Book Series Studia Traditionis Theologiae, vol. 15

Diodore the Theologian

Πρόνοια in his Commentary on Psalms 1-50

Benjamin Wayman

  • Pages: 267 p.
  • Size:156 x 234 mm
  • Language(s):English
  • Publication Year:2014

  • € 85,00 EXCL. VAT RETAIL PRICE
  • ISBN: 978-2-503-55050-3
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A fresh proposal for the role of theology in Diodore's exegesis of Psalms 1-50.

"[T]his work, then, makes a general contribution [to the study of the patristic period], as well as a specific one to the study of Diodore. It marks a new stage in efforts to understand this church father and provides a solid basis for further investigation."

(from the Foreword by Rowan A. Greer, Prof. Emeritus, Yale Divinity School)

Review(s)

"(...) la recherche de l'A. (...) invite à porter un regard neuf sur le commentaire de Diodore. On lui saura gré d'avoir su réunir sous le concept théologique de Providence l'apport des études antérieures consacrées à la méthode herméneutique de l'Antiochien et à sa conception d'un "sens supérieur" de l'histoire – la ϴεωρία –, d'obliger certains critiques à réviser leurs jugements sur la dimension doctrinale du commentaire, et d'inviter la communauté scientifique à en faire une lecture profondément renouvelée." (Jean-Noël Guinot, dans: Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastique, 1/2015, p. 322-325)

"While Diodore the Theologian will not be the most approachable way into Diodore's thought, it is a valuable contribution to the study of an underappreciated theologian, and should receive wide use among specialists." (David Neal Greenwood, in Vigiliae Christianae 70, 2016, p. 105-106

BIO

Benjamin D. Wayman is assistant professor of religion at Greenville College.  He holds the Ph.D. in historical theology (early Christianity) from Saint Louis University and the M.Div. from the Divinity School at Duke University.

 

Summary

This study examines the role of theology in the biblical commentary of a fourth-century pastor and teacher. The notion that theology and scripture are inextricably connected in early Christian thinking has become a scholarly commonplace in contemporary patristic scholarship.  But the nature of the connection has been less than clear, particularly with respect to the commentary on Psalms 1-50 (ca. 372) composed by Diodore of Tarsus (d. ca. 394). 

Despite the fact that Diodore identifies πρόνοια (providence) as the central doctrinal theme of the Psalms in his Prologue to the Commentary, scholars have largely overlooked Diodore’s engagement with πρόνοια in his exegesis of the Psalms. This study argues that a specific account of πρόνοια supplies Diodore’s primary theological framework for interpreting the Psalms by generating the questions he asks of the text and shaping his view of other themes in the Psalms. For Diodore, πρόνοια is more than a theme he identifies in the Psalms. Rather, the nature of God’s πρόνοια is for Diodore the main doctrinal question posed by the Psalter, to which his exegesis of the Psalms provides the answer. The answer, Wayman contends, is a view of πρόνοια which he describes as cooperative, reciprocal, and immanent.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

 

INTRODUCTION

Thesis and Steps in the Argument The Text and the Significance of this Study

The Prologue and The Problem

Πρόνοια in the Commentary

On Method

Outline of Chapters

 

CHAPTER ONE: BEYOND CURRENT APPROACHES

Θεωρία Scholarship

Grammatical-Rhetorical Scholarship

Πρόνοια Scholarship

Πρόνοια in the Ἱστορία and Θεωρία

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER TWO: ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ IN PHILOSOPHICAL CULTURE

The Doctrine(s) of Πρόνοια

On God and Creation

Divine Transcendence and Immanence

General or Special Providence

Fate and Free Will

Diodore the Philosopher

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER THREE: ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ IN CHRISTIAN CULTURE

Post-Nicaea Camps

Diodore’s New-Nicene Tradition

A Syrian-Palestinian Tradition

Philo of Alexandria

Didymus the Blind

Bardaişan of Edessa

Eusebius of Emesa

Nemesius of Emesa

Diodore the Apologist

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER FOUR: ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ AND THE DIVINELY INSPIRED PSALMS 

Fourth-Century Pneumatologies

The Holy Spirit and the Use of the Psalms

Providence in Two Kinds

On Providence: David’s Testimony

The Holy Spirit and the Composition of the Psalms

On Providence, Inspiration, and the Obscurity of the Psalms

Origen’s Theologies of Providence and Inspiration

Obscurity and Providence in Diodore’s Psalms Commentary

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER FIVE: ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ AND MORALITY

Providence and Morality

Freedom to Accept God’s Invitation and Obstacles to Doing So

Specific Providence and Its Effects: Assistance and Punishment

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER SIX: ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ AND PROPHECY

The Πράγματα of the Psalms

Πρόνοια and Τὸ Ἱστορικόν

What is the Difference Between Θεωρία and Ἀλληγορία?

Making Sense of Ἱστορία and Θεωρία in Light of Πρόνοια

The Problem with Ἀλληγορία

Πρόνοια and Diodore’s Dual-Method

Conclusion

 

CONCLUSION 

Diodore’s Achievement

A Word of Caution and the Contribution of this Study

Concluding Remark

Appendix A

Appendix B

Bibliography Indices