Song of Solomon: What's it about?

If I am not mistaken the original Scofield Bible states that the Song of Solomon is an allegory of the love of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church.

Of course according to dispensationalism the Church is unknown in the Old Testament and all Scripture must be interpreted literally.

Scofield's remarks have been deleted in the New Scofield Bible.

Scofield’s Introduction to the Song of Solomon is shown below.

Source: http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/view.cgi?book=so&chapter=000

Nowhere in Scripture does the unspiritual mind tread upon ground so mysterious and incomprehensible as in this book, while the saintliest men and women of the ages have found it a source of pure and exquisite delight. That the love of the divine Bridegroom should follow all the analogies of the marriage relation seems evil only to minds so ascetic that martial desire itself seems to them unholy.

The interpretation is twofold: Primarily, the book is the expression of pure marital love as ordained of God in creation, and the vindication of that love as against both asceticism and lust--the two profanations of the holiness of marriage. The secondary and larger interpretation is of Christ, the Son and His heavenly bride, the Church (2 Corinthians 11:1-4 refs).

In this sense the book has six divisions:
1. The bride seen in restful communion with the Bridegroom, 1:1-2:7.
2. A lapse and restoration, 2:3-3:5.
3. Joy of fellowship, 3:6-5:1.
4. Separation of interest--the bride satisfied, the Bridegroom toiling for others, 5:2-5.
5. The bride seeking and witnessing, 5:6-6:3.
6. Unbroken communion, 6:4-8:14.

 

1) I would say it is primarily about a marital relationship.

2) Now, I see a marital relationship as a portrait of God's relationship with his people.

3) I say that 2 is not the main point of the text of SOS, but the nuance comes through. I do NOT think it is an allegory.

 

My view was not represented. I think the Song is about the sanctity and beauty of marriage. Any allegorical meaning about God and Israel and Christ and the Church would have to be imposed on the text from the outside, imo.

However, in context of God calling Israel his wife, and the church being the bride of Christ, I think it is okay to say the Song might illustrate that, but we can't say it for sure.

(I am surprised there were votes for No. 1! Why would God have that in the Bible? There is always edification in God's word).

 

Scofield and I agree on one thing: The secondary and larger interpretation is of Christ, the Son and His heavenly bride, the Church.

 

My view is not represented. The Song of Solomon is about the beauty and sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. It provides for us the model of Christian marriage.

 

Possibly the way distractor #1 was worded prevented people from choosing it.