ALLEGORY

Volume #12

When I was about nine or ten years old, I remember one particular Sunday night service at our church which caused quite a stir. The visiting speaker had grown up in our church, was well liked, and had involved himself in the church’s youth ministries when he was in his teenage years. When he graduated from high school he said that he felt a calling to go into full-time ministry; so off to seminary he went.

After graduating from seminary he returned to our town and delivered a Sunday evening message which, apparently, everyone (the adults) was excited to hear. I remember nothing of the sermon, because at that point in my life I was not a believer and could have cared less about what he had to say. I do remember clearly, however, how shocked and upset many were after the sermon as they gathered around in small groups discussing what they had just heard.

It was not until years later that I was told by my parents the cause for the congregation’s shock and dismay regarding the content of the delivered sermon. When this person went off to this particular seminary, he was taught an allegorical method of Bible interpretation; particularly as it applies to the first eleven chapters of Genesis.

The MERIAM - WEBSTER DICTIONARY describes an allegory as: 1. The expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence 2. A symbolic representation

Today there are various groups, institutions, and traditions which hold to this type of interpretation. Allegory should not, however, be confused with parables, illustrations, metaphors, or prophetic symbolism. These forms of communication are found throughout Scripture and are valid ways by which the Holy Spirit enables the reader to understand and teach the realities of God’s word.

The allegorical approach to biblical interpretation has ebbed and flowed throughout the history of the Church. In his book, Early Christian Doctrines, author J.N.D. Kelly follows this movement. Kelly states, “In allegorical exegesis the sacred text is treated as a mere symbol, or allegory, of spiritual truths. The literal, historical sense, if it is regarded at all, plays a relatively minor role, and the aim of the exegete is to elicit the moral, theological or mystical meaning which each passage, indeed each verse and even each word, is presumed to contain.” Kelly lists such early Church Fathers as Origen, Jerome, and Augustine as followers and proponents of this method of biblical interpretation.

In the fourth and fifth centuries, according to Kelly, “a vigorous reaction against allegorism of every sort made itself manifest.” Kelly reports that this reaction to allegorism found its roots in Antioch, Syria, where a tradition of Bible study with careful attention to the text was the norm. Kelly states, “Despite differences of emphasis, the whole school was united in believing that allegory was an unreliable, indeed, illegitimate, instrument for interpreting Scripture.” The major flaw to this method of interpretation was it’s subjective nature; how can one know that one’s interpretation is correct?

Many are quite familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan recorded in Luke 10: 25-37. Jesus spoke this parable as a direct answer to the question posed by the expert in the law, “and who is my neighbor?” (verse 29). As the parable goes, a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers and left half-dead by the side of the road. Along come a Priest, and then a Levite, who each see the man and ignore his plight. They cross over to the other side of the road and move on. Finally, a Samaritan stops, tends to the man’s wounds, and takes him to an Inn for further treatment. The Samaritan even goes the extra mile and pays for the man’s recuperation. He tells the innkeeper that upon his return he will reimburse him for any additional expenses.

Now suppose I got up to deliver a message about this text of Scripture and used allegory as my method of interpretation:

Folks, this parable represents fulfilled prophecy. This parable points to the restoration of Israel to their ancient land following the terrible Holocaust of World War ll. Jericho represents the Jews scattered abroad in Europe. Jerusalem represents the Jews that have been deposed from their homeland over the centuries and have settled in Europe: i.e. Jericho, prior to World War ll. The robbers represent Germany’s efforts to exterminate the Jewish people in Europe. The Priest and the Levite represent other countries which were opposed to a Jewish return to Israel and ignored their pleas for help. And finally, the good Samaritan represents the United States who befriended the Holocaust survivors and supported their return to their ancient homeland. The U.S. treated “their wounds” with physical, financial and military aide.

You get the picture. Allegorizing this parable could be what I see and believe, but how can anyone determine if this interpretation is true or false? It is completely subjective and outside of the INSPIRED word of God. To allegorize Scripture, particularly the first eleven chapters of Genesis, undermines the authority of Biblical Inspiration and destroys the realities of Adam, his sin, the curse on mankind, spiritual death, judgement, the need of a Savior, or the need for Jesus’ birth, death on the cross, or resurrection.

Anyone who believes that Genesis, chapters 1-11 are symbolic and contain fictional characters must respond to Scripture’s own defense of the realities of the major events recorded in these chapters:

God’s creation of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1: 1-25) “because those days will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now - and never to be equaled again.” (Mark 13:19) Also Hebrews 11: 3 and Revelation 4: 10-11

God’s creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1: 1-26 - 2: 25) “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being, the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit.’ “The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15: 45-47) Also Luke 3: 38 and 1 Timothy 2: 13.

Man’s sin (Genesis 3: 1-13) “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5: 12) Also 1 Corinthians 15: 22

God’s punishment (Genesis 3: 14-24) “Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.” (Job 7: 1-3) Also Job 10:9, 34: 14-15, Psalm 90: 2-4, Romans 5: 16, 8: 19-23, 2 Corinthians 5: 1-4, Revelation 22:3

First murder (Genesis 4: 1-16) “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s righteous.” (1 John 3: 12) Also Matthew 23: 35, Hebrews 11:4

Geneaology of Adam to Noah (Genesis 5:1-32) Luke 3: 23-38 (particularly verses 36-38)

Noah and the global flood (Genesis 6:1 - 9: 17) “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24: 37-39) Also Psalm 104: 5-9, Luke 17:27, Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5

Table of Nations (Genesis 10: 1-32) "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17: 26) Also Psalm 83: 5-8, Isaiah 66: 18-19, Jeremiah 51:27, Ezekiel 27: 3-23

Tower of Babel and confusion of language (Genesis 11: 1-9) “… You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5: 9) Also compare Luke 3:35 with 1 Chronicles 1:19, Revelation 7:9 and Revelation 14:6

Geneaology from Shem to Abram (Genesis 11: 10-32) Compare 1 Chronicles 1: 17-27 with Luke 3: 34-36

Testimony is given throughout all of Scripture to the literal and historical realities of the people, places, and events recorded. This testimony includes those of the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Peter, the writer of Hebrews, and the words of Jesus, himself. We would do well to follow their example when approaching the word of God.

Until next time

Peace to All

Peace to All