When Catholics speak of the “Four Senses of Scripture,” we don’t mean a complicated method that only scholars can master. Rather, these four senses—the literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—describe the many ways the Holy Spirit speaks through the words of the Bible. Together, they help us see how God’s Word is alive, and guiding us.
The first sense is the literal sense. This is the foundation for everything else. The literal sense is simply what the text says. To read the Bible literally means paying close attention to the words, the characters, the context, and the kind of writing it is. Is the passage telling a historical story, offering a parable, giving a law, or proclaiming a prophecy? For example, the story of David and Goliath tells us about a young shepherd defeating a giant warrior with a slingshot. That’s the literal sense: an event in Israel’s history recorded to show God’s power working through unlikely people.
Once the literal sense is understood, the spiritual sense goes deeper. This sense recognizes that events and people in Scripture often point beyond themselves to greater realities. The spiritual sense has three parts. The allegorical sense shows us what we are to believe by pointing to Christ and His saving work. In the story of David and Goliath, David can be seen as a type of Christ—the humble shepherd who conquers the giant of sin and death.
The moral sense shows us what we are to do. It asks how a passage guides our daily choices and actions. David’s courage and trust in God remind us to face our own fears and struggles with faith, relying on God’s strength rather than our own. His example calls us to be brave and faithful when challenges seem overwhelming.
Finally, the anagogical sense lifts our eyes to what we are to hope for. It connects the passage to our ultimate destiny—heaven. David’s victory hints at the final triumph of God’s Kingdom over evil. It reminds us that every battle against sin and injustice points toward a future when God’s people will share in His eternal peace and glory.
Using the four senses does not mean forcing every passage to fit into neat boxes. Instead, it means reading the Bible prayerfully, letting the Holy Spirit open up its layers of meaning over time. One of the best ways to do this is through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. This involves reading Scripture slowly and repeatedly, reflecting on what it says, praying in response, and resting in God’s presence while He speaks to the heart. Catholic study Bibles, the Church Fathers and Doctors, trustworthy commentaries, homilies, and daily prayer can also help bring out these four senses naturally.
Above all, the four senses remind us that Scripture is not just an old storybook, but the living Word of God that calls us to faith, transforms our daily lives, and keeps our hearts focused on heaven. By reading with depth, we come to know Christ more fully, live more faithfully, and grow in hope.