There is a big difference between allegorizing a Bible text and identifying an allegory already in the text.

It is not allegorical interpretation to note an allegory in the Bible, intended to be interpreted as an allegory. But allegorizing a passage that gives no allegory is a whole other matter. This is the product of imagination and makes the text subject to whatever the interpreter reads into it.

In John 15, Jesus calls himself a vine, the Father a vinedresser, and his disciples the branches. Obviously, the reader is not supposed to conclude that Jesus really is a vine. Jesus uses an allegory to teach the importance of bearing fruit. This is a legitimate allegory, not allegorical interpretation.

On the other hand, Clement of Alexandria (who lived about 150-215 AD) gives us an example of the wild nature of allegorial interpretation. In the story of Hagar (Sarah's handmaid who produced Ishmael by Abraham), he says that Abraham symbolizes the faithful man, Hagar symbolizes secular philosophy, and Sarah symbolizes true philosophy. Clement wrote that when Abraham told Sarah, "Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight" (Gen 16:6), he meant, "I embrace secular culture as youthful, and a handmaid, but thy knowledge I honour and reverence as true wife."¹

Sidney Greidanus writes of Clement, "He clearly exhibits no concern at all for the intention of the author of this story for Israel. Moreover, the historicity of the account plays no role in its interpretation. Using his allegorical method, Clement could have derived the same message from a story in an ancient People magazine."²

Endnotes

1. Quoted by Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ From the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1999), 82.

2. Ibid.