Allegorical Hermeneutics
Most of my commentaries that I own, side to the traditional Antiochian form of hermeneutics that take more of a literal approach. I was wondering what are some good Allegorical or Alexandrian formed hermeneutic based commentaries. Ones that are focused more on the
"Figures of Speech Group of Principles:
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- The Numerical Principle
- The Symbolic Principle
- The Typical Principle: "Certain people, events, objects and rituals found in the Old Testament may serve as object lessons and pictures by which God teaches us of his grace and saving power."
- The Parabolic Principle
- The Allegorical Principle"
Biblical hermeneutics. (2010, October 25). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:11, December 5, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biblical_hermeneutics&oldid=392772323
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Blair, One of the best that I've seen is the book and study guide from Kevin J. Conner entitled "Interpreting the Scriptures." It's over at http://www.citychristianpublishing.com/books/?isbn=0-914936-20-4 . He's an Australian from beautiful downtown Melbourne (if I'm not mistaken) and has his own website under his name.
He discusses methods of interpretation such as allegorical, mystical, devotional, rationalistic, literal, and others as a background. He then gets into principles of interpretation such as context, first mention, comparative, and others including those you listed.
I wish all of his materials were in Logos!
God bless
{charley}
running Logos Bible Software 6.0a: Collector's Edition on HP e9220y (AMD Phenom II X4 2.60GHz 8.00GB 64-bit Win 7 Pro SP1) & iPad (mini) apps.
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Thanks, do you know if there are some commentaries that are dedicated to that form of hermeneutics? I am really having a hard time finding any..
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Logos has a couple resources we used in my Hermeneutics class last fall that may be of help.
Stein http://www.logos.com/product/5323/a-basic-guide-to-interpreting-the-bible-playing-by-the-rules
and you can find both of these resources in the bundle for Baker's Hermeneutics http://www.logos.com/product/4492/baker-hermeneutics-collection
I hope this helps.
Matt
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Matthew Hamrick said:
Logos has a couple resources we used in my Hermeneutics class last fall that may be of help.
Stein http://www.logos.com/product/5323/a-basic-guide-to-interpreting-the-bible-playing-by-the-rules
and you can find both of these resources in the bundle for Baker's Hermeneutics http://www.logos.com/product/4492/baker-hermeneutics-collection
I hope this helps.
Matt
Thanks, I am looking for commentaries that are based on the allegorical form, rather then books about hermeneutics.
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I don't know of any hermeneutics books that could help you out, oh wait, you want COMMENTARIES! Isn't it funny how people don't read anymore just scan and assume?
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Blair if you find any please let us know, I would be interested in them also. I suspect this type of interpretation would come more from revelation and inspiration and would therefore come from mystics from the middle ages or modern day charismatics. To interpret the Bible this way is sort of like putting your head on a chopping block. Most commentators would rather be well liked (and purchased) than to be controversial. Perhaps rather than a single author, someone has put together a collection of allegorical interpretations. Perhaps some of the books mentioned have bibliographies of an allegorical type commentary. Any type of understanding I have ever received along these lines is never in any commentaries I have looked at.
"For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power"
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I do not own Ancient Christian commentary, but I thought maybe that would contain a-lot of allegory. I had read somewhere in my study of hermeneutics it was real big in the school of Alexandrian, and even during the middle ages. I have been searching all over, and am unable to locate such a commentary. I was trained in the more literal form, so it is hard for me to make those allegorical applications.
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I am not sure if this fits, but check out the Numerical Bible (7 Volumes). Read the sample pages and maybe this will fit for item #1 above.Blair Laird said:"Figures of Speech Group of Principles:
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- The Numerical Principle
- The Symbolic Principle
- The Typical Principle: "Certain people, events, objects and rituals found in the Old Testament may serve as object lessons and pictures by which God teaches us of his grace and saving power."
- The Parabolic Principle
- The Allegorical Principle"
Blessings
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Thanks Joe that is the type of stuff I am looking for..
Blessings in Christ..
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Blair, since parables are by nature allegorical, other resources you may be interested in may be those dealing with parables, such as 'Interpreting the Parables,' by Craig Blomberg:
http://www.logos.com/product/2956/interpreting-the-parables
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Blair,
I have used the Ancient Christian Commentary and it does have a lot of allegorical interpretation, depending on the passage. It is a compilation of patristic sources discussing the various passages. Even the Antiochean school, is more figurative than the historical-critical methodology which dominates modern exegesis and the Alexandrian school (Origen and the Cappadocians are well represented). Another series is The Church's Bible edited by Robert Wilken http://www.eerdmans.com/series/cb.htm. It isn't in logos yet and there are only a few volumes at present. It looks like a promising series.
In terms of modern interpretation which is more figurative and allegorical, the Brazos Theological Commentary series is written by theologians not Biblical scholars, so they tend to make more figurative leaps in the name of theologizing. Though not every volume in the series would be allegorical, it is more allegorically friendly (Rusty Reno does the Genesis commentary). http://www.bestcommentaries.com/series/brazos-theological-commentary-btc/. While I and others have suggested it to Logos, thus far it hasn't shown up on Pre-Pub. I keep hoping for it.
Besides those, I can't think of anything, but I did a class on Spiritual Interpretation of the Bible in Seminary so may have more in a bibliography somewhere. I'll add something if I see anything interesting.
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CATENA AUREA users--does this show alleghorical interpretation from the church fathers?
I like Apples. Especially Honeycrisp.
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Of course! I can't believe I didn't think of this. I just picked it up, but haven't used it much yet. Aquinas is compiling patristic sources to reflect Medieval orthodoxy. Medieval hermeneutics reflects a more allegorical approach (as does patristics).
As It is a commentary on the gospels, however, it is softer in its allegorical interpretation (the Fathers see tremendous significance in the literal sense in their reading of Jesus' life). Where traditional interpretation gets more 'allegorical' is it's interpretations of the Old Testament where everything is seen through a Christological lens.
As for theCatena Aurea, send me a passage you are interested in, and I can give you an example of what it does.
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Dan DeVilder said:
CATENA AUREA users--does this show alleghorical interpretation from the church fathers?
Only to users from Allegheny, PA. [:)] It's allegorical.
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I like Apples. Especially Honeycrisp.
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The Concordia Commentary has a massive volume on the Song of Songs that takes the novel approach of not just commenting on the text, but also treating the history of interpretation in some detail - which for many centuries frequently took an allegorical approach, especially for the Song. I don't know how much of that is found in the other Concordia volumes, but at least Song of Songs has a lot of examples of allegorical interpretation. Also of interest may be Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period, which breaks down the NT use of the Hebrew Bible down by the interpretation methods used - interesting data regardless of whether or not you agree with the book's conclusions.
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Thanks for that post, Vincent! *smile* Peace to you!Vincent Setterholm said:The Concordia Commentary has a massive volume on the Song of Songs that takes the novel approach of not just commenting on the text, but also treating the history of interpretation in some detail - which for many centuries frequently took an allegorical approach, especially for the Song. I don't know how much of that is found in the other Concordia volumes, but at least Song of Songs has a lot of examples of allegorical interpretation. Also of interest may be Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period, which breaks down the NT use of the Hebrew Bible down by the interpretation methods used - interesting data regardless of whether or not you agree with the book's conclusions.
Yes! That's quite a fantastic commentary. In the Concordia Commentary on the Song of Songs the author also has a major section on hymnody called, noting that hymns often have an allegorical "bent." He is Lutheran; however he lists many hymns common to most denominations. If anyone would like a sample, please reply to this post or start a new one.
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand..........
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James Matichuk said:
Blair,
I have used the Ancient Christian Commentary and it does have a lot of allegorical interpretation, depending on the passage. It is a compilation of patristic sources discussing the various passages. Even the Antiochean school, is more figurative than the historical-critical methodology which dominates modern exegesis and the Alexandrian school (Origen and the Cappadocians are well represented). Another series is The Church's Bible edited by Robert Wilken http://www.eerdmans.com/series/cb.htm. It isn't in logos yet and there are only a few volumes at present. It looks like a promising series.
In terms of modern interpretation which is more figurative and allegorical, the Brazos Theological Commentary series is written by theologians not Biblical scholars, so they tend to make more figurative leaps in the name of theologizing. Though not every volume in the series would be allegorical, it is more allegorically friendly (Rusty Reno does the Genesis commentary). http://www.bestcommentaries.com/series/brazos-theological-commentary-btc/. While I and others have suggested it to Logos, thus far it hasn't shown up on Pre-Pub. I keep hoping for it.
Besides those, I can't think of anything, but I did a class on Spiritual Interpretation of the Bible in Seminary so may have more in a bibliography somewhere. I'll add something if I see anything interesting.
Thanks, your post has been most helpful. I wish Logos carried more in this field. I own Aquinas's commentary, the problem is it is only on the gospels.
Brazos Theological Commentary (BTC) seems to be the closest, if indeed it follows the Alexandrian form. Is there a place that I can sample read it? I hate to by hardback..
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Yes.Blair Laird said:Is there a place that I can sample read it?
Coming from a theological perspective seems to be a fresh approach to producing commentaries and seems to hold promise. Getting a wider perspective might be reason enough for them to be in Logos. You can read a sample and also read some reviews at this site.
"For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power"
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Jerry M said:
Coming from a theological perspective seems to be a fresh approach to producing commentaries and seems to hold promise. Getting a wider perspective might be reason enough for them to be in Logos. You can read a sample and also read some reviews at this site.
The sample left me hangin.. I was able to read all the way up to the actual commentary. I read the intro etc, but then it cut it off.. I have to say from the introduction it sounds like he takes the allegorical approach in the commentary. There are very few that venture into that form of hermeneutics, at least these days.
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The broad purpose of the series as stated on the Brazos website says:
Leading theologians read and interpret scripture for today's church, providing guidance for reading the Bible under the rule of faith. Each volume in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible is designed to serve the church--through aid in preaching, teaching, study groups, and so forth--and demonstrate the continuing intellectual and practical viability of theological interpretation of the Bible.
Because the 'rule of faith' is their guiding principle, it allows for more allegorical interpretation. As to the reality of it, it is up to the individual commentators. Hauerwas' volume is likely the least allegorical. Where as R.R. Reno, Paul Griffiths (forthcoming), Matthew Levering are more so. It is an interesting series and a good idea. Before the division of disciplines (i.e. Systematic theology and Biblical studies), there was more interplay between exegesis and theological interpretation. I wish there was more stuff like this in logos. The commentaries here are generally by good scholars trained in a variety of critical exegetical methods or pastors who have more of an eye for application.
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