Medieval Hermeneutics

The Letter shows us what God and our fathers did; the allegory shows us where our faith is hid; the moral meaning gives us rules of daily life; the anagogy shows us where we end our strife.

in Klein, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Dallas: Word, 1993), 38.

Medieval Hermeneutics

The foundation is in the earth and it does not always have smoothly fitted stones. The superstructure rises above the earth, and it demands a smoothly proportioned construction. . . . Even so the Divine Page, in its literal sense, contains many things which seem both to be opposed to each other and, sometimes, to impart something which smacks of the absurd or the impossible. But the spiritual meaning admits no opposition; in it, many things can be different from one another, but none can be opposed. The fact, also that the first course of stones to be laid upon the foundation is placed flush with a tarut cord, and these are the stones upon which the entire weight of the others rests and to which they are fitted - is not without its meaning. For this is like a sort of second foundation and is the basis of the entire superstructure. This foundation both carries what is placed upon it and is itself carried by the first foundation. All things rest upon the first foundation but are not fitted to it in every way. As to the latter foundation, everything both rests upon it and is fitted to it. The first one carries the superstructure and underlies the superstructure. The second one carries the superstructure and is not only under the superstructure but part of it. The foundation which is under the truth as we have said stands for history, and the superstructure which is built upon it we have said suggests allegory.

Hugo of St. Victor, Didascalion VI.4. The Didascalion of Hugh of St. Victor, 2nd edition, trans. Jerome Taylor (New York: Columbia University Press, 1991): 140-141.

Is Barney the Antichrist?

Proof that Barney, the cute purple dinosaur, is the Antichrist can be ascertained with a little numerical study of his name and description.
Given: Barney, a cute purple dinosaur.
Step 1: Extract the Roman numerals from the given.
(Remember since the Romans had no letter 'U', we must replace each instance of 'U' with a "V")
Initial conversion: BARNEY A CVTE PVRPLE DINOSAVR
Roman Numercial extraction: C V V L D I V
Step 2: Add them: 100 + 5 + 5 + 50 + 500 + 1 + 5 = 666
Irrefutable proof! Christian Parents are advised to get all their kids Barney tapes and burn them!

from http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6528/anti.htm

Jewish Hermeneutics

R. Simeon says, “He who is going along the way and repeating [his Torah tradition] but interrupts his repetition and says, ‘How beautiful is that tree! How beautiful is that ploughed field!’—Scripture reckons it to him as if he has become liable for his life.”

Abot, 3:7, C

Application

He would say, “Anyone whose deeds are more than his wisdom—his wisdom will endure. And anyone whose wisdom is more than his deeds—his wisdom will not endure.

Abot 3:9, II

Jewish Hermeneutics

R. Eleazar Hisma says, “The laws of bird offerings and the beginning of a woman’s menstruation period—they are indeed the essentials of the Torah. Calculations of the equinoxes and reckoning the numerical value of letters are the savories of wisdom.

Abot, 3:18

Jewish Hermeneutics

R. Aqiba says, “Laughter and lightheadedness turn lewdness into a habit. Tradition is a fence for the Torah. Tithes are a fence for wealth. Vows are a fence for abstinence. A fence for wisdom is silence.”

Abot, 3:13