Dr. Bob Gonzales
Puritan Board Junior
The medieval Jewish scholar Saadia compared the Book of Canticles to a lock for which “the keys have been lost.” Most modern commentators agree with his assessment. On the surface, Canticles appears to be a lyrical poem authored by Solomon in which he and his bride celebrate the joys of marital love. But the book’s metaphorical language, erotic subject matter, and canonical status have led interpreters to look for deeper meaning. Yet after more than twenty centuries, there is still no consensus. In his Introduction to the Old Testament, Edward Young identifies at least eight different interpretations. The primary approaches interpret the book as an allegory depicting Christ and the church, human love poem celebrating marital intimacy, or a typology, which in some ways combines the first two. What say you? And what are your reasons?
Thanks,
Thanks,