Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 14:42 (Aug 2010)
Article: Historical Survey Of Biblical Interpretation
Author: Ron J. Bigalke, Jr.

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JODT 14:42 (August 2010) p. 35

Historical Survey Of Biblical Interpretation

Ron J. Bigalke

* Ron J. Bigalke, Ph.D., Georgia state director, Capitol Commission; author and lecturer, Eternal Ministries; missionary, Biblical Ministries Worldwide; and, professor of theology and apologetics, Tyndale Theological Seminary

The purpose of this article is to provide an understanding of differences in biblical interpretation. The ultimate purpose “for learning to interpret the scriptures correctly is the necessity to understand clearly for ourselves exactly what we are trying to communicate to others.”1 The survey herein will introduce the alternatives to literal interpretation, and should help the reader appreciate the need to apply the literal method consistently.

Pre-Christian And Christian Interpretation

Allegory is a form of extended metaphor. According to the allegorical interpretative method, actions, objects, and persons in the biblical narrative are equated with meanings outside the narrative itself. The “outside” meaning has moral, political, religious, and social significance, in which historical characters are mere personifications of abstract concepts such as good and evil. Therefore, an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal and symbolic meaning.

The allegorical school considers the grammatical-historical interpretation of Scripture as an insignificant step toward the deeper, hidden meaning of a biblical passage. The hidden meaning is thought as more profound and spiritual than a literal method of interpretation. Whereas the grammatical-historical method attempts to understand the meaning of the original writer, the allegorical method neglects the original intent in search of a deeper and more spiritual meaning.

Allegorical interpretation believes that beneath the letter (rhētē) or the obvious (phanera) is the real meaning (hyponoia) of the passage. Allegory is defined by some as an extended metaphor. . . . But if we presume that the document has a secret meaning (hyponoia) and there are no cues concerning the hidden meaning interpretation is difficult. In fact, the basis problem is to determine if the passage has such a meaning at all. . . . If there are no cues, hints, connections, or other

JODT 14:42 (August 2010) p. 36

associations which indicate that the record is an allegory, and what the allegory intends to teach, we are on very uncertain grounds.2

Ramm explained additionally that the Greeks had a religious heritage in Homer and the writings of Hesiod. However, the general population was drifting fro...

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