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Allegorical Interpretation of The Bible

The document discusses allegorical interpretation of the Bible, which assumes the text has multiple levels of meaning beyond the literal sense. It originated in Greek philosophy and Jewish rabbinical schools. There are four types of interpretation: literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical. In the Middle Ages, allegory was used to connect the Old and New Testaments and draw spiritual lessons. Figurative language and symbols were interpreted symbolically rather than literally.

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4K views4 pages

Allegorical Interpretation of The Bible

The document discusses allegorical interpretation of the Bible, which assumes the text has multiple levels of meaning beyond the literal sense. It originated in Greek philosophy and Jewish rabbinical schools. There are four types of interpretation: literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical. In the Middle Ages, allegory was used to connect the Old and New Testaments and draw spiritual lessons. Figurative language and symbols were interpreted symbolically rather than literally.

Uploaded by

Zakka Labib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Allegorical interpretation of the Bible

Allegorical interpretation is an interpretive method


(exegesis) which assumes that the Bible has various lev-
els of meaning and tends to focus on the spiritual sense
(which includes the allegorical sense, the moral (or tropo-
logical) sense, and the anagogical sense) as opposed to the
literal sense. It is sometimes referred to as the Quadriga,
a reference to the Roman chariot drawn by four horses.

1 History
Allegorical interpretation has its origins both in Greek
thought and in rabbinical schools of Judaism. In the Mid-
dle Ages it was used by Bible commentators of the Chris-
tian era.[1]

2 The four types


Scriptural interpretation is sometimes referred to as the
Quadriga, a reference to the Roman chariot pulled by
four horses abreast. The four horses are symbolic of
the four sub-methods of Scriptural interpretation. There
are two main ways to interpret Scripture, further divided
into three subgroups, hence the number four: Number 1:
Literal/historical-critical: this is the most important and
all other interpretations rely on it. Number 2a: Allegori-
cal/Christological/Typological Number 2b: Tropological
or moral Number 2c: Anagogical/Eschatological
Christian allegorical map of The Journey of Life, or an Accurate
Map of the Roads, Counties, Towns &c. in the Ways to Happiness
Literal interpretation: explanation of the meaning & Misery, 1775
of events for historical purposes from a neutral per-
spective, trying to understand the text in the culture
and time it was written, and location and language Typological interpretation: connecting the events of
it was composed in. This is, since the 19th century, the Old Testament with the New Testament, partic-
usually ascertained using the higher critical methods ularly drawing allegorical connections between the
like source criticism, form criticism, etc. In many events of Christs life with the stories of the Old Tes-
modern seminaries and universities the literal mean- tament. Also when a passage speaks directly to you
ing is usually focused on to a near complete aban- such as when St Francis of Asisi heard the passage to
donment of the spiritual methods. This is very ob- sell all he has and it changed his life. It can also typo-
vious when comparing commentary from a Douay logically point to the Blessed Virgin Mary - she is the
Rheims or Confraternity or Knox Bible with a New ark which held the Word of God, Judith who slew a
Jerusalem, New RSV or NABRE[2] tyrant is a Marian type, the burning bush which con-
tains the re of God yet was not consumed as Mary
Anagogic interpretation: dealing with the future held the Second Person of the Trinity in her Immac-
events of Christian history(eschatology), heaven, ulate Virginal Womb and was not burnt up.[4]
purgatory, hell, the last judgement, the general
resurrection and second Advent of Christ, etc. Tropological (or moral) interpretation: the moral
(prophecies).[3] of the story", how one should act in the present.

1
2 8 REFERENCES

Many of Jesus parables and the book of Proverbs allegory to bring together the gaps.[8] The use of allegor-
and other wisdom books are packed with tropologi- ical interpretation in the Middle Ages began as a Chris-
cal meaning[5] tian method for studying the dierences between the Old
Testament and the New (tropological interpretation).[8]
A Latin rhyme designed to help scholars remember the Christian scholars believed both the Old and New Tes-
four interpretations survives from the Middle Ages: tament were equally inspired divinely by God and sought
to understand the dierences between Old Testament and
New Testament Laws.[9] Medieval scholars believed the
Litera gesta docet, Quid credas allegoria, Old Testament to serve as an allegory of New Testament
Moralis quid agas, Quo tendas anagogia.[6] eventssuch as the story of Jonah and the whale, which
represents Jesus death and resurrection.[8] According to
The rhyme is roughly translated: The literal teaches what the Old Testament Book of Jonah, a prophet spent three
God and our ancestors did, The allegory is where our faith days in the belly of a whale. Medieval scholars believed
and belief is hid, The moral meaning gives us the rule this was an allegory (using the typological interpretation)
of daily life, The anagogy shows us where we end our of Jesus death and his being in the tomb for three days
strife.[6] before he rose from the dead.
Another popular allegorical work studied in the Middle
Ages comes from Plato's The Republic.[10] In this episode,
3 In antiquity commonly known as the Allegory of the Cave, Plato de-
scribes a group of people who have lived chained to the
wall of a cave all their lives facing a blank wall. The peo-
Origen of Alexandria, in his Treatise on First Principles, ple watch shadows projected on the wall by things pass-
recommends that the Old and New Testaments be in- ing in front of a re and begin to ascribe forms to these
terpreted allegorically at three levels, the rst being the shadows.[11] The work is an allegorical comment on the
esh, the second the soul, and the third the spirit. want of education in society at the time and the philoso-
Many of the events recounted in the Scriptures, inter- phers place in society as a teacher to enlighten the 'pris-
preted in the literal or eshly sense, Origen claims, are oners.'
impossible. Many of the laws, when interpreted literally,
are impossible or nonsensical. To get at the meaning of
these passages, it is necessary to interpret them allegor-
ically. Some connected passages will contain parts that 6 See also
are literally true and parts that are literally impossible. In
this case, says Origen, the reader must endeavor to grasp Aesthetic interpretation
the entire meaning, connecting by an intellectual process
the account of what is literally impossible with the parts Demythologization
that are not impossible but historically true, these being
interpreted allegorically in common with the part which, Hermeneutics
so far as the letter goes, did not happen at all.[7]
Pardes (Jewish exegesis)

Allegorical interpretations of Plato


4 In the New Testament
Pauls Letter to the Galatians interprets the story of Sarah 7 External links
and Hagar (Genesis 16:1-6) allegorically (Gal 4:21-24).
Paul treats Hagars son Ishmael as an allegorical repre-
sentation of the eshly children of Abraham, and Sarahs 8 References
son Isaac as an allegorical representation of the spiritual
children of Abraham, the children of the promise. [1] Stephan A. Barney (1989). Allegory. Dictionary of the
Middle Ages. Vol-1. ISBN 0-684-16760-3.

[2] Glucksberg, Sam (2001-07-26). Understanding Figura-


5 In the Middle Ages tive Language from Metaphor to Idioms: From Metaphor to
Idioms. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195111095.
People of the Middle Ages shaped their ideas and institu-
[3] Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, S.V. Anagogical Inter-
tions from drawing on the cultural legacies of the ancient pretation, Accessed March 15, 2013.
world.[8] They didnt see the break between themselves
and their predecessors that todays observers see; they saw [4] Hyde, Virginia (1992). The Risen Adam: D.H.
continuity with themselves and the ancient world using Lawrences Revisionist Typology. ISBN 0271028459.
3

[5] Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Scriptural Tropol-


ogy. Catholic Encyclopaedia. Robert Appleton Com-
pany.

[6] Grant, Robert M. (1963). A Short History of Biblical In-


terpretation. New York. ISBN 0800617622

[7] On First Principles, in Readings in World Christian History


(2013), p. 75

[8] William R. Cook and Ronald B. Herzman (2001). Dis-


covering the Middle Ages. The Teaching Company.
ISBN 1-56585-701-1

[9] http://biologos.org/questions/
early-interpretations-of-genesis

[10] Stephan A. Barney (1989). Allegory. Dictionary of the


Middle Ages. Vol-1. ISBN 0-684-16760-3.

[11] Watt, Stephen (1997), Introduction: The Theory


of Forms (Books 57)", Plato: Republic, London:
Wordsworth Editions, pp. pages xivxvi, ISBN 1-85326-
483-0
4 9 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

9 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses


9.1 Text
Allegorical interpretation of the Bible Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegorical_interpretation_of_the_Bible?oldid=
761130316 Contributors: Rich Farmbrough, Wareh, Remuel, Giraedata, Pwqn, KHM03, Dpr, Amire80, Aethralis, Algebraist, Theelf29,
AdelaMae, SmackBot, Arcan~enwiki, Srnec, Bluebot, Peter1c, WalterRobinsonII, Gregbard, Propaniac, Magioladitis, Tonicthebrown,
Johnbod, TreasuryTag, Oshwah, StAnselm, Ciacg, Martarius, Kathleen.wright5, Jtle515, Editor2020, Logical2007, Addbot, Laaknor-
Bot, Zorrobot, Jimjilin, Vini 17bot5, 3family6, Jandalhandler, Orenburg1, TobeBot, EmausBot, Josve05a, TchaikovskysNemesis,
ChrisGualtieri, FaithMiriam, MagicatthemovieS, JohnD'Alembert, EVDiam, Jasonspyridon and Anonymous: 13

9.2 Images
File:Bible.malmesbury.arp.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Bible.malmesbury.arp.jpg License:
Public domain Contributors: Own work Original artist: Anonymous (photo by Adrian Pingstone)
File:Symbol_book_class2.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Symbol_book_class2.svg License: CC
BY-SA 2.5 Contributors: Mad by Lokal_Prol by combining: Original artist: Lokal_Prol
File:Wikiquote-logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg License: Public domain
Contributors: Own work Original artist: Rei-artur
File:Wright_The_Journey_of_Life_1775_Cornell_CUL_PJM_1025_01.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
commons/8/8d/Wright_The_Journey_of_Life_1775_Cornell_CUL_PJM_1025_01.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Wright,
George, Walking Amusements for Chearful Christians; or trades spiritualized: to which are added various pieces, in prise and verse; with
a map of the roads to happiness and misery.
Cornell University: Persuasive Cartography, The PJ Mode Collection Original artist: Esq George Wright

9.3 Content license


Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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