13 Sep Classically, spiritual interpretation arises precisely when the reader encounters something awkward in the literal sense–paradigmatically, something that is not edifying
One way of attempting to pinpoint that latter distinction is to say that 'spiritual' interpretation is precisely that kind of interpretation which has to find the Bible useful, or tie it into the framework of already-known truth, whereas literal interpretation is precisely that kind of interpretation which pays attention to the ways in which the Bible resists use--the ways in which it is awkward, diverse, and difficult.