"Allegorical" and "Spiritual" Hermeneutics

We all start with grammatical-historical - how else can we begin to understand what we read? But why then is interpretation necessary?

When we read of David's troubles in the Psalms, should we leave them with David, or read them as Messianic Psalms?

When we read of prophecies concerning Israel, should we read them as restoring the Davidic, earthly kingdom centred on Jerusalem, ruled in person by the Messiah; i.e. referring to the return from exile & rebuilding the temple, as a preparation for Messiah to come, all centred on national Israel? Prophecy we are still waiting for, & which will be fulfilled temporarily in a millennium after Messiah returns?

Or is it valid to interpret them typically as referring to the coming of Messiah, - God incarnate in David's line - fulfilling all the types & sacrifices as the suffering Servant, & establishing a spiritual kingdom in the hearts & lives of his redeemed people, both Jew & Gentile - all families on earth - while expecting a final coming in glory to establish his ultimate Kingdom in the NH&NE?

I'm guided by Jesus' teaching in the Gospels & the Apostolic preaching & letters.

The New Covenant writings take precedence over, & interpret the Old Covenant writings in the Law & Prophets.

 

An allegory is simply an extended metaphor.

 

Gal 4:22-24 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; ​

the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

 

1Co 9:9

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

 

Aren't the initiatory rite into fellowship and the central, regularly observed rite of our communion allegorical?

 

I might add that Paul goes further regarding Judaism: Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

But wait! Don't cast them out yet, we must live a thousand years under their rule. It says so in Revelation!

 

I have this strange idea that the book of Revelation is within the Bible, to be understood by reference to other New Covenant Scriptures.

 

Don't be ridiculous. That prophecy wasn't given when Paul penned Galatians, so we have to impose it on his writings. Paul only thought Ishmael represented Sinai. But now we know the temple, the Levitical priesthood and the offerings must be restored.

I just wonder where they will house Jesus's white horse and who will have the dubious honor of scooping its poop.

And will Jesus go on regular horse rides? And will they be on land or in the air? Both, maybe?

 

My dictionary says an allegory is 'a narrative description of a subject under guise of another having similarities to it.' The most famous allegory is Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

If one was interpreting the parable of the Good Samaritan allegorically
The road from Jericho to Jerusalem would be the road of life.
The robbers would be one's sins.
The Priest and the Levite would be the law.
The G.S. would be the evangelist.
The oil and wine would be the Gospel.
The donkey would be the Bible.
The inn would be the local church.
The Innkeeper would be the Pastor
The two pence would be for the upkeep of the church.

In a literal interpretation, we should all go out of our way to help one another. The application would undoubtedly be that if only the man had been carrying a gun with him he could have shot the robbers.

The proper interpretation IMO is that Jesus is teaching the lawyer that he doesn't keep the very law that he quoted (v.27), and nor do we. Therefore we need a Saviour.

 

You mean ignoring the 500 OT references?

 

Of course not. But it is not stand alone prophecy.

 

Using the general term of "symbolism" then - IMO our theology has mainly to do with our view of the meaning of "symbolisms" in the bible.

The best illustration is the meaning given to the 1000 year reign of Christ in revelation 20.

is it literal or symbolism?

Symbolism of what? The usual answer is "a long undefined amount of time'.

HankD

 

Is is not true that there is more then allegory or metaphor in the Scriptures?

There is also, metonymy, substituting a word as a representative for.

When one uses the term "Lord's supper" is that not the use of metonymy?

The study of typology (objects of the OT that are symbols or representative figures of what is realized in the NT) is fascinating.

Has anyone listed the use of figures of speech, and see which was more commonly used by the ancients?

In English, the two words - like, as - indicate the use of a simile
For example: I call my wife "Love" - metaphor
"Her love is like a red, red rose" - simile

In English, a longer story in which contains hidden meaning and messages is an allegory.
For example: The most published book after the Bible is "Pilgrims Progress." It is an allegory, a story with hidden meanings and messages in the characters and story line.

Is it the same in the language of the ancients?

Are their grammatical indicators, and story lines that were indicated as such within the text of the ancients?

Perhaps as is in other languages, the elements of figures of speech are both indicated and not indicated but still well known to those who are familiar with the language.

A Vietnamese friend struggles to understand English idioms. When she heard, "It is raining cats and dogs," she actually looked out to see if the animals were falling from the sky and were hurt.

Perhaps, in the effort for "different" some trip over figures of speech in a language they are too unfamiliar to recognize, and the typical translation causes a stumbling that the ancients would laugh about?

 

yes that is why i use the generic term of symbolism.

e.g.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

It is left up to the reader as to the meaning of the symbolic language of "light" and "darkness".


HankD

 

This is very helpful. Is 1,000 usually interpreted literally or otherwise? Let's take a look:

Psalm 50:10. 'For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.' There are more than 1,000 hills in the world; do the cattle on the 1,001st not belong to God?
Psalm 90:4. 'For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past and like a watch in the night.' Would 1,001 years or 5,000 years be any different? [Compare 2 Peter 3:8]
Psalm 105:8. 'He remembers His covenant forever; the word which He commanded for a thousand generations.' Well, which is it? Does He remember it forever or for 1,000 generations?

There are a few more, but these should serve. A thousand means, almost everywhere it appears in Scripture, 'all that there are' and so it should be interpreted in Rev. 20. I don't know whether anyone wants to call that a 'spiritual' interpretation; to me it's common sense.

I believe all numbers in Revelation should be interpreted symbolically. It's full of 4s, 7s, 10s and 12s. Where are the 5s, 8s, 11s and 13s?

 

I agree 100%

HankD