and Hagar and their children. Gal 4:21-31.
72 On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees
Without prejudice to the study of the literal, historical sense, he is going to search out thefigurative meaning of this story
2, 3. If the Manichees were willing to discuss the hidden meaning of these words in a spirit of reverent inquiry rather than of captious fault-finding, then they would of course not be Manichees, but as they asked it would be given them, and as they sought they would find, as they knocked it would be opened up to them.4 The fact is, you see, people who have a genuine religious interest in learning put far more questions about this text than these irreligious wretches; but the difference between them is that the former seek in order to find, while the latter are at no pains at all to do anything except not to find what they are seeking.
So then, this whole text must first be discussed in terms of history, and then in terms of prophecy. ln terms of history deeds and events are being related, in terms of prophecy future events are being foretold. One should not look with a jaundiced eye, to be sure, on anyone who wants to take everything that is said here absolutely literally, and who can avoid blasphemy in so doing, and present everything as in accordance with Catholic faith; on the contrary one should hold up such a person as an outstanding and wholly admirable understander of the text.
If, however, no other way is available ofreaching an understanding ofwhat is written that is religious and worthy of God, except by supposing that it has all been set before us in a figurative sense and in riddles, we have the authority of the apostles for doing this, seeing that they solved so many riddles in the books of the Old Testament in this manner.5 Let us then stick to this way which we have in mind, assisted by the one who urges us to ask, to seek and to knock; let us in fact unravel all these figurative statements in accordance with Catholic faith, whether they are statements of history or of prophecy, without prejudice to any better and more diligent commentary, whether by ourselves or by any others to whom the Lord may be good enough to reveal the meaning of the text.
The greenery of thefield and thefodder, Genesis 2:5, means the soul
3, 4. So then, the day was made on which Godmade heaven and earth, and all the greenery ofthefield before it was upon the earth, and all thefodder of the field(Gn 2:5). In the previous chapter seven days are counted; now it is said to be one day on which God made heaven and earth, and all the greenery of the field and all the fodder of the field. Under the name of this single day we can reason-
4. SeeLk 11:9. 5. The only obvious example of such apostolic authority is Paul's treatment of the story of Sarah and Hagar and their children. Gal 4:21-31.