Showing papers on "Exegesis published in 1971"

Hugh of St. Victor and the Ark of Noah: A @New Look

Abstract: The treatise De area Noe morali by Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141) contains a short but significant piece of literal exegesis concerning Noah's Ark. This seemingly slight example of Victorine exegesis is of considerable intrinsic merit for in it Hugh ventured to criticize an accepted exegetical “authority” and offered in its place his own interpretation of the passage. It is the purpose of this article to examine Hugh's criticism of the traditional exegesis and his positive contributions through the correlation of reason, auctoritas, and a fresh examination of the literal sense of Genesis VI.

Christology and Exegesis in the Cappadocians

Abstract: When, after their decade of studies in Athens, Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzus returned to Cappadocia, one of the first things they did was to compile a collection of the exegetical works of Origen and publish them under the title Philokalia. This fact might lead the historian to conclude that Basil and Gregory subscribed to, or at least were in sympathy with, the allegorical method of exegesis. But such is hardly the case, for in their later writings (and this holds true for the third member of the Cappadocians, the younger Gregory of Nyssa) there can be discovered no one prevailing approach to the interpretation of scripture. Allegory is indeed used, and often, but so too we find typological and anagogical exegesis, as well as frequent examples of naive literalism. That the Bible formed the basis of theological reflection for the Cappadocians can in no way be denied, but that they held to any particular style or styles of exegesis cannot be demonstrated.

Propertius, 2. 30 A and B

Abstract: The difficulties of this poem have led scholars to employ surgery of various sorts upon it. This article attempts to show that surgery is unnecessary and that, given a fuller exegesis and a partial reinterpretation of subject-matter, the poem can be read as a single and consistent piece.

On Esteeming One Day Better Than Another

Abstract: Seventh-day Adventists have often been inclined to become key-text exponents in their doctrinal and prophetic presentations. They have likewise been sensitive to problem texts which on the surface seem to contradict the messages of the key texts. Throughout the history of the church they have had writers who were strong defenders of the faith. But the strength was not always based upon sound exegesis. In sharing with the field some of its work, the Biblical Research Committee of the General Conference brings careful exegesis and competent scholarship to bear in the papers presented. The following paper on Romans 14:5-6 was prepared for and approved by the Committee. Dr. Raoul Dederen, at that time Chairman of the Department of Theology and Christian Philosophy at the Theological Seminary of Andrews University, balances with care the pros and cons of this text which is used quite freely by those who oppose the sacredness of the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. One difficulty, however, in dealing with many individuals concerning these problem texts is that they are oblivious to careful scholarship, sound exegesis, and accurate linguistic evidence. With dogged preconceptions of what the Bible writers had in mind, they cling adamantly to their positions. To work for such persons calls for infinite patience, grace, and prayer, exemplifying the very spirit which Paul is advocating in the passage under consideration. This article was first printed as an insert in the Ministry, August 1971.

New Directions in Biblical Exegesis

Abstract: With the Reformation, its increasing preoccupation with the Bible and its insistence that it be made available to all, came a growing interest in how such literature was to be interpreted, which is to say, Christianity became vitally concerned with exegesis. In spite of the ‘democratisation’ of Bible and religion, the difficulties in making an ancient Semitic literature speak in contemporary accents were surely not underestimated by Luther and Calvin both of whom made solid contributions to biblical exegesis. In his ‘Sendbrief vom Dolmetschen’ (8th September 1530), Luther referred to the lone task of interpretation and the need for patience, 1 a theme which he elaborated in his Vorreden zur Heiligen Schrift . To understand Vergil's Bucolics and Georgics , one should have a five-year experience as a shepherd or farmer; at least twenty years' occupation in politics is needed to fathom Cicero's letters and a fortiori , no one can claim to have digested the Scriptures unless he has led congregations with the prophets for a hundred years—in other words a lifetime of existential experience with the Bible is insufficient. These comments led in turn to his famous affirmation, in Saxon German within a Latin text: ‘ Wir sein pettier — Hoc est verum! ’ 2 Statements of this kind should preclude once for all the notion that the reformers underestimated the difficulty of exegesis in view of their promotion of the ‘priesthood of all believers’.