Reading just now in “The Art of Reading Scripture” ed by Ellen Davis & Richard Hays, 2003, essay by Gregory Jones, p154:

… quoting Augustine, “whatever appears in the divine Word that does not lierally pertain to virtuous behavior or to the truth of faith you must take to be figurative. Virtuous behavior pertains to the love of God and of one’s neighbor; the truth of faith pertains to a knowledge of God and of one’s neighbor.”

Augustine, On Christian Faith, 3.10.14.

Earlier in his essay Jones observed from the UM Bishop Kenneth Carder
“It is much easier to argue about creation and evolution than it is to live as though this is God’s World. Or, debating whether a ‘great fish’ really swallowed Jonah is far less costly and risky than acknowledging that God loves our enemies as much as God loves us.” p145.

Ruminate that. HR