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Avoiding Allegory in Biblical Interpretation and Exegesis

Avoiding allegory in biblical interpretation is a principle that emphasizes the literal or historical meaning of a text over a hidden, symbolic, or figurative one, particularly when such allegorizing is speculative or undermines the plain sense of Scripture. Allegory itself is a figure of speech where one thing represents another, possessing both an immediate historical sense and an ultimate signified meaning [1]. Examples of allegorical narratives in the Bible include Nathan's address to David in 2 Samuel 12:1-4, Psalm 80's depiction of Israel as a vine, and Ecclesiastes 12:2-6's description of old age [2]. The Apostle Paul also uses an allegorical approach in Galatians 4:24 when discussing the histories of Isaac and Ishmael [2].

However, the practice of allegorical interpretation, especially when unconstrained, has historically led to interpretive excesses. The New Testament itself warns against "myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God’s plan that is by faith" (1 Timothy 1:4 LEB) [3]. This caution extends to "curious questions" (1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:23) [5] and "idle and foolish enquiries" that do not contribute to God's glory or spiritual edification [11]. Such warnings suggest a preference for clear, faith-building instruction over speculative interpretations.

The concern with avoiding excessive or inappropriate allegorizing often stems from a desire to maintain the integrity of the biblical text's original meaning and historical context. For instance, some interpretations caution against being "righteous over much," which refers not to true righteousness but to an ostentatious display of piety or a rigid, censorious judgment of others [9, 10]. This highlights a concern that an overemphasis on finding hidden meanings might lead to an artificial or self-serving spirituality rather than genuine faith.

Furthermore, biblical texts frequently provide direct prohibitions against practices that could be undermined by overly allegorical readings. For example, idolatry is explicitly forbidden, encompassing bowing down to images, worshipping them, sacrificing to them, or even worshipping the true God through an image [4, 7]. Similarly, alliances with the enemies of God are forbidden due to their tendency to lead to idolatry and provoke divine anger [8]. These clear commands underscore the importance of taking the text's plain meaning seriously, rather than seeking to allegorize away direct instructions or warnings.

The emphasis on avoiding speculative interpretations is also seen in admonitions against flattery, which is described as a tool of the wicked, hypocrites, and false prophets [6]. Similarly, strife is identified as a work of the flesh, an evidence of a carnal spirit, and something to be avoided [5]. These moral and ethical instructions are presented directly, without requiring an allegorical key to unlock their meaning.

In the context of biblical exegesis, avoiding allegory means prioritizing the grammatical-historical method, which seeks to understand the text in its original historical, cultural, and linguistic context before considering any broader theological or symbolic implications. This approach helps prevent interpreters from imposing external meanings onto the text or using it to support pre-conceived notions, thereby safeguarding the text's authority and intended message.

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Allegory — a figure of speech, which has been defined by Bishop Marsh, in accordance with its etymology as, "a representation of one thing which is intended to excite the representation of another thing." ("A figurative representation containing a meaning other than and in addition to the literal." "A fable or parable; is a short allegory with one definite moral."--Encyc. Brit.) In every allegory there is a twofold sense--the immediate or historic, which is understood from the words, and the ultimate, which is concerned with the things signified by the words. The alle”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Allegory — Used only in Gal. 4:24, where the apostle refers to the history of Isaac the free-born, and Ishmael the slave-born, and makes use of it allegorically. Every parable is an allegory. Nathan (2 Sam. 12:1-4) addresses David in an allegorical narrative. In the eightieth Psalm there is a beautiful allegory: "Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt," etc. In Eccl. 12:2-6, there is a striking allegorical description of old age.”
  3. I Timothy “I Timothy 1:4 (LEB) — and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God’s plan that is by faith.”
  4. Deuteronomy ““You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. -- Deuteronomy 5:8”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
  9. Ecclesiastes (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ecclesiastes 7:16: Be not righteous over much,.... This is not meant of true and real righteousness, even moral righteousness, a man cannot be too holy or too righteous; but of a show and ostentation of righteousness, and of such who would be thought to be more righteous and holy than others, and therefore despise those who, as they imagine, do not come up to them; and are very rigid and censorious in their judgment of others, and very severe in their reproofs of them; and, that they may appear very righteous persons, will do more than what the law requires of them to do, even wor”
  10. Ecclesiastes (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Ecclesiastes 7:15: The first of these counsels warns against extremes, on the side of good as well as on that of evil: "All have I seen in the days of my vanity: there are righteous men who perish by their righteousness, and there are wicked men who continue long by their wickedness. Be not righteous over-much, and show not thyself wise beyond measure: why wilt thou ruin thyself? Be not wicked overmuch, and be no fool: why wilt thou die before thy time is? It is good that thou holdest thyself to the one, and also from the other withdrawest not thine hand: for he that fearet”
  11. Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9: Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Tit 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edif”
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