(1) Methods of Allegory:
Clement- literal meaning is a ‘starting point’ for interpretation: The literal sense indicated what was said or done, while the allegorical showed what should be believed.
Origen- Scripture has three different, yet complementary meanings: (1) a literal or physical sense, (2) a moral or psychical sense, and (3) an allegorical or intellectual sense.
Augustine- (1) literal; (2) allegorical; (3) tropological or moral; and (4) analogical/ eschatological.
(2) Application to Jude:
The problem with trying to find pre-critical allegorical readings of Jude is that the canonical status of Jude was in doubt for some time- in large part because of its direct references to apocryphal literature such as 1 Enoch and the Assumption of Moses. It remained part of the antilegomena which although disputed, were recognised by most members of the church (along with James, 2 Peter and 2/3 John). Even much later after the supposed agreement of the canon, one finds Luther in the 16th Century disputing books like Jude which he recognised only as an appendix to the New Testament. As such “The epistle of Jude suffers from being among the most neglected books of the New Testament.” Robert L. Webb, “The Eschatology of the Epistle of Jude and Its Rhetorical and Social Functions,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 6 (1996): 139-151. 139.
The literal reading appears to be an epistle to an anonymous early Christian community, solidifying the faith of the believers and vilifying outsiders.
The allegory is directed to the salvation of the individual believer.
v.4: “Intruders” are the temptations/agents of the devil who come to pervert the believer away from salvation.
v.7: S & G representative of the sexual immorality that can leave the individual astray.
v.9: Michael is an allegory for Jesus, battling with Satan for the souls of believers.
v.12: Love feasts are the individual communion with God. The dreamers are the impurities that lead you to question God’s authority.
v.12-13: Metaphors contain an implicit allegorical message.
v.17-20: As you progress in your Christian walk, so you will face temptations and taunting, but build up in Christ.
v.23: Hate/fear the temptations, even as they touch your thoughts.
(3) Overarching Allegory:
Many churches may unwittingly apply Jude in an allegorical fashion without realising as such. The text is assumed to be from God to the receptive audience. There is of course a fine line between applying a text into a modern church situation, and yet that line can be crossed into the assumption that the text is ‘literally’ aimed towards the church receiving it in the 21st Century. As such there is no attempt to understand who the original community was, why the letter was written to them and how it would have been received. Instead, the Spirit is the author, and the modern church congregation is the intended audience. As such it is interesting to note how many contemporary church readings have more in common with a pre-critical hermeneutic then they would ever realise!
Andrew Worthley
