Obedience of a Christian man - Tyndale - XIII - 'The four senses of the Scripture' commenced

Required reading
The obedience of a Christian man by William Tyndale (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence the section entitled 'The four senses of the Scripture' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'And as they are false prophets, which prove with allegories, similitudes, and world reasons, that which is no where made mention of in the Scripture;'.

My summary
Now Tyndale discusses interpretation of Scripture.

Firstly he teaches that people divide the scripture into four senses:
(i) literal;
(ii) tropological - pertaining to good manners;
(iii) allegorical;
(iv) anagogical - pertaining to things above.

Tropical and anagogical are said to be 'terms of their own feigning, and altogether unnecessary' as the term allegory 'comprehendeth them both.'

Tyndale then suggests 'that the scripture hath but one sense, which is the literal sense.'

Then he spends time showing how people have misused allegory when studying the Bible.

What grabbed me
I appreciated Tyndale's care in not dismissing allegory altogether: 'So in like manner the Scripture borrowed words and sentences of all manner things, and maketh proverbs and similitudes or allegories. As Christ saith, (Luke iv.) 'Physician, heal thyself' whose interpretation is, do that at home, which thou dost in strange places ; and that is the literal sense. So when I say, Christ is a lamb ; I mean not a lamb that beareth wool, but a meek and a patient Lamb which is beaten for other men's faults. Christ is a vine, not that beareth grapes ; but out of whose root the branches that believe suck the Spirit of life, and mercy, and grace, and power to be the sons of God, and to do his will. The similitudes of the gospel are allegories borrowed of worldly matters to express spiritual things.'

The Bible does indeed use allegory that must be interpreted as such. 

But to find allegory where there is no allegory is an abuse of Scripture.

Next week's reading
Conclude the section entitled 'The four senses of the Scripture' by reading up to the section headed 'A compendious rehearsal of that which goeth before'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.