Literal vs. Spiritual Meaning
Scripture often contains both levels—but in the fulfilled age, the spiritual meaning is what matters most.
What is
Literal vs. Spiritual Meaning
TGNN teaches that Scripture often carries both literal and spiritual meaning—but in the fulfilled age, the spiritual meaning is primary. The material served a purpose, but the Spirit now gives life.
Explanation
Many readers of Scripture struggle between taking the Bible literally or interpreting it symbolically. TGNN affirms that some parts of Scripture are literal and historical, but many others were intended to carry deeper, spiritual truths—especially in prophecy, parables, and poetic language.Jesus Himself often spoke in metaphor: “I am the door,” “the bread of life,” “the light of the world.” These weren’t literal, but they were real. Likewise, events in the Old Testament often happened materially and pointed to spiritual realities beyond themselves.In the fulfilled age, TGNN teaches that we move from clinging to the literal to embracing the spiritual. Literal meanings had their place in a material religious age—but now the focus is on what those signs pointed to: life in the Spirit, inward transformation, and relational truth.
