WORD_SCRIPTURE
Allegorical Nature of Scripture
Paul's declaration that the story of Abraham's two sons is an allegory implies that the entire biblical narrative, including the genealogy culminating in…
Related Bible passages
- Galatians 4:22
- Galatians 4:24
- Psalm 40:7
- Galatians 3:8
- Galatians 4:22-23
- Matthew 1:1
Related ideas
AllegoryGospelScriptureSpiritual TruthFictitious CharacterGenealogyPersonal StoryAbrahamJesus ChristDavidMetaphysical InterpretationSymbolism
Family Portrait
Are we not told in Scriptures “Abraham had two sons; one by a slave and one by a free woman.” (Galatians 4:22) “Now,” said Paul, “this is an allegory.” (Galatians 4:24, RSV) An allegory is a story told as if it were true, leaving the one who hears it to discover its particular character and learn its meaning. For, if it is an allegory, and Abraham begins the genealogy in the story of Matthew – well, then, if the origin is an allegory, what is the end? The end of the entire genealogy is Jesus. You start with Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and all the way down, culminating in Jesus. Now, Paul, the earliest of all the writers of the New Testament, tells us that the story of Abraham and Sarah is an allegory. Well, if that is an allegory, then all the way down it has to be. Therefore, find out what the story is all about. For, an allegory is simply a great truth concealed, therefore discover the fictitious character of the story and learn its meaning.
Paul's declaration that the story of Abraham's two sons is an allegory implies that the entire biblical narrative, including the genealogy culminating in Jesus, is also allegorical. These stories are not literal history but conceal profound spiritual truths about the individual's own journey and divine identity.
The Free Man
Then he makes this comment: 'The story of Abraham is an allegory.'... If Abraham's story is an allegory, and the Book of Matthew begins with these words: 'This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,' - what is the story of Jesus Christ and David, but an allegory! You cannot begin with an allegory and arrive at something called reality, as all ends run true to origin. If the origin is an allegory, its end must be an allegory.
Biblical narratives, including the stories of Abraham, Jesus Christ, and David, are allegories, not literal history. Their allegorical origin dictates that their fulfillment is also allegorical, representing spiritual truths and states of consciousness within man.