The Interpretation of the Old Testament
Galatians 4:24-25
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engenders to bondage, which is Agar.…


I. In the interpretation of Scripture our first duty is to HOLD FAST THE LITERAL HISTORICAL SENSE. Christianity is distinguished from other religions by the fact that it rests on a firm historical basis. Whatever else we are to learn from the story, we are to understand first of all that the persons really lived, the places existed, the events transpired.

II. From the intent for which Scripture was written we gather that IT MUST CONTAIN DEEPER TITAN THE MERELY HISTORICAL LESSONS. It was written with reference —

1. To Christ. And hence apostles found in the Old Testament yearning and hopes and types which were fulfilled in Him.

2. To Christ's people. So they found analogies of spiritual life in its historical events.

III. The general principle which should GUIDE US IN INTERPRETING THESE TYPES AND ANALOGIES IS THEIR EXPOSITION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

(Bishop Lynch-Cotton.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

WEB: These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.




The Force of the Allegory
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