Scholastica commentaria in Primam Partem Summae Theologicae

IT IS DOUBTED second, whether all the things done in the Old Testament are to be explained in some mystical sense? And the reason for doubting is that the Apostle says in 1 Cor 10: «All things happened to them in figure».

To this it must be briefly answered, from the teaching of St. Augustine, bk. 16 of The City of God, ch. 2, where he says that not all things which are narrated as done in the prophetic history are to be thought to signify something, but on account of those which do signify something, even those which signify nothing are connected. The same Chrysostom teaches concerning the parabolic sense, homily 65 on Matthew. For he says that in parables one ought not to labor with excessive care that all things signify something. And he gives an example in the parable of the householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers. In which there is no need that the equality of the denarius signify the equality of the reward. But the intention of the speaker is to be accepted, which indeed was to show that the Lord calls us freely, and as Lord of all does with his own what he wills.

But to the testimony of the Apostle it is answered, that he himself says: «Now these things happened to us in a holy figure, that we not be desirous of evil things, as they also desired». Then again he says: «Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and perished by serpents. Neither murmur, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

But all these things happened to them in figure: but they are written for our correction». Behold from the preceding and the following the literal sense of the Apostle: for he understands by all these things, namely, the punishments on account of the sins of the Jews; and he says that they happened to them in figure, that is, for our example, that we may make trial at another's cost: otherwise, just as they who were ungrateful for God's benefits were sharply punished, so we too will be punished much more justly, if we are ungrateful for greater benefits received. But it is pious and very useful for the edification of the Church that all things which are narrated as done in the Old Testament, if they can be fittingly and reasonably turned to a mystical sense, the Doctors of the Church, especially the preachers of the divine word, should strive to explain mystically. Of which matter examples in abundance are at hand even in the holy Doctors. See also St. Thomas in 1-2, q. 102, art. 2. But preachers must beware lest they exercise themselves too violently and sometimes ridiculously in mystical senses of this sort. I myself heard a preacher, otherwise a learned man and most acceptable to the people, asserting, in praise of the Cross of Christ, that all things made of wood which are mentioned in the Old Testament were a figure of the Cross of Christ, even the spear of Saul with the cup, which David had stolen while Saul's servants slept. Therefore the preachers of the word of God ought in mystical senses of this sort to follow the footsteps of the holy Fathers, and if they discover some other mystical sense, to take care that they speak things most like the truth and consonant with reason.