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Literal sense
(1,499 words)

1. Senses of Scripture

The term literal sense denotes the meaning of a written text to be discovered by means of interpretation (see Hermeneutics); it is derived from Latin sensus litteralis. In addition the term suggests the doctrine of the multiple senses of Scripture developed by the fathers of the Christian church. This doctrine reflects the basic assumption that besides (1) the “literal” or “historical sense” (sensus litteralis or historicus), which is understood as a narrative (narratio) of …

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Hiller, Marion, “Literal sense”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 27 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_027231>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190801



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