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Showing posts with label Armor of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armor of God. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Allegory Principle

Allegory Principle

             An allegory is a story put together with several points of comparison.  It is a continued metaphor and Hypo catastasis.
             Allegory, a very legitimate way of teaching truth, should not be confused with allegorizing, which takes a narrative that was not meant to teach truth by identification.  By a point by point comparison, allegorical makes the narrative convey ideas different from those intended by the original author.  Thus, allegorical is an arbitrary way of handling any narrative.[1]
             Few figures have been the subject of greater controversy than Allegory; or, have been more variously defined.  One class of Rhetoricians declare that it is a continued metaphor:  and another class declare that it is not.  But, as is often the case under such circumstances, neither is quite correct, because both have a part of the truth and put it for the whole.  Neither of the contending parties takes into consideration the existence of hypo catastasis. And this fact accounts for the confusion, not only with regard to allegory, but also with regard to metaphor.
             All three figures are based on comparison.  Simile is comparison by resemblance; metaphor is comparison by representation; hypo catastasis is comparison by implication.
             In the first comparison is stated; in the second it is substituted; the third it is implied.
             Thus, Allegory is a continuation of the latter two, metaphor or hypo catastasis; while the parable (q.v.) is a continuation of the Simile.
             This definition clears the whole ground, and explains the whole of the difficulties, and reconciles the different schools. The Allegory, therefore, is of two kinds; one in which it is continued metaphor (as in Psalm 23), where the two things are both mentioned (Jehovah, and the Shepherd’s care) and what is asserted belongs to the principal object; the other, in which it is continued hypo catastasis (Ps. 80:8-15), where only one thing is mentioned (the vine), and what is asserted belongs properly to the second object; vis., to Israel.  Israel whom it really refers, is not mentioned, but only implied.
             Allegory thus differs from Parable, for a parable is a continued Simile.  It never departs from the simple statement that the one thing resembles another.  While the allegory represents, or implies, that the one thing is the other.  As in the allegory of the Pilgrim’s Progress:  What is spoken of one person refers to another person in similar circumstances and experiences.  In Psalm. 80 and Is. 5., what is spoken of a Vine refers to Israel:  but, in Genesis, what is stated of Israel and Ishmael, Sarah and Hagar are all true history, yet in Gal. 4 it is made to speak of and set forth other truths, and hence there it is, and is called an “Allegory” (Gal. 4:24).
             The modern and common usage of the word allegoria is thus quite different from the Scriptural definition.  According to the modern sense it is taken to mean a fictitious narrative which has another and deeper meaning than that which is expressed.
             An allegory may sometimes be fictitious, but Gal. 4 shows us that a true history may be allegorized (i.e., be shown to have further teaching in that which actually took place) without detracting from the truth of the history.  Here notes this important fact:  that, in either case, Allegory is always stated in the past tense, and never in the future.  Allegory is thus distinguished from Prophecy.  The Allegory brings other teaching out of past events, while the prophecy tells us events that are yet to come, and means exactly what is said.[2]
             Principles for Interpreting Allegories
        1.  Be able to state explicitly who were the original hearer or readers.  This will enable you to see the allegory as a living vehicle of teaching rather than a literary form in an ancient narrative.
            2.  If possible, note why the allegory was told in the first place.  What was the point in telling it to begin with?
             3.  Search out the basic points of comparison stressed by the original speaker or writer.  The allegory itself usually makes these clear by the emphasis put upon particular elements in the story. 
             4.  After listing the basic points of comparison and the things for which they stand, state in as simple a manner as possible why these truths were essential for the original hearers or readers and why they are essential for us today.
            Here listed is a small example of some of the allegories found in the Bible.  This is not a complete list.
             Jacob’s Blessing- Genesis 49:   The prophetical blessing of Jacob can be labeled as an allegory.
             The Vine of Israel- Psalm 80:8-16: Song of Solomon:  The book Song of Solomon is an allegory of the love of God and His people.  First Israel and now the Church.
             The Bed- Isaiah 28:20:  This is an Allegory:   The prophet is speaking of the great fear which should have stirred up the people of Judea at the speedy coming of Sennacherib; but they preferred to left in their false security.  By this beautiful allegorical illustration, they are informed that their rest should be restless, and their sleep should be soon disturbed.
        “For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it:  and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.”
            The Good Tree, Wheat and Chaff- Matthew 3:10,12: Both of these allegories are about judgment by God whose lives do not match the desires of God’s Word.  Jesus wanted to make this serious matter clearer to His hearers.
             “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
             Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
             Salt of the Earth- Matthew 5:13:  A reflection of one’s actions and how it is valued by God.    
Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
             Judging Others- Matthew 7:3-5:  Here Jesus is trying to tell His hearers that Judgment is for God, who knows all, and not for other people who have no understanding.
             “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
             Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
             Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
             Bridegroom- Matthew 9:15:  Jesus here is telling us that He is the Bride of the Church that will soon come.
        “And Jesus said unto them, can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?  But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they shall fast.”
 New Cloth/Wine- Matthew 9:16-17.  The “old piece” on the new implies the solemn lesson as to the impossibility of reforming the Old nature. Jesus is saying that we must transform ourselves.
             “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
             Neither do men put new wine into old bottles:  else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish:  but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”
             Unclean Spirit- Matthew 12:43-45:  This is an Allegory.  It is to be interpreted of the Jewish nation, as verse 45 declares.  By application also it teaches the unclean spirit’s going out of his own accord, and not being “cast out” (verse 28,29).  When he is “cast out,” he never returns; but when he “goes out,” he comes back; and finds only a “reformed character,” instead of the Holy Spirit indwelling in the one who is born again.
             The Plough- Luke 9:62: This is a brief allegory.
             “And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
             The Harvest- John 4:35: This is a comparison of a crop and the world of lost souls.
             “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?  Behold, I say unto you, lift up you eyes, and look on        the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
             The Grafted Olive Tree- Romans 11:16-18:  This is a comparison of our Christian life and an olive tree which represents Israel.
        “For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy:  and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakes of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
             Boast not against the branches.  But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.”
             Sleeping Saints- Romans 13:11-12:  This is a comparison of our past and present lives.
             “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep:  for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
             The night is far spent, the day is at hand:  let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
             Christian Work- 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, 12-15:   This is a comparison of good and bad Christian work.
             “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
             So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
             Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:  and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
             Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
             Every man’s work shall be made manifest:  for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
        If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:  but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
            Leaven- 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.   This is an comparison of bread and a Christian lifestyle. 
             “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
             Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
             Tables of Love- 2 Corinthians :2-3:  This is a comparison of our earthly ministry and the Spirit.
             “Ye are our epistles written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
             Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.”
             Heavenly House- 2 Corinthians 5:1: This is a comparison of our earthly home to a heavenly home.
             “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
             Spiritual Warfare- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:  This is a comparison of Roman strongholds and Spiritual battles.
             “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
             (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
             Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
             Virgin to Christ- 2 Corinthians 11:2: This is a comparison of earthly marriage and our relationship to God.
             “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:  for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
             Sowing to the Spirit- Galatians 6:8:
             “For he that soweth to his flesh shall f the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
             Armor of God- Ephesians 6:10-18:  This is a well-known comparison of Roman armor and Spiritual warfare.
[1]A. Berkeley Mickelsen.  Interpreting the Bible.  Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.  Grand Rapids, MI, p. 231.


[2] E. W. Bullinger.  Figures of speech used in the Bible.  Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI., pgs. 748-9.


[3] A. Berkeley Mickelson.  Interpreting the Bible.  Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.  Grand Rapids, MI, 

William J. Roop,. M.A.B.S.