Difference between revisions of "Patristic Interpretive Methods"
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| − | Patristic Interpretive Methods do not approach textual study in the same way as the modern church. Generally the Patristic Interpretive Methods can be organized around | + | Patristic Interpretive Methods do not approach textual study in the same way as the modern church. Generally the Patristic Interpretive Methods can be organized around four basic analytic strategies: |
| + | 1) literal/historical | ||
| + | 2) allegorical/theological | ||
| + | 3) tropological/moral | ||
| + | 4) anagogical (roughly, the eschatological sense). | ||
| − | 1. The literal strategy is an intensive and broad analysis that identifies particular word associations that intensify scriptural meaning. | + | 1. The literal/historical strategy is an intensive and broad analysis that identifies particular word associations that intensify scriptural meaning. |
| − | 2. The | + | 2. The allegorical/theological strategy locates connection points between scriptural passages and a range of symbolic, metaphorical, figurative or mystical topics and interprets distinct patterns of events within scripture and applies those patterns to other events in scripture and the history of the church. |
| − | 3. The | + | 3. The tropological/moral is an allegorical approach that stresses a moral metaphor focusing on the ethical lesson or moral of the story. |
| + | |||
| + | 4. The anagogical method of interpretation detects allusions to the afterlife that reveal a higher spiritual meaning behind the literal meaning of a text. The anagogical sense was seen, particularly later in the middle ages as the highest form of interpretation, that relates the ultimate destiny of humanity to the Christian scheme of universal history, whereas the allegorical and moral senses refer respectively to the Church and to the individual soul. | ||
| + | |||
| + | John Cassian's (c. AD 360 – c. 435) gives a brief explanation: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''…one and the same Jerusalem can be understood in a fourfold manner. According to history it is the city of the Jews. According to allegory it is the Church of Christ. According to anagogy it is that heavenly city of God ‘which is the mother of us all.’ According to troplogy it is the soul of the human being, which under this name is frequently either reproached or praised by the Lord.'' (John Cassian, The Conferences 14.8.4, translated by Boniface Ramsey). | ||
==Recommended Reading== | ==Recommended Reading== | ||
Latest revision as of 17:01, 20 June 2019
Patristic Interpretive Methods do not approach textual study in the same way as the modern church. Generally the Patristic Interpretive Methods can be organized around four basic analytic strategies: 1) literal/historical 2) allegorical/theological 3) tropological/moral 4) anagogical (roughly, the eschatological sense).
1. The literal/historical strategy is an intensive and broad analysis that identifies particular word associations that intensify scriptural meaning.
2. The allegorical/theological strategy locates connection points between scriptural passages and a range of symbolic, metaphorical, figurative or mystical topics and interprets distinct patterns of events within scripture and applies those patterns to other events in scripture and the history of the church.
3. The tropological/moral is an allegorical approach that stresses a moral metaphor focusing on the ethical lesson or moral of the story.
4. The anagogical method of interpretation detects allusions to the afterlife that reveal a higher spiritual meaning behind the literal meaning of a text. The anagogical sense was seen, particularly later in the middle ages as the highest form of interpretation, that relates the ultimate destiny of humanity to the Christian scheme of universal history, whereas the allegorical and moral senses refer respectively to the Church and to the individual soul.
John Cassian's (c. AD 360 – c. 435) gives a brief explanation:
…one and the same Jerusalem can be understood in a fourfold manner. According to history it is the city of the Jews. According to allegory it is the Church of Christ. According to anagogy it is that heavenly city of God ‘which is the mother of us all.’ According to troplogy it is the soul of the human being, which under this name is frequently either reproached or praised by the Lord. (John Cassian, The Conferences 14.8.4, translated by Boniface Ramsey).
Contents
Recommended Reading
Resources
Christopher Hall, "Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers."
Canonical Areas
Holy Scripture
Content of Scripture
a. Books of the Bible & Category b. Major Biblical Figures c. Major Biblical Themes
Context of Scripture
a. Historical Context b. Canonical Context c. Literary Context d. Transmission / Translation
Interpretive Methods
a. Patristic Interpretive Methods b. Medieval Interpretive Methods c. Reformation Interpretive Methods d. Modern Interpretive Methods
