Hermeneutics - Exegesis

Literal Interpretation

Encyclopedia Britannica states that literal analysis means “a biblical text is to be deciphered according to the ‘plain meaning’ expressed by its linguistic construction and historical context.”

Moral Interpretation

any type of interpretation that searches for moral lessons which can be understood from writings within the Bible

• allegories are often placed in this category
• anagoge are less so placed in this category

Allegorical Interpretation

(allegory)

Allegorical interpretation states that biblical narratives have a second level of reference that is more than the people, events and things that are explicitly mentioned.

types of allegorical interpretations:

• typological

Typological Interpretation

One type of allegorical interpretation is known as typological, where the key figures, events, and establishments of the Old Testament are viewed as “types” (patterns). In the New Testament this can also include foreshadowing of people, objects, and events. According to this theory, readings like Noah’s Ark could be understood by using the Ark as a “type” of the Christian church that God designed from the start

Anagogical Interpretation

(anagoge)

Anagogical interpretation is more often known as mystical interpretation. It claims to explain the events of the Bible and how they relate to or predict what the future holds. This is evident in the Jewish Kabbalah, which attempts to reveal the mystical significance of the numerical values of Hebrew words and letters.

In Judaism, anagogical interpretation is also evident in the medieval Zohar. In Christianity, it can be seen in Mariology.