iskander wrote:The NT was written in Greek, no need to chage. Origen is credited with the introduction of the allegorical interpretation of the OT .
The allegorical approach serves to find a deeper spiritual sense in addition to the plain literal sense and this deeper method required spiritual insight . This allegorical approach was used to interpret the OT as an introduction to the NT.
Did those interpreters with spiritual insight find in the OT the confirmation of the conclusion they wanted to find?
It might be suggested that the NT is merely the Hebrew teaching of the apostles written in Greek for the Greek church. Paul didn't need it when he preached to the Bereans, and they validated his teaching.
You might actually check with Paul to see who started allegorical interpretation: Ga 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Or prior to this see Jesus use the leper and law of the leper as an allegory for the poor in spirit, and ultimately of the cross. See him use the Centurion as a an allegory for the meek, and ultimately of the cross.
See Luke's allegory of the cross in Acts 12 as Peter escapes from prison.
Also Origen's allegory display elements of free-for-all which is not at all what is used here. It will only appear to be free-for-all because of the lack of rigor in detailing the evidences.
I have no doubt that those practicing free-for-all allegory often found what they were looking for. But since in this method, it appears that every verse of every chapter of every book participates in telling the story or Christ, it is doubtful that any man could impose it after the fact.
In this method, the NT is a commentary on the Old, and does not display the same character as the old. There are Hebrew sources for mammon, agape, and mustard as 'the believing ones', 'enemy' and 'bruised by anger' which not only clarify NT teaching, but illustrate that the Greeks may not have understood all the Hebrews said.
Man cannot serve God and self... not money.
Agape love is the love we have been commanded "Love your enemies"
And Mustard points to the seed of the woman with the bruised heel.
The lack of understanding on the part of the Greek church has manifold witness.
By the end of the first century they deified Mary, and soon conquered the laity, compromised with the government, and adopted Jewish ritual into the mass. These are all things they were warned against. As they killed heretics they demonstrated that they did not understand the central teaching of Christ being love. Paul would say, without love, your doctrine is useless.
Yet the core of the teaching of the Greek church is sufficient for salvation fulfilling the prophecy of Christ that those who did not see (understand) would do the great work of salvation. It is the word that does not return void no matter who preaches it.
If my observations are correct, the interpretations produced using the methods of Thomas should produce an early theology from sources outside the tradition of the Greek church; such as evidenced in the Mustard seed. We'll see. So far it appears to be largely in agreement with the major doctrines of the church.