Scripture as Real Presence

This work argues that the heart of patristic exegesis is the attempt to find the sacramental reality (real presence) of Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Scholar and theologian Hans Boersma discusses numerous sermons and commentaries of the church fathers to show how they regarded Christ as the treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament and explains that the church today can and should retrieve the sacramental reading of the early church. 

Combining detailed scholarly insight with clear, compelling prose, this book makes a unique contribution to contemporary interest in theological interpretation.

Paperback. 336 pages.

Contents:

1. Patristic Reading

The Church Fathers on Sacramental Reading of Scripture

Scripture as Sacrament

Metaphysics and Hermeneutics: Origen, Hobbes, and Spinoza

Sacramental Reading in Origen: Discerning Heavenly Patterns

Irenaeus's Recapitulation as Sacramental Reading

Retrieving Sacramental Reading: Meaning, Virtue, Progress, and Providence

Conclusion

2. Literal Reading

Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine on the Creation Accounts of Genesis

Patristic Interest in Reading by the Letter

Gregory of Nyssa, On the Making of Man

Gregory's Literal Reading as Theological

Augustine's Turn to Literal Exegesis

Theological Literalism in Saint Augustine

Conclusion

3. Hospitable Reading

Origen and Chrysostom on the Theophany of Genesis 18

Interpretation as Hospitality

Origen: The Son of God at Mamre

Origen: Hospitality as Allegory

Chrysostom: Divine Condescension at Mamre and in Scripture

Chrysostom: Hospitality as Interpersonal Moral Virtue

Conclusion

4. Other Reading

Melito of Sardis and Origen on the Passover of Exodus 12

The Exodus: Allegory as Arbitrary Reading?

Typology in Scripture

Melito of Sardis, On Pascha

Origen, Treatise on the Passover

Conclusion

5. Incarnational Reading

Origen on the Historical Narrative of Joshua

Allegory and Event

Origen's Polemical Context

Scripture as Incarnate Logos

Mysterii video sacramentum

History's Rightful Place

From History to Spirit: Biblical Rationale

Conclusion

6. Harmonious Reading

Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, and Augustine on the Music of the Psalms

Tuning People with the Psalms

Harmony in the Platonic Tradition

Harmony in the Early Church

Restoring Harmony: Virtue and Emotions in the Psalms

Harmony with the Voice of Christ

Gregory of Nyssa on the Order of the Psalms

Conclusion

7. Doctrinal Reading

Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa on the Wisdom of Proverbs 8

Spiritual Interpretation and Christian Doctrine

From Origen to Eusebius

Athanasius: Interpretive Strategies

Athanasius: Exegesis 1 and 2

Gregory of Nyssa: Turning the Peacock

Gregory of Nyssa: Christ Created, Established, and Born in Us

Reading Wisdom Sacramentally

Conclusion

8. Nuptial Reading

Hippolytus, Origen, and Ambrose on the Bridal Couple of the Song of Songs

Contemporary Readings of the Song of Songs

Hippolytus: Allegory and Economy

Origen: Ecclesial and Personal Readings

Ambrose: Ecclesial Asceticism

Conclusion

9. Prophetic Reading

Irenaeus, Cyril of Alexandria, Origen, Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa, Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine on the Servant Songs of Isaiah

Prophecy and Fulfillment: A Sacramental Bond

Edward Pusey's Sacramental Typology

Looking for Christ in Isaiah's Prophecies

Christ as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53

Christological Reading and the Wirkungsgeschichte of the Text

Christological Mystery Hidden in the Servant Songs

Wounded by Love: Associations of the Chosen Arrow (Isa. 49:2)

Conclusion

10. Beatific Reading

Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, and Leo the Great on the Beatitudes of Matthew 5

Spiritual Interpretation of the New Testament

Interpreting between Cave and Mountain

Gregory of Nyssa and Multiplicity of Meaning

Virtue and Salvation

Virtue and Interpretation

Numbering the Steps of Virtue

Conclusion

Conclusion

Indexes

"I highly recommend this marvelous exploration of the sacramental reading of Scripture. Hans Boersma expertly and comprehensively opens up many different dimensions of the theological interpretation of Scripture--a category increasingly invoked today--as exemplified by the great practitioners of early Christianity. By bringing the insights gained into constructive dialogue with contemporary concerns, Hans Boersma shows how Christ's real presence in Scripture can still be encountered today. A must-read both for those concerned with the hermeneutics of scriptural engagement and for those seeking to enrich their own reading of Scripture, this book is an indispensable resource."

- Fr. John Behr, dean and professor of patristics, St. Vladimir's Seminary, New York

"This volume makes an outstanding contribution to the retrieval of the ancient Christian biblical hermeneutic. Through a careful analysis of individual texts, Boersma demonstrates that patristic exegesis is not based on naive allegorizing but on a theology of history in which Christ is recognized as truly present in the words and deeds of the old covenant. This book will reinforce the growing consensus that patristic exegesis remains valid and indispensable for the church today."

- Mary Healy, professor of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Heart Major Seminary

"In the spirit of Henri de Lubac and Jean Daniélou, Hans Boersma here makes his own important contribution to the nature of biblical interpretation. Scripture as Real Presence is informed by a deep reading of the patristic tradition. With that tradition Boersma advocates for a sacramental approach to Scripture, contending that the mystery of the Christ event is already present in the Law and Prophets. This book offers a lively foray into the current debates about the theological interpretation of the Bible and its place in the academy and pulpit."

- Peter W. Martens, associate professor of early Christianity, chair of the Department of Theological Studies, Saint Louis University

"A splendid and scholarly study! Here is required reading for any who are rightly intrigued by the renewed concern for the theological interpretation of Scripture. With astute awareness of contemporary prejudices, Boersma disarms both the Protestant rigorist who may be scandalized by the patristic emphasis on human virtue, and the historicist who dismisses ancient spiritual interpretation as arbitrary. All the while, he carefully and lovingly retrieves winsome writings of various church fathers, who taught that Scripture itself participates in the life of Christ and vitally changes the interpreter and the church when received according to that conviction."

- Edith M. Humphrey, William F. Orr Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

"Few scholars have contributed as much to the vigorous debate in our generation about the theological interpretation of Scripture as Hans Boersma. His latest offering for our edification, Scripture as Real Presence, presents nine examples of patristic interpretations of important (and challenging) passages from Scripture. They illustrate, for Boersma, an ecclesial hermeneutic that treats Scripture as a sacrament containing a treasure of great value, Christ, hidden and waiting for the church's discovery. Boersma's examples of the rich, polyphonic readings given by the fathers provide models of how pastors and all students of Scripture might unearth the treasure that will give depth to preaching and teaching. Boersma and the fathers transform modern exegesis from reconstructing the past to participating in the life-giving Word."

- J. Warren Smith, associate professor of historical theology, Duke Divinity School

"Biblical exegesis has to be approached amid metaphysical and spiritual commitments attuned to the gospel or else unexamined assumptions will invariably cause even our most disciplined efforts at biblical interpretation to unravel. Hans Boersma helps us think carefully about how we read the Bible by reintroducing us to patristic exegesis. Alerting us to the exegetical practice of Origen, Gregory, and many others, he reminds us that 'they saw the Scriptures as a sacrament and read them accordingly.' For sensitive readings of varied early church fathers and a host of their reading approaches, all rooted in common commitments to the relations of God and the world and of theology and spirituality, take up and read Boersma's book."

- Michael Allen, John Dyer Trimble Professor of Systematic Theology and associate dean, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando