Hey Mark,
I know what you mean as we've talked about this time and time again. If you don't mind, I'd like to give the other members some examples to help them relate.
Matt 14:16-21 Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
We have all read the above passage, telling how Jesus fed thousands from 2 fishes and a couple loaves of bread. The point I believe Mark is stating, is that a person will take a passage as this and attempt to uncover many layers to it. As in:
1. The '5 loaves' being symbolic of some higher spiritual truth
2. The '2 fishes' being symbolic of some higher spiritual truth
3. The '12 baskets of fragments' being symbolic of some higher spiritual truth
4. The multitude of 'five thousand' being symbolic of some higher spiritual truth
And so on and so on...as one can see, you can do this all day and all night within the scriptures.
For some, they may feel 'so what?' They understand from this passage that through God, all things are possible [Matt 19:26]. That's all they need to understand and are contempt with just that understanding.
For others, they may feel that bringing out all symbolism in the scriptures is of utmost importance. For them, this is known as mining for hidden treasure or kings searching out a matter [Prov 25:2].
To me personally, I feel to each his/her own. We all have different functions in the body of Christ, all hold different offices in the ministry [Eph 4:12]. Some of us are good for encouragement among the members, others strong/deep understanding, others at admonishing, and others like Ray at teaching.
But it is our faith, the one faith of God that we hold in Christ Jesus, that binds us all together. That is what makes us all one...one in the faith.
Hope I helped in any way Mark and feel free to correct any points made.
Thanks,
Marques