E-Book Overview
Biblical scholars have often contrasted the exegesis of the early church fathers from the eastern region and “school” of Syrian Antioch against that of the school of Alexandria. The Antiochenes have often been described as strictly historical-literal exegetes in contrast to the allegorical exegesis of the Alexandrians. Patristic scholars now challenge those stereotypes, some even arguing that few differences existed between the two groups.
This work agrees that both schools were concerned with a literal and spiritual reading. But, it also tries to show, through analysis of Theodore and Theodoret’s exegesis and use of the term theoria, that how they integrated the literal-theological readings often remained quite distinct from the Alexandrians. For the Antiochenes, the term theoria did not mean allegory, but instead stood for a range of perceptions—prophetic, christological, and contemporary. It is in these insights that we find the deep wisdom to help modern readers interpret Scripture theologically.
E-Book Content
Antiochene Theoria in the Writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Theodoret of Cyrus
Richard J. Perhai
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Additional Praise for Antiochene Theōria in the Writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Theodoret of Cyrus
“This book is a masterful contribution to a neglected subject in patristic exegesis and its relevance for contemporary theology. It widens our comprehension of how Antiochene theōria was used by two prominent exegetes within the School of Antioch and offers a formidable challenge to those patristic scholars today who claim that Antiochene exegesis was little more than a variant of Alexandrian hermeneutics. The Antiochenes’ use of theōria reassures us of the rightful role historical and literary criticism plays today and that this reading of the Bible often supports a canonical, theological, and typological interpretation of Scripture with Christ as the principle of unity between the Testaments.” Bradley Nassif North Park University, Chicago
“Perhai’s Antiochene Theōria in the Writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Theodoret of Cyrus fills a large gap in our understanding of theological method in the early church that has been too little studied. With acute balance, Perhai’s work helps the reader to avoid overstatements about the literalism of Antioch over against the allegory of Alexandria. Most importantly, the work attempts to show a likeness between the theōria of Antioch and the modern movement of theological interpretation of Scripture (TIS). Even for those who
do not normally embrace TIS in its strongest forms, the historical analogy is abundantly useful for scholarly analysis of theological method.” Mike Stallard Baptist Bible Seminary
“Richard J. Perhai has produced a volume that has been desperately needed in the important exegetical and theological discussions that are currently raging in the academy and church. This discussion is more than a historical analysis, for it is centered on the method of theōria, which when properly understood and defined, places this method of interpretation right in the heart of the discussion of the New Testament use of the Old Testament and the debate over whether interpreters should use the grammatical-historical method exclusively in its search for meaning or defer more to an allegoricalspiritual rendering of Scripture if they wish to see more intimately the contemporary spiritual meaning of a biblical text for the believer today. His research involves a wide spectrum of scholars, many of whom are ordinarily left out of these important discussions and not given a space at the academic table. Nevertheless, here is a book that will be discussed for a number of years to come, for its appearance is long overdue. I heartily recommend this