Spiritual (Allegorical) Interpretation

Versus
The Literal Interpretation of God’s Word

The “Deeper Life” movement that came about in the 1960’s

“Jesus Movement” has spread to virtually all segments of
Christianity. It’s adherents loudly and proudly proclaim that by
interpreting the Bible “spiritually” (actually, this term is a
misnomer for it has nothing to do with the being spiritual or with
the Holy Ghost, and the correct term to use would be “allegory”),
they have uncovered great spiritual truths in the Bible never
known before. Adherents to this mode of interpreting the Bible
view anyone who does not utilize this mode of interpretation as
being “carnally-minded.” Thus they exhibit an attitude of
superiority over all others who interpret the Bible literally.
As noted above, the word “allegory” and not “spiritual” is a better
and more accurate description of this mode of interpretation since
the Holy Ghost has nothing to do with it since it involves free-
wheeling the scriptures. This mode of interpretation allows
scriptures to be taken out of context and be misapplied in order to
arrive at a so-called esoteric or allegorized interpretation that
really has nothing to do with what the scriptures are actually,
literally saying. Although this mode of interpretation became
popular in the 1960s Jesus Movement, it actually has its roots in
the Gnosticism of the 2nd century A.D. Those holding to this mode
of interpreting the Bible tend to shun the word “allegory” and
prefer to call this mode “the spiritual interpretation” in order to
give the false impression that the Holy Ghost revealed hidden
truths by means of allegorizing the Bible. We shall see later that
this is not the case. Now, what do “allegory” and “spiritual”
mean?
Allegory is defined as “a figurative treatment of one subject under
the guise of another; a symbolic narrative.” Spiritual is defined as
“of spirit or the soul; of sacred things or matters; of or belonging
to the church.” Those holding to the allegorical mode of
interpretation teach that the entire written Word of God is to be
understood as an allegory, rather than literally. Even literal places
and events in the Bible are to be understood as allegory and not
literal. Adherents of this view do not have room for a literal
interpretation of literal places or events as recorded in the Bible.
Now, out of fairness, it must be said that many events recorded in
the Bible, especially in the Old Testament did indeed picture a
future event, but that future event was literal as well and not
allegorical (Col. 2:17; Heb. 10:1). Take for example, Abraham’s
attempted sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-13). Not only was this to
reveal to Abraham the depths of his faith in God, but it was also a
picture-prophecy of God sacrificing His only-begotten Son for our
sins. This event literally happened and as a picture-prophecy, had
its fulfillment in God literally sacrificing His only begotten Son on
the cross (Jn. 3:16). Another example is that of Jonah in the belly
of the great fish for 3 days and nights (Jonah 1:17). This was a
literal event, and was also a picture-prophecy of Christ being dead
for 3 days and nights before being resurrected (Matt. 12:40).
Again, both events literally occurred. To say that the entire Bible is
to be interpreted allegorically is wrong and paves the way for
further error and heresy, for error and heresy can only produce
more error and heresy; they cannot produce truth.
By insisting on an allegorical interpretation of the Bible, those
adhering to this false mode of interpretation are attempting to
turn New Testament Christianity into another “mystery religion”
which were commonplace among pagans. So-called “Esoteric
Christianity” is one such example of this attempt. As noted
earlier, the modern movement to interpret the Bible allegorically
began in the 60’s and 70s with the Jesus Movement. The youth of
that time were dissatisfied with their churches and sought after
something deeper and more meaningful. As a result, many
became atheistic or agnostic. Others joined the various Eastern
religious cults, and yet others turned to their Bibles and sought a
deeper understanding of God’s Word. This paved the way for
satan to introduce in the guise of a “deeper life,” the allegorical
method of interpreting the Bible. In this way, satan can nullify the
literal truths in the Bible and replace them with his own
falsehoods by reinterpreting the Bible as allegory, thus making it
mean what he wants it to mean, rather than what it actualy
means. Thus elements of ancient Gnosticism were reintroduced in
the guise of a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
Those holding to an allegorical interpretation of the Bible point to
a variety of scriptures and use them as proof-texts for the claim
that God intended for His Word to be interpreted allegorically, and
as we shall see, many of these verses have been taken out of
context or redefined so as to give the appearance of supporting
the false allegorical mode of interpretation. Below is a list of the
primary verses of scripture that are commonly used as proof-text
in support of interpreting the Bible allegorically, and these will be
examined in the order that they are listed:
Isaiah 55:8, 9
Jn. 4:24
Jn. 6:63
Rom. 7:6
Rom 8:5-8
1Cor. 1:17; 2:4-14
2Cor. 3:6, 14-16
At this point, in order to understand why Romans 7:6 through
2Corinthians 3:6, 14-17 are used to support the allegorical mode
of interpretation, it is necessary to point out that in order for
these scriptures to be used, a major redefining of the terms has
taken place in order to force these verses to appear to support
allegorically interpreting the Bible. “Carnal, law, letter, wisdom of
words, man’s wisdom, wisdom of men, natural man” have all been
redefined to mean the “literal mode of interpretation” of God’s
Word and make it appear that those who interpret the Bible
literally are carnal, rather than spiritually minded. On the other
hand, “Spirit” and “spiritual” have been redefined to mean the
allegorical mode of interpretation and the obvious intent is to
convey the erroneous idea that those who are spiritual interpret
the Bible allegorically, thus we have a improper attempt to make
the Bible conform to that false mode of interpretation, and
amounts to improper, if not outright dishonest handling of God’s
Word.
Isaiah 55:8, 9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and
my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God’s sovereignty and omniscience are shown by this statement.
Verse 8 in Hebrew actually reads, “My purposes (intentions) and
directions are higher than your purposes (intentions) and
directions, says YHWH.” The verse simply means that while God
may certainly be known by men, He is still incomprehensible in
the total nature of His Person and purposes. He therefore reveals
Himself to men by His Word which shall not return in vain (verse
11). This verse has absolutely nothing to do with interpreting the
Bible allegorically.

John 4:24: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.”
This verse is a favorite proof-text of those who insist on
interpreting the Bible allegorically. The reasoning behind using
this verse is that since God is a Spirit, He uses spiritual
(allegorical) language instead of speaking literally. Those
worshipping Him must do so with allegorical understanding and
truth conveyed by the allegory. The truth of the matter is that the
first four words in this verse are describing God’s nature or being.
He is spirit, not flesh and blood. The rest of the verse merely tells
us that worship of God must be led and directed by the Holy
Ghost, and must be based on truth as contained in the inspired,
written Word of God, and not according to man’s doctrines or
philosophies (compare with Joshua 24:4). This verse has nothing
to do with interpreting the Bible allegorically.
John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they
are life.”
In the last part of this verse, “spirit” has been redefined by
adherents of interpreting the Bible allegorically to mean
“spiritual” (allegorical). Jesus said His words are “spirit,” not
spiritual (allegorical). Making “spirit” mean “spiritual” (allegorical)
makes Jesus say something Hi didn’t say. What Jesus was saying
in this verse is that, “the words that I speak unto you, they are
LIFE-GIVING and they are in fact, LIFE.” Plainly stated, His words
give and sustain our spiritual man, that new nature within us.
When we no longer feed our spiritual man the Word of God by
studying it and applying it, we starve the spiritual man and
eventually the old nature begins to manifest itself and takes
control. This verse has nothing to do with interpreting God’s Word
allegorically.
Romans 7:6: “But now we are delivered from the law, that being
dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of
spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
This is another favorite scripture appealed as a proof-text for
interpreting the Bible allegorically. Allegorists tell us that Paul was
contrasting two modes of interpretation – the literal with the
allegorical, with the allegorical mode the one to be used. “The
letter” is said to be the literal interpretation, and “newness of
spirit” is said to refer to the allegorical mode of interpretation.
However, the contrast is NOT between two modes of
interpretation as they would have us believe, but between two
methods of divine dealing: one through the Mosaic Law, and the
other through the Holy Ghost. “Letter” does not mean “literal
interpretation,” but is a Paulism for the Mosaic Law Code, just as
he used “spirit” in Romans 2:29 and 2Corinthians 3:6 to refer to
the relationships and powers of new life in Jesus Christ. This same
contrast is also seen in 2Cor. 3 and will be dealt with later. As we
have seen, this verse has nothing to do with interpreting the Bible
allegorically, and again we have seen words redefined in an effort
to make this verse appear to support interpreting the Bible
allegorically.
Romans 8:5-8: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
In these verses redefining of words has once again taken place in
order to force them to support interpreting the Bible allegorically,
for “carnally minded” and “carnal” are redefined to mean “literal
minded” and “literal” respectively, thus labeling those who
interpret the Bible literally “carnally minded” and “carnal”
whereas those who interpret the Bible allegorically are the
spiritual (Greek: minding the Spirit) ones. Using this line of
thought, this makes those of us who interpret the Bible literally to
be at enmity, that is, in a state of war against God, and those who
are minding the Spirit (spiritual) are the ones who interpret the
Bible allegorically. In truth, these verses really teach noting of the
sort, for “carnally minded” DOES NOT mean taking God’s Word
literally, as they would have us believe. In fact, to be “carnally
minded” is to have one’s life dominated by the sin nature (flesh),
and “spiritually minded” DOES NOT mean to view God’s Word
allegorically, but to be controlled by the Holy Ghost and the new
nature. Christians who are dominated by the sin nature cannot
please God because they haven’t crucified their flesh so that they
can be totally controlled by the Holy Ghost. Again, the context
contrasts life in the Spirit (controlled by the Holy Ghost) with life
controlled by the sin nature. And is NOT a contrast between
interpreting the Bible allegorically and literally as allegorists
would have us believe.
1Corinthians 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be of none effect.”
Here it is claimed that “wisdom of words” refers to the literal
interpretation of the Bible, as well as referring back to the Bible’s
original languages. Allegorists have demonstrated an aversion for
appealing to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek languages to
clarify the meaning of words, hence clarifying the meaning of a
scripture. They have this aversion since appealing to the Bible’s
original languages has no place in interpreting the Bible
allegorically and has been used to refute the allegorical
interpretation. Actually, Paul was saying nothing of the sort, but
was saying that he did not use eloquent speech, but simple every
day language to preach the Gospel. In other words, he did not use
university level terminology to preach the Gospel, but used
simple, down to earth language that everyone could understand
(See 1Cor. 2:1, 4, 13). It has often been noted that those who hold
to an allegorical interpretation have contempt for any who refer
back to the Bible’s original languages because they view it as
being “carnally minded,” and they also know that the Bible’s
original languages destroy their allegorical interpretations.
1Corinthains 2:4-14: “And my speech and my preaching was not
with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak
wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this
world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught. But
we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none
of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they
would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, ‘EYE
HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO
THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED
FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.’ But God hath revealed them unto us
by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save
the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God
knoweth no man , but the Spirit of God. Now we have received,
not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we
might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they ar spiritually discerned.”
In the use of this context of verses, we once again have words
that have been redefined by those who allegorize the Bible. In
verses 4&5 “man’s wisdom” is redefined to mean the literal
interpretation of the Bible based upon man’s wisdom, knowledge,
and understanding. In verse 6 “wisdom of the world” is also
redefined to mean the literal interpretation, and in verse 7 “we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery” and “hidden wisdom are
interpreted to mean that the “mystery” is the allegorical mode of
interpretation. Verses 8&9 are likewise interpreted to mean that
the Holy Ghost reveals the allegorical interpretation. The clause
“comparing spiritual things (Greek: matters) with spiritual” at the
last part of verse 13 is interpreted to mean “comparing spiritual
things with allegorical words.” Now, I will say that those who use
the allegorical mode of interpretation are correct in explaining
that the language of the Holy Ghost is spiritual, ie., life-giving. The
language of the Holy Ghost breaks down all barriers and reaches
into the hearts of men. Although the Holy Ghost can and does use
allegory to accomplish this (see the parables of Jesus for
example), this verse is not saying that allegory is THE language of
the Holy Ghost as allegorists would have us believe. It merely
means that the Holy Ghost uses words that pierce the hearts of
men. In verse 14 “natural man” is defined to mean “the literally
minded man” and “spiritual is again redefined to mean
“allegorically.” In truth, “natural man” refers to the unsaved man –
someone who has never been born again of the Spirit and Word of
God (Jn. 3:3-7; Eph. 5:26). In an effort to get around this fact,
those who adhere on the allegorical mode of interpretation claim
that “carnal mind” and “natural man” are synonymous. This, of
course is in error, for “carnal” refers to the Christian who has not
completely died out to self, and is thus dominated by the sin
nature. “Natural man” means just that. He has not experienced
the New Birth and remains in his sinful, unregenerated state, so in
truth, this context of verses doesn’t support the allegorical mode
of interpretation.
2Corinthians 3:6, 14-16: “Who hath made us able ministers of the
new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter
killeth, but the spirit giveth life…But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the
reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their
heart. Nonetheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be
taken away.”
In this context of verses, “letter” is again redefined to mean the
literal interpretation, and these verses are forced to teach that
those who interpret the Bible literally are “spiritually blind” for it
is claimed that the Holy Ghost reveals the allegorical
interpretation of scripture. They further claim that the literal
interpretation of scripture kills the spiritual nature, whereas
interpreting scripture allegorically gives it life. Just as we saw at
Romans 7:6, they claim that in these verses Paul is contrasting
the literal interpretation of scripture with the allegorical with the
allegorical mode being preferred as the superior one. Yes, Paul is
indeed making a contrast, but it is of two methods of divine
dealing just as at Romans 7:6. He is contrasting the Old Covenant
(Mosaic Law) with the New Covenant and showing that the New
Covenant is superior to the Old. The Old Covenant was through
Moses, but the New Covenant is through the Holy Ghost and is
therefore superior. As mentioned previously, “letter” is a Paulism
meaning the Mosaic Law just as “spirit” is used by Paul to relate
the powers and relationships of the new life in Christ. Those who
insisted that the Law of Moses was still in force were blind to the
fact that it had been fulfilled and taken out of the way by Jesus
Christ and replaced with the new and better covenant. Because
the Law was taken out of the way, we do not have to observe
feast days, ceremonial washings, or offer up animal sacrifices as
sin offerings. We are free from these things because they were
fulfilled in Christ. That’s why 2Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the
Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit is, there is liberty.” So this
context of verses really doesn’t support the allegorical mode of
interpretation at all.
Those who insist on interpreting the Bible allegorically delight in
denouncing those who interpret the Bible literally as “modern day
Pharisees” which is far from the truth.
It has been observed that those who interpret scripture
allegorically do not pay attention to context, nor do they consider
what other verses in other parts of the Bible say on the same
subject they are allegorizing to mean something different, and in
doing so, they contradict the Word of God, as well as adding to
and taking from God’s Word. Consider these examples:
1. I have actually heard allegorists teach that “the messenger”
of Malachi 3:1 is NOT John the Baptist, but is actually the
Holy Ghost. They claim that it is a “doctrine of men” to teach
that this foretold messenger was John. Note too, that Isaiah
40:3 is a prophecy of the same thing. Now, how can it be a
“doctrine of men” to teach that this messenger was John the
Baptist when Jesus Himself said that it was (Matt. 11:7-11)?
How can it be a “doctrine of men” when the Gospel writers,
who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost declared
that this messenger was John the Baptist (2Pet. 1:20-21;
Mark 1:2; Lk. 3:1-6)? How can it be a “doctrine of men” when
Zecharias, the father of John, being filled with the Holy Ghost
and speaking under His direction said it referred to John (Lk.
1:67-79)? John the Baptist admitted that he was the one
prophesied (Jn. 1:23).
2. The four living creatures seen by the prophet Ezekiel by the
river Chebar at Ezekiel 1 are claimed by the allegorists to
represent the born again, Sppirit filled Christian. However,
the allegorists overlook the fact that Ezekiel himself
identifies the four living creatures as “Cherubs” (which is an
order of angelic being) at Ezekiel 10:15, 20. That these four
living creatures do not represent the born again, Spirit filled
Christian is further established by John the Revelator who
describes these very same beings joining the 24 elders (the
Church) in praising God.
There are many other examples I could give demonstrating the
fallacy of allegorizing the Bible, but I hope these two examples
will suffice. Tjose who allegorize the Bible in their zeal to glean
hidden truths from the scriptures have actually disregarded
what the Bible truly says in favor of their own esoteric
interpretations. They do not follow proper principles of
interpretation and engage in scripture free-wheeling. They
have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans
10:2), and have actually been blinded by the god of this world
and deceived into following practices of ancient pagan mystery
religions, and have resorted to improper, if not outright
dishonest practices such as redefining words and engaging in
term-switching to force the Bible to support their mode of
interpretation.