Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
Nobody took that literally. (Except a few like Origen, who was deemed unbalanced for doing so.) Nor about drinking poison in Mark 16:18.
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Hi Aron
I am interested about your understanding of Mark 16:18. The verse reads as follows
"They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."
There are three items in this verse:-
1) Handling snakes and suffering harm
2) Drinking poison and not getting hurt
3) Healing hands by placing hands.
Items 1 and 3 were fulfilled by Paul in (i) Acts 28 v 3 to 6 and (ii) Acts 28 v 9 respectively. I don't know of any biblical passage of a person who drank poison and did not get hurt.
If items 1 and 3 can be interpreted literally, why shouldn't one expect item 2 to be understood literally too?
My view is that Mark 16:18 is understood in its literal sense, but that it does not apply now. Today, I would not touch a snake or drink poison for the sake of it; I would also see a doctor if I am ill.