24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.
There are some groups today that want us to interpret Scripture not as a document, rooted in history, but as a collection of stories, fables made up over time to teach people to get along with each other. They use many different techniques to draw meaning away from the actual text and into a realm that supports their view of history and man’s supremacy. They want to say that the real meaning of Scripture is not tied to the words of the text, but to the story and interpretation of that story. What we find in our text today is the only use of allegory specifically spelled out in the New Testament. What I think is important is that Paul points this out to us. Because it is a rare thing to understand the First Covenant in other than historical terms, Paul lets us know that he is breaking with his usual practice of interpretation. It is as if Paul were driving down the highways and he stopped to put up a sign that told us there was no speed limit for the next 10 miles, that we could go as fast as we wanted without fear of a speeding ticket. He is pointing out the exception to the standard. And if it is an exception, then it is wrong of us to make the exception the rule. Let me give one example of a common misunderstanding of Scripture based on missing this principle. Some want to say the Adam and Eve are not real people, that the garden is just symbolic of something. But if you examine the text of Genesis, there is nothing in the text that would suggest that the writer thought they were doing anything other than recording history. There are no fanciful dragons or mythical creatures. The text just matter-of-factly states what happened. Even when Satan enters the conversation, the events are just stated without embellishment. The style is consistent with the rest of the text that records historical events. So don’t be fooled into thinking Scripture is just a bunch of stories, made up tales. The out-of-the-ordinary interpretations are the exceptions, like the one here drawn by Paul. The Scriptures are literature filled with depth and variety that convey meaning consistent with our common understanding of language. If it sounds like history, it is history, if poetry, poetry, if apocalyptic revelations, then apocalyptic revelations. Take Scripture just that way it is. It will meet our needs.
The Arnold Journey 