allegorical reading.^50 Previously Augustine had advanced a double literal reading of
Scripture based on 2 Corinthians 3:6, “[t]he letter kills but the spirit makes alive” that
sought both the literal and spiritual sense of a passage.^51 However, due to the often
excessive interpretations that developed around allegorical reading the Reformers
rejected the quadriga or four-fold pattern of reading Scripture according to the literal,
allegorical, tropological, and anagogical meaning and resorted to the literal practice.^52
Lisa Gordis is correct that polemics was primarily the motivation behind the intense
resistance to the quadriga.^53 Perkins continued the same trajectory opposing the
quadriga stating, “[t]here is one onelie sense, and the same is the literall.”^54
However, this condemnation quickly evolves into an affirmation, “[a]n allegorie is
onely a certaine manner of uttering the same sense. The Anagoge and Tropologie are
waies, whereby the sense may be applied.”^55 Further, in his preaching manual Perkins
provides specific directions on how to expound allegory and reminds his readers that
the apostle Paul frequently employed them in his epistles.^56
(^50) Childs, “Sensus Literalis of Scripture,” 83. cf. Schneiders, “Scripture and
Spirituality,” 15 51 - 16.
(^52) Gordis, Steinmetz, “Superiority of PreOpening Scripture, 20, cf. 238n22. The seminal study on the -Critical Exegesis,” 28-9.^ quadriga is
de Lubac, Medieval Exegesis: Four Senses of Scripture. Other helpful resources
include Schneiders, “Scripture and Spirituality,” 9-19; Muller, Dictionary of
Theological Terms, 254-55; and Wilson, God Sense. Muller asserts that the quadriga
continued to exist following the Protestant Reformation. “Biblical Interpretation in
the Reformation,” 3 53 - 16 and Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, 469-82.
Songs”, 552. Gordis, Opening Scripture, 20, 238n22. cf. Scheper, “Reformation and Song of
(^54) Perkins, Arte of Prophecying, 31.
(^55) Perkins, Arte of Prophecying, 31. One of Perkins’ examples of doctrine strongly
resembles the four-fold method of reading. Arte of Prophecying, 126. Durham
claims that the apostle Paul used the quadriga in Galatians 4. Song of Solomon, 30.
Muller asserts that the quadriga continued in some form in Calvin. “Biblical
Interpretation in the Reformation,” 11 56 - 12.
allegories. Perkins, Arte of ProphecyingSong of Solomon, 46, 75, 97. Durham provides five rules for expositing -8.