Scripture's Role in Evaluating Non-Biblical Allegories and Examples
Scripture serves as the ultimate standard for evaluating non-biblical allegories and examples, providing the framework for understanding spiritual truth. The Bible itself contains allegories and parables, which are stories that draw an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth [5]. For instance, the parable of the sower addresses the varied responses to Jesus' message [5]. To properly understand such biblical parables, it is essential to identify the central analogy and interpret it within its historical and Gospel context, rather than seeking speculative allegorical meanings in every detail [5].
The authority of Scripture stems from its divine inspiration. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note on 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture" or "Every Scripture" is divinely inspired, meaning that each part of the sacred writings is God-breathed [2]. This divine origin makes Scripture uniquely suited to teach, reprove, correct, and train in righteousness [2]. The term "Scripture" itself, in Greek, refers specifically to the sacred writings, not to writings in general [2].
When evaluating non-biblical allegories or examples, the principle of comparing "spiritual things with spiritual" is crucial [6]. This involves expounding Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture by comparing it with the Gospel revealed by the same Spirit, and illustrating Gospel mysteries by comparing them with Old Testament types [6]. This method, noted by Grotius and Chrysostom, emphasizes the internal consistency and self-interpreting nature of Scripture [6].
Furthermore, the Bible is not subject to "private interpretation" in the sense of an individual imposing their own meaning apart from the Holy Spirit's guidance and the broader context of Scripture [7]. While believers have the right to read and examine Scripture, the interpretation must align with the overall message and truth revealed by the Spirit [7]. John Gill clarifies that this does not negate the right of private judgment but rather warns against interpretations that are isolated or self-derived [7].
The vastness of divine truth, much of which is not recorded in Scripture, underscores the importance of what is recorded. John Gill, commenting on John 21:25, notes that Jesus performed many other signs and wonders not written in the Gospels, so many that "the world itself could not contain the books that should be written" [3]. This highlights that while God's actions are boundless, the written Scripture provides what is necessary for faith and life.
Therefore, any non-biblical allegory or example, whether a fable or a parable, must be weighed against the clear teachings of the Bible [1]. An allegory, by definition, is a representation of one thing intended to excite the representation of another, possessing both an immediate historical sense and an ultimate signified meaning [1]. When encountering such representations outside of Scripture, their ultimate meaning must be consistent with biblical revelation. The practice of citing Scripture to confirm or illustrate a point, as seen in the apostle Paul's use of Psalm 94:11 to support the idea that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, demonstrates the Bible's role as the final arbiter of truth [4]. Believers are encouraged to "search the scriptures" because they bear witness to Christ and contain the charter of eternal life [8]. This continuous engagement with Scripture ensures that all other forms of teaching and illustration are properly assessed and understood in light of divine truth.
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”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture--Greek, "Every Scripture," that is, Scripture in its every part. However, English Version is sustained, though the Greek article be wanting, by the technical use of the term "Scripture" being so well known as not to need the article (compare Greek, Eph 3:15; Eph 2:21). The Greek is never used of writings in general, but only of the sacred Scriptures. The position of the two Greek adjectives closely united by "and," forbids our taking the one as an epithet, the other as predicated and translated as ALFORD and ELLICOTT. "Every Scripture ”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:25: And there are also many other things which Jesus did,.... Which refer not to his doctrines and discourses, his sermons and prayers, and the conversation he had with his disciples, and others, on different accounts; but to the signs, and wonders, and miraculous operations, which were done by him, that are neither recorded in this, nor in any of the evangelists: the which, if they should be written everyone; with all the particular circumstances relating to them: I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. The Arabic versi”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:20: And again,.... Not in the same place, nor in the same book, but in the Psalms, in Psa 94:11. This form of citing Scriptures answers to and moreover, used by the Jewish doctors when the matter does not so clearly appear from the first proof, and therefore they produce another (q): and so here the apostle, for the further confirmation and illustration of this point, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, to the testimony of Eliphaz, adds this of David, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain; in the Psalms it is, "the Lord ”
- 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.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13: also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (Co1 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (Co2 10:”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first,.... Especially, and in the first place, this is to be known, observed, and considered; that no prophecy of the Scripture, that is contained in Scripture, be it what it will, is of any private interpretation: not that this is levelled against the right of private judgment of Scripture; or to be understood as if a private believer had not a right of reading, searching, examining, and judging, and interpreting the Scriptures himself, by virtue of the unction which teacheth all things; and who, as a spiritual man, judgeth all things; otherwise, wh”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:39: Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2)”