Interpreting Non-Biblical Examples and Allegories in Biblical Context
Biblical interpretation often involves understanding various literary forms, including examples and allegories, which can sometimes be drawn from non-biblical contexts or used in a non-literal sense within the biblical text itself. An allegory is a figure of speech where a representation of one thing is intended to evoke the representation of another, carrying both an immediate, historical sense and an ultimate, signified meaning [1]. The Apostle Paul uses allegory in Galatians 4:24, referring to the history of Isaac and Ishmael to illustrate a spiritual truth [3, 9]. Nathan's address to David in 2 Samuel 12:1-4 is another instance of an allegorical narrative [3].
A parable, closely related to allegory, is a comparison or similitude, literally meaning "a placing beside" [2, 5]. While every parable can be considered an allegory, parables are typically shorter and convey a single definite moral [1]. In the New Testament, parables often express an analogy between an everyday aspect of life and a spiritual truth [7]. For instance, the parables in Matthew 13:3-9 address the varied responses to Jesus's message [7]. When interpreting parables, it is crucial to identify the central analogy within its historical and Gospel context to grasp the main message, rather than seeking speculative allegorical meanings for every detail [7].
The Bible also uses "example" (Greek: paradeigma) to refer to instances or models for behavior or warning [4]. Christ himself is presented as an example (1 Peter 2:21; John 13:15), as are pastors to their flocks (Philippians 3:17; 1 Peter 5:3). The experiences of the Jews serve as a warning (Hebrews 4:11), and the prophets are examples of enduring affliction (James 5:10) [4].
However, not every illustrative passage is an allegory. For example, Paul's illustration of marriage and death in Romans 7:2-3 is not an allegory where every element has a theological counterpart. Instead, it makes two basic points: death releases one from legal obligation, and freedom from one relationship allows for a new one [10].
Early Christian interpreters, such as Origen, were known for their extensive use of allegorical interpretation, sometimes to the extent of "torturing" histories to fit an allegorical sense, which John Calvin criticized for corrupting Scripture and rendering its doctrine ambiguous [6, 8]. Calvin argued against such excessive allegorizing, noting that it could obscure the plain sense of the text [6, 8]. John Chrysostom, while a significant exegete, sometimes relied on verbal suggestions in the Greek Septuagint that lacked warrant in the Hebrew text, though his comments on the Old Testament share characteristics with his New Testament exegesis [11].
Sources
- 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”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
- 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.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a similitude. In the Old Testament this is used to denote (1) a proverb (1 Sam. 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chr. 7:20), (2) a prophetic utterance (Num. 23:7; Ezek. 20:49), (3) an enigmatic saying (Ps. 78:2; Prov. 1:6). In the New Testament, (1) a proverb (Mark 7:17; Luke 4:23), (2) a typical emblem (Heb. 9:9; 11:19), (3) a similitude or allegory (Matt. 15:15; 24:32; Mark 3:23; Luke 5:36; 14:7); (4) ordinarily, in a more restricted sense, a comparison of earthly with heavenly things, "an eart”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 25.13: But because I have before declared, that this history is more profoundly considered by Paul, the sum of it is here briefly to be collected. In the first place, he says, that what is here read, was written allegorically: not that he wishes all histories, indiscriminately to be tortured to an allegorical sense, as Origin does; who by hunting everywhere for allegories, corrupts the whole Scripture; and others, too eagerly emulating his example, have extracted smoke out of light. And not only has the simplicity of Scripture been viti”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:3: 13:3-9 This parable (interpreted in 13:18-23) addresses the mostly negative responses of the Jewish nation to Jesus and his message. • Parables (Greek parabolē) are stories that usually express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, it is necessary to locate the central analogy and understand it in its historical context and in the context of the Gospel text; then the central message can be understood. Speculative allegorical meanings that were not intended should not be found in every element of a parable.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 6.17: not have been placed opposite to Judea, towards the east. We must, however, entirely reject the allegories of Origin, and of others like him, which Satan, with the deepest subtlety, has endeavored to introduce into the Church, for the purpose of rendering the doctrine of Scripture ambiguous and destitute of all certainty and firmness. It may be, indeed, that some, impelled by a supposed necessity, have resorted to an allegorical sense, because they never found in the world such a place as is described by Moses: but we see that the”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: in me.”—Lightfoot. “‘Until Christ be formed in you,’ is not an inversion of the metaphor he has begun with, but means, ‘till you have taken the form of Christ as the embryo develops into the child.’”— Lightfoot.—G.A.] 110 [The digression which contains his “affectionate appeal” (see note above) ends with verse 20 , after which he resumes—G.A.] 111 [“The Apostle resumes his argument for the superiority of the Gospel over the Law and illustrates the difference of the two by an allegorical interpretation of the history of Hagar and ”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 7:2: 7:2-3 These verses are not an allegory, in which every element of the story has a theological counterpart. Paul simply cites an illustration to make two basic points: Death can release a person from obligation to the law, and freedom from one relationship can allow a person to establish a new one. Paul applies the illustration in 7:4.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew: Owing to his ignorance of Hebrew, Chrysostom was not properly equipped for the work of expounding the Old Testament. He treats the LXX. as though it were of final authority, save in a few instances where the variations of other Greek versions have occasioned discussion. Frequently he makes use of verbal suggestions of the Greek that have no warrant in the Hebrew text. Yet, where he is not thus misled, his comments on the Old Testament present the same characteristics as those on the New. The most marked peculiarity of Chrysostom as an exegete is his compar”