Allegorical Interpretation
The principles and limits of allegorical (mystical) interpretation of Scripture: it is a true sense intended by the Holy Spirit, must be grounded in the historical sense, and cannot be freely invented. The mystical sense is the principal sense of Scripture; the entire Old Testament narrates historical deeds but above all signifies Christ symbolically. Jerome teaches that allegory must correspond to history.
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
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Chapter III: On the Difficulty of Sacred Scripture
— The mystical sense is the principal sense of Scripture; the entire Old Testament narrates historical deeds but above all signifies Christ symbolically.
"as regards the mystical sense — that this is the principal sense of Scripture, the entire Old Testament proclaims, which most directly narrates the deeds of that time, or things to be done, but above all signifies Christ everywhere symbolically"
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Chapter III: On the Difficulty of Sacred Scripture
— Jonathan's arrow analogy: the historical sense is prior but the mystical is more important; from the mystical sense the theologian may draw the strongest argument, provided it is the genuine sense.
"the historical sense of Scripture is the prior one, but the mystical is the more important; and from this latter, as from the former, the theologian may draw the strongest argument for establishing his doctrine, provided it is certain that it is the genuine sense"
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Chapter III: On the Difficulty of Sacred Scripture
— It is a pernicious opinion to hold that spiritual senses are mere fabrications anyone can adapt to any passage.
"to hold that the spiritual senses are mere fabrications, and that anyone can by his own invention adapt them to any passage... this is a pernicious opinion to hold, and more dangerous still to put into practice"
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Chapter III: On the Difficulty of Sacred Scripture
— The Fathers who engaged most with allegory did not rashly impose it but bound it to the reality so it agreed fittingly in all respects.
"filled with the same Spirit, they did not rashly impose it wherever it seemed to smile upon them, or to bolster their own ideas... but they so bound it to the reality that it agreed fittingly in all respects"
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Chapter III: On the Difficulty of Sacred Scripture
— Jerome teaches that allegory must correspond to history; he rebukes himself for once explaining Obadiah allegorically without grasping the historical meaning first.
"St. Jerome, writing on Hosea chapter 10, teaches that to apply tropologically to Christ what is commonly said of the king of Assyria... is impious; and in his prologue to Obadiah, he rebukes himself for having once explained that prophet allegorically without yet having grasped his historical meaning"
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The Author's Method (paragraph 48)
— Lapide describes his middle way between those who dwell only on the letter and those who delight excessively in allegorical speculation alone, following Nazianzen.
"one must proceed by a middle way between those who, with a coarser intellect, dwell on the letter, and those who delight excessively in allegorical speculation alone: for the one is Jewish and base, the other inept and worthy of a dream-interpreter"
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The Author's Method (paragraph 48)
— Origen's excess in allegory: fleeing and destroying historical truth, interpreting Eve's formation, paradise trees, and garments of skin mystically.
"Origen went astray in this extreme, when, fleeing — indeed, destroying — the historical truth, he often substitutes something symbolic in its place"