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Biblical Interpretation in the Early Church: An Historical Introduction to Patristic Exegesis
A comprehensive historical survey of patristic exegesis.Simonetti examines the changing understanding of the word of God in the early Church, and describes the individual authors and "schools" which were active in this development.First there is a study of the role of Scripture in the infant Church. Simonetti describes the use of Scripture in orthodox circles, drawing comparisons from the Gnostic world. There follows an examination of Eastern exegesis in the 4th and 5th centuries (Eusebius, the Antiochian School, the Cappadocians, and later developments in Alexandria), and an examination of Western exegesis in the same period (including detailed discussions of Jerome and Augustine). Simonetti concludes with a study of developments in the Eastern and Western Church in the later 5th and 6th centuries.A final section provides a theological perspective through a study of the theological interpretation of Scripture in the patristic era.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Manlio Simonetti
50 books4 followersManlio Simonetti (2 May 1926 – 1 November 2017) was an Italian scholar of Patristics and the history of Biblical interpretation.
Biography
Simonetti was born in Rome on 2 May 1926.
His early studies were in Classics (philology and history) at the Sapienza University of Rome. In 1959 he became Professor of Ancient Christian Literature at the University of Cagliari, a post he held until 1969. In that year he became Professor of the History of Christianity at the Sapienza, a chair he held for three decades. He also taught at the Salesian Pontifical University and was an instructor at the Augustinianum from its founding in 1971 until 2016. He was made a national fellow of the Accademia dei Lincei in 1981.
Simonetti died on 1 November 2017 in Rome, at the age of 91.
Awards and publications
In 2011, he was a co-recipient of the first Ratzinger Prize. At the time of his award, Pope Benedict XVI remarked on him, "Professor Simonetti has approached the world of the Fathers in a new way, showing us with accuracy and care, what the Fathers say from the historical viewpoint; they become our contemporaries who speak to us."
Simonetti's academic publications are numerous. Among his works are: Studi agiografici (1955); Studi sull'arianesimo (1965); Letteratura cristiana antica greca e latina (1969); La crisi ariana nel IV secolo (1975); Cristianesimo antico e cultura greca (1983); Lettera e/o allegoria. Un contributo alla storia dell'esegesi patristica (1985); La sapienza degli antichi Padri (1996); Il millenarismo cristiano e i suoi fondamenti scritturistici (1998), as well as several compilations, like: Studi sulla cristologia del II e III secolo (1993), Ortodossia ed eresia tra I e II secolo (1994) and many critical editions (Rufinus, Gregory of Elvira, Cyprian, Origen, etc.).
Biography
Simonetti was born in Rome on 2 May 1926.
His early studies were in Classics (philology and history) at the Sapienza University of Rome. In 1959 he became Professor of Ancient Christian Literature at the University of Cagliari, a post he held until 1969. In that year he became Professor of the History of Christianity at the Sapienza, a chair he held for three decades. He also taught at the Salesian Pontifical University and was an instructor at the Augustinianum from its founding in 1971 until 2016. He was made a national fellow of the Accademia dei Lincei in 1981.
Simonetti died on 1 November 2017 in Rome, at the age of 91.
Awards and publications
In 2011, he was a co-recipient of the first Ratzinger Prize. At the time of his award, Pope Benedict XVI remarked on him, "Professor Simonetti has approached the world of the Fathers in a new way, showing us with accuracy and care, what the Fathers say from the historical viewpoint; they become our contemporaries who speak to us."
Simonetti's academic publications are numerous. Among his works are: Studi agiografici (1955); Studi sull'arianesimo (1965); Letteratura cristiana antica greca e latina (1969); La crisi ariana nel IV secolo (1975); Cristianesimo antico e cultura greca (1983); Lettera e/o allegoria. Un contributo alla storia dell'esegesi patristica (1985); La sapienza degli antichi Padri (1996); Il millenarismo cristiano e i suoi fondamenti scritturistici (1998), as well as several compilations, like: Studi sulla cristologia del II e III secolo (1993), Ortodossia ed eresia tra I e II secolo (1994) and many critical editions (Rufinus, Gregory of Elvira, Cyprian, Origen, etc.).
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 19, 2023
Simonetti's book was originally in Italian, but positive reception has resulted in this fluent and readable English translation. This work is now often recommended as the first place to go to for an overview of patristic exegesis.
He begins by framing the importance of his subject matter in the following way:
If you want to understand the theology of the early church, or the culture of the early church, or really anything about the early church, you need to come to understand how the church understood the Bible. I came away with a correlative but different conclusion: the history of the church is not so much the history of what the church did with Scripture , but the history of what the Triune God was doing in his church through Scripture .
As long as you have some background of early church history/thought, then you stand in good stead to profit from this fantastic compendious volume. I see some of the other reviewers here may have suffered from his lack. Whilst it is true that some of Simonetti's scholarship and characterisations are limited and outdated (e.g. his account of Logos theology, or of the Nicene controversy - see Lewis Ayres on these points), I don't feel it's an exaggeration to say that Simonetti sheds led on every little topic he turns to in this book. He starts with Jewish oral interpretation of the Bible (e.g. midrash), proceeds to pagan interpretation of Greek (non-inspired) texts, to the NT use of the OT, the apostolic fathers and onwards through to the end of the patristic period.
Highly recommended. Scrap that, a must-read.
He begins by framing the importance of his subject matter in the following way:
It has been said that the history of doctrine is the history of exegesis, in that the whole development of catholic doctrine is based on the interpretation of a certain number of passages in Scripture in the light of particular needs; but the same could be said of any other aspect of the Church’s life: organisation, discipline, worship, and so on. For this reason, the study of Holy Scripture was the real foundation of Christian culture in the Church of the earliest centuries.
If you want to understand the theology of the early church, or the culture of the early church, or really anything about the early church, you need to come to understand how the church understood the Bible. I came away with a correlative but different conclusion: the history of the church is not so much the history of what the church did with Scripture , but the history of what the Triune God was doing in his church through Scripture .
As long as you have some background of early church history/thought, then you stand in good stead to profit from this fantastic compendious volume. I see some of the other reviewers here may have suffered from his lack. Whilst it is true that some of Simonetti's scholarship and characterisations are limited and outdated (e.g. his account of Logos theology, or of the Nicene controversy - see Lewis Ayres on these points), I don't feel it's an exaggeration to say that Simonetti sheds led on every little topic he turns to in this book. He starts with Jewish oral interpretation of the Bible (e.g. midrash), proceeds to pagan interpretation of Greek (non-inspired) texts, to the NT use of the OT, the apostolic fathers and onwards through to the end of the patristic period.
Highly recommended. Scrap that, a must-read.
February 19, 2025
A fine short history to interpretation in the first 6 centuries of the Church.
The perspective of Simonetti is a little hard to nail down sometimes, as he seems to be somehow very Modern and very pro-Origen.
It's a decent enough book, but I don't know that I will be likely to read it again. Maybe I will if only because it's relatively short.
The perspective of Simonetti is a little hard to nail down sometimes, as he seems to be somehow very Modern and very pro-Origen.
It's a decent enough book, but I don't know that I will be likely to read it again. Maybe I will if only because it's relatively short.
February 26, 2025
A bit disappointing. This is not so much an introduction but a survey and an in-depth survey at specific points. Simonetti displays a broad knowledge of various schools and their confluence, especially regarding the trinitarian and Christological controversies of the first centuries of the church.
That being said, I’m wary of some of his conclusions. Especially his criticality of allegory, as if the literal always fought incorrect allegorical summations. He also assumes a fixity of the text, or a propositional biblical understanding, making exegesis the gold standard. This allegory vs. literal is too simplistic. It negates, though he acknowledges it, Origen’s concern with the philological and the literal.
Another example is Jerome, who is portrayed as distancing himself from Origen yet being helplessly bound by Origenist allegory, all the while being rigorous philologically. Furthermore, I can't entirely agree with taking Augustine as making some literal turn later in his career based on his Genesis commentaries alone. Along with his other writings, demonstrate Augustine’s continued commitment to the allegorical. For an example, see Book XIII of Civ Dei’s discussion on angels.
All this to say is why is allegory less valid? Even though alternate, heretical parties can use specific interpretations and strategies, this does not make them null. In the end, one of the great takeaways of the book is that ancient interpretation, like modern interpretation, takes place within three arenas—local, polemics, and tradition.
82% Allegory isn’t bad (though he doesn’t think he propagates this dichotomy)
That being said, I’m wary of some of his conclusions. Especially his criticality of allegory, as if the literal always fought incorrect allegorical summations. He also assumes a fixity of the text, or a propositional biblical understanding, making exegesis the gold standard. This allegory vs. literal is too simplistic. It negates, though he acknowledges it, Origen’s concern with the philological and the literal.
Another example is Jerome, who is portrayed as distancing himself from Origen yet being helplessly bound by Origenist allegory, all the while being rigorous philologically. Furthermore, I can't entirely agree with taking Augustine as making some literal turn later in his career based on his Genesis commentaries alone. Along with his other writings, demonstrate Augustine’s continued commitment to the allegorical. For an example, see Book XIII of Civ Dei’s discussion on angels.
All this to say is why is allegory less valid? Even though alternate, heretical parties can use specific interpretations and strategies, this does not make them null. In the end, one of the great takeaways of the book is that ancient interpretation, like modern interpretation, takes place within three arenas—local, polemics, and tradition.
82% Allegory isn’t bad (though he doesn’t think he propagates this dichotomy)
February 25, 2025
This was quite a slog to get through. It is meant to be a survey, but it is not always an effective one. He moves quickly over ages and figures briefly pointing out individual works or significant developments. But he does not provide a clear framework for how interpretation is changing and why changes are taking place. I find him useful and helpful in particular moments, but I was mostly confused by him.
This is a heavily academic and dense book despite its short length. I would only recommend this to those wanting to get into the weeks of patristic exegesis and who already have some experience in the topic.
This is a heavily academic and dense book despite its short length. I would only recommend this to those wanting to get into the weeks of patristic exegesis and who already have some experience in the topic.
November 13, 2025
Debunking the old mythos surrounding the 'Western good and Eastern bad' dichotomy of the Patristics. Enlightening is some of quotations from some of the 'champions' like Augustus and their quest for 'deeper meanings' which are at best misguided and more so on the smoking your lunch perspective. Enjoyed.
May 14, 2020
Valuable synthetic introduction from a scholar immersed in the sources.
August 3, 2014
This is a good book for someone who has a little knowledge of church history but wants to learn a bit more about biblical interpretation in the early church into the early Patristic era. Not a lot of quotes from the sources, but he gives a pretty good sense of the hermeneutical tendencies in the biblical commentators from the East and West of the first 5 Centuries of Christianity. Good introduction to the topic.
June 27, 2007
a nice, concise intro to the subject. definitely a good starting place for further research...
July 11, 2009
Some helpful content, but very dry -- it took me forever to finish this short book. I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to the topic.
June 27, 2014
Decent introduction to the subject. His categories are dated (but not too badly). It is a bit dry, but has good information and will introduce the reader to many authors that other works ignore.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews