. The Word of God tastes, smells, looks, sounds, and feels the same throughout the Old and the New Testament. In our humanity, we sometimes read something in the Word of God, whereby our lack of understanding makes it appear that there is contradiction. Know that it is a lack of our understanding. If a Scripture is not in compliance with the total of all other Scriptures, it is because of misinterpretation on the part of you or the translator. An example of a translation problem is found in James 1:14:

James 1:14-15 (NIV) but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire ("e p u q u m t a V "), he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then after desire ("e p u q u m t a ")  has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

We know that Jesus was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15), and had no evil desire in Him, so we know that there is a translation problem. I referred to the NIV Interlinear English - Greek New Testament. In the original Greek text, the word "e p u q u m t a V " has been translated "evil desire" in James 1:14. In James 1:15, the same Greek word in the singular form "e p u q u m t a " is simply translated "desire." The exact same word in the Greek has been translated two different ways. The translator has placed the word evil in the NIV text, and that word absolutely does not exist in the original Greek text of James 1:14.

The translator’s motive in this case was obviously to force the Holy Word of God to comply with his Calvinistic theology that states that man cannot be rid of the carnal, evil, sinful nature in this lifetime. Jesus was free of this nature, and you can be.

Every translation is imperfect as these are the work of man. The original Hebrew and Greek writings are perfect as these are the Words of God.

When Jesus said "A farmer went out to sow seed." That is a parable. When Jesus said:

Luke 16:19-21 (NIV) "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Jesus did not lie in that there actually was a beggar named Lazarus and a rich man who out of courtesy to the fact that he is in hell remains unnamed. (It is also possible that when you go to hell, you no longer have a name.)

When the Word of God says:

Job 1:1-3 (NIV) In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

I believe that the greatest man among all the people of the east was a man named Job who lived in Uz. The fact that I cannot find Uz on a Rand McNally map, nor a headstone for Job in the Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery does not weaken my faith. Moses is not there either. I am sure that Job existed literally in an actual place named Uz.

The Word of God does use symbolism in specific instances, because it says that it does. In these cases you can know that the Word of God is speaking figuratively because it literally tells you that it is.

Revelation 1:20 - Revelation 4:5 - Revelation 1:3-4 - Revelation 12:3-12:9 - Revelation 17:3 - Revelation 17:9 - Revelation 17:12 - Revelation 17:15 - Revelation 17:18 - Revelation 20:2 - Revelation 12 - Daniel 7:15-24

I must say that it exasperates and frustrates me that spiritually blind people cannot differentiate between actual and figurative. Many of those who do not believe in the literal interpretation of the Word of God use Job or Genesis as an example of what they might not believe. It is probable that in reality they are attempting to soften or negate some of the Word of God, in order to minimize the entire Word of God, and particularly that specific portion that references something that they do not like or agree with that points up to sin in their own life that they do not wish to address. 

Hebrews 11:3 (NIV) By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God’s command.

Matthew

Matthew starts with the genealogy from Abraham to the Christ. Matthew started his record based on the foundation that Jesus literally came from the descendancy of Abraham. Matthew obviously believed that Abraham and all of his listed descendants were actual people:

Matthew 1:1-17 (NIV) A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, = whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, 7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, 15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

Matthew believed that the writings of Isaiah including the virgin birth were literal.

Psalms 22:1 (NIV) For the director of music. To the tune of "The Doe of the Morning." A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

Mark

Psalms 22:1 (NIV) For the director of music. To the tune of "The Doe of the Morning." A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

Luke

Leviticus 12:8 (NIV) "’If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’"

Luke starts with the genealogy from Jesus to Adam. Luke started his record based on the foundation that Jesus literally came from the descendancy of Adam. Luke obviously believed that Adam and all of his listed descendants were actual people, and that the creation story was an actual event:

Luke 3:23-38 (NIV) Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Psalms 118:26 (NIV) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

John

Psalms 2:9 (NIV) You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

John the Baptist

Isaiah 40:3 (NIV) A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.

Peter

Proverbs 26:11 (NIV) As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

Paul