Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- PART I EXEGESIS AND THE UNITY OF THE SCRIPTURES
- PART II THE BIBLE AS CLASSIC
- PART III LANGUAGE AND REFERENCE
- PART IV THE BIBLE AND THE LIFE OF FAITH
- Conclusion and retrospect: towards an outline historical account
- Bibliography
- 1 Index ofbiblicaI references
- 2 Index of modern scholars
- 3 Index of subjects
PART II - THE BIBLE AS CLASSIC
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- PART I EXEGESIS AND THE UNITY OF THE SCRIPTURES
- PART II THE BIBLE AS CLASSIC
- PART III LANGUAGE AND REFERENCE
- PART IV THE BIBLE AND THE LIFE OF FAITH
- Conclusion and retrospect: towards an outline historical account
- Bibliography
- 1 Index ofbiblicaI references
- 2 Index of modern scholars
- 3 Index of subjects
Summary
The fact that patristic exegesis took for granted principles of interpretation and composition drawn from classical rhetoric has already been hinted at in Part I. Here we examine the way in which the scriptures came to be treated as an alternative body of literature, to be subjected to the same scholarly examination as the Greek classics, and to replace those classics in providing authoritative examples, quotations and allusions for exploitation by Christian orators. Christian culture mirrored classical culture, but its discourse was formed by reference to another set of texts and stories – a novel intertextuality.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Biblical Exegesis and the Formation of Christian Culture , pp. 47 - 48Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997