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