Allegory
“From 'allos' (other) + 'agoreuein' (to speak), meaning to say something different from what words literally imply”
Summary
A literary form in which one thing represents another, conveying moral or spiritual truth through figurative narrative, extensively used throughout Scripture.
☩Definition
An allegory represents one thing while intending to excite understanding of another. The immediate representation is typically a narrative (often fictitious) conveying moral rather than historical truth. Every parable is a form of allegory—the parable of the sower in Luke 8 provides a narrative followed by its allegorical interpretation, as does Nathan's story to David.
☩Biblical Examples
Scripture contains numerous allegories: the trees seeking a king (Jotham's fable), the wolf and lamb dwelling together (Messianic kingdom), the vine brought from Egypt (Psalm 80), and Solomon's vivid depiction of old age. Paul explicitly uses allegory to explain the two covenants through Sarah and Hagar, describing the history as 'allegoroumena' (allegorized).
☩Proper Interpretation
The most frequent error in interpreting allegories is seeking too minute coincidences or applying them in all details. Not every element carries symbolic meaning. The Protestant church, following Luther, has rejected allegorizing historical texts beyond their intended meaning, adhering to the principle of drawing sense from Scripture rather than imposing meaning upon it.
☩New Testament Use
Remarkably, the New Testament is the only first-century Jewish or Christian writing that does not practice arbitrary allegorizing but maintains literal interpretation. Paul's treatment of Hagar and Sarah (Galatians 4:21-31) either uses 'allegorizing' non-technically as a paraphrase, or employs the method as an argument suited to his audience rather than establishing a hermeneutical principle.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Allegory," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Allegory," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Allegory," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).