Overliterally

The Roman Catholic doctrine, "outside the church, no salvation," has been the subject of many a theological treatise, and has wrecked the mood in advance of many an auspicious American interfaith gathering. Catholic theologians explain that it must not be overliterally interpreted. Non-Catholic Christians, they say, if "invincibly ignorant" that Catholicism is the only way to salvation, can save themselves by leading good lives; for this makes them, whether they know it or not, Catholics "by desire."

In Job 42:10 the A.V. translates overliterally, and the Lord turned the captivity of Job. Here clearly the R.S.V. gives the real meaning, and the Lord restored the fortunes of Job. Throughout the Old Testament we are faced with […]

τὰλόγια, Papias' words for what Matthew writes here, are widely viewed as referring to his gospel in Aramaic form. It is unjustified to insist on taking it overliterally, e.g. by restricting it to a sayings collection: Mark's gospel is said to consist of "what the Lord said and did" but is also said to pass along logioi. Both Irenaeus and other sources confirm this […]