I agree that reality with regard to scripture is a combination of #3 & #4. There is truth or signal from god (or whatever) in scripture. But it is also corrupted by the noise of human distortion.

So I like to use the conventional scientific approach to enhancing signal in the presence of noise. That is to integrate over many events. In this case that means comparative religion, or more accurately comparative scripture.

Principles that appear over and over again in all religions result in a very strong signal. And contradictory principles may suggest more subtle principles at work. A corrollary to this approach is that any one limited to one set of scripture is apt to receive a weak signal and not be able to distinguish the signal from the noise. I think this applies to those who only accept proven science as well.