Thomas Aquinas and Meister Eckhart on Exodus 3:14: Exegesis or Eisegesis?
Modern criticisms of medieval Biblical exegesis often accuse it of being little more than 'eisegesis': that is, a reading into Biblical texts metaphysical concepts - usually of pagan Greek origin - that are foreign to the concerns and intentions of the Biblical authors. Aquinas's inte...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
[2015]
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| In: |
Medieval mystical theology
Year: 2015, Volume: 24, Issue: 2, Pages: 124-136 |
| IxTheo Classification: | HA Bible HB Old Testament KAE Church history 900-1300; high Middle Ages KDB Roman Catholic Church |
| Further subjects: | B
Medieval
B Bible. Exodus 3,14 B eisegesis B Aquinas B Bible B Eckhart B Exegesis |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | Modern criticisms of medieval Biblical exegesis often accuse it of being little more than 'eisegesis': that is, a reading into Biblical texts metaphysical concepts - usually of pagan Greek origin - that are foreign to the concerns and intentions of the Biblical authors. Aquinas's interpretation of Exodus 3:14, where God identifies himself to Moses as 'He Who Is' and which Aquinas identifies with the self-subsistent act of existence (esse ipsum subsistens) is often mentioned as an example of this sort of 'eisegesis'.This dichotomy between exegesis and eisegesis, however, completely misunderstands how medieval theologians, Thomas Aquinas and Meister Eckhart in particular, themselves read and understood Scripture. Implicit in Aquinas, and quite explicit in his Dominican successor, Eckhart, is the insight that to uncover the true meaning of Scripture is to uncover the self-subsistent Word, Christ, in and through whom all things were created. This Word is, therefore, the inner truth of both Scripture and all true philosophical thought and scientific research. So to use philosophy to understand the deeper meaning of Scripture is simply to return philosophical thought back to its true and primal source, Christ. But even more importantly, this deeper meaning of Scripture reveals also the inner meaning of Scripture, a point that Eckhart in particular was keen to develop. The use of philosophical concepts in interpreting Scripture allows the soul to discover that what is true of Christ and of Scripture is also true of the inner ground of my being, out of which I exist and live as well as know and love God. Thus, to read philosophical concepts into Scripture is simply to bring the truth out of Scripture in such a way that it becomes a living truth. |
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| ISSN: | 2046-5734 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Medieval mystical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/20465726.2015.1117802 |