Meaning of ALLEGORICAL EXEGESIS

It starts from the conviction that a text actually means something different, deeper, than what it expresses at first sight, even when there are no signs of figurative language.

Paul uses allegorical exegesis, for example, in Gal. 4:21-32; 1 Cor. 10:4. With this he does not formally go beyond the valid rules of his time.

But, if you look at the content, his exegesis and his preaching are totally new. In all allegorical exegesis it is essential to give a current meaning to an already established text, in accordance or not with its literal meaning.

This is a cause of spiritual enrichment. There are times, too, in which fantasy invades the text and then the exegesis is not authentic and gives rise to childish fantasies, so that the "interpretation" no longer has anything to do with the original meaning of the text.