Commentary on the Psalms, Psalms 1-72

Theodoret (Bishop of Cyrrhus.)

CUA Press, 2000 - Bibles - 472 pages

This volume makes available for the first time in English the major biblical commentary by one of the leading exponents of Antiochene exegesis, Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus. Though originally intended as an opening to his exegetical work--in the manner of his predecessors in this school, Theodore of Mopsuestia and John Chrysostom--Theodoret's Psalms commentary comes from his later ministry in the decade before the Council of Chalcedon, which he was instrumental in convening. It thus documents current christological and trinitarian concerns and illustrates an Antiochene hermeneutic that rests firmly on the literal sense of the "inspired composition of the mighty David."

Though commentators less well acquainted with this lengthy work have been ready to dismiss Theodoret as lacking originality, a sounder assessment would acknowledge his willingness to take account of previous work, from both Alexandria and Antioch, and steer a middle course. He deliberately avoids the excesses of allegorical interpretation of Origen, on the one hand, and of the historicism found in Diodore and Theodore, on the other. Moderation and flexibility are the hallmarks of his own approach to the Psalms, to which he comes not as scholar or preacher but as teacher and pastor. He aims simply to offer his readers "some benefit in concentrated form."

This translation respects the conciseness which the bishop sets as one aim for himself, his other principle being to let the text speak for itself. Theodoret emerges in this work as a measured commentator and balanced exponent of his school's hermeneutical and theological principles.

Theodoret's Commentary on the Psalms, 73-150 will be the next volume published in The Fathers of the Church series.

Robert C. Hill teaches in the School of Studies in Religion at the University of Sydney. He is the author of numerous works and the translator of Saint John Chrysostom's Homilies on Genesis, volumes 74, 82, and 87 in The Fathers of the Church series.

With this 101st volume in The Fathers of the Church series, the Press continues its commitment to this remarkable series and to publication in early Christian studies. The first one hundred volumes have been widely praised for maintaining a uniform excellence in translation and for providing a core library of early Catholic literature. Commended for their accuracy and accessibility, these volumes continue to attract a diverse readership, students and laymen as well as historians, theologians, and patristic scholars.

"Hill's translation of the Commentary on the Psalms is the first in English, and the quality overall is superlative. It is fluid, lively, technically astute, and richly annotated with helpful comments on the biblical recensions with which Theodoret is working, the peculiarities of his interpretive method, and the nuances of specific exegeses. In numerous notes Hill brings Theodoret into conversation with modern commentators on the Psalms. . . . Hill's translation of this massive commentary is a welcome addition to the ever-expanding Fathers of the Church series. It will doubtless be received as a major contribution to the still-burgeoning study of patristic biblical interpretation and adds itself to a growing list of important studies of the bishop of Cyrus."--Journal of Early Christian Studies

"Robert C. Hill combines biblical and patristic expertise in presenting a translation, with copious notes, of the work of a major exponent of Antiochene exegesis."--Old Testament Abstracts

"[This book] represents the first fruits of the second stage in a long-term project which Robert Hill has set himself: to make available to biblical scholars and students of the patristic era the exegetical works of the fathers situated within the so-called Antiochene tradition, with emphasis on works which address the books of the Old T

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• Theodorets exegetical works including the Commentary on the Psalms: 2
• Text of the Commentary short and long forms: 4
• Theodorets Greek text of the Psalter alternative versions: 7
• Commentary on the Psalms nature purpose characteristics and influences: 12
• Theodoret as interpreter of the Psalms his wider thinking on Scripture: 18
• The Christology of the Commentary on the Psalms: 25
• Other theological accents: 28
• Moral accents the spirituality of the Commentary: 32
• COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS: 37
• Preface: 39
• Commentary of Psalm 1: 46
• Commentary of Psalm 2: 52
• Commentary of Psalm 3: 60
• Commentary of Psalm 4: 63
• Commentary of Psalm 5: 68
• Commentary of Psalm 6: 73
• Commentary of Psalm 7: 77
• Commentary of Psalm 8: 82
• Commentary of Psalm 9: 87
• Commentary of Psalm 10: 94
• Commentary of Psalm 11: 99
• Commentary of Psalm 12: 102
• Commentary of Psalm 13: 104
• Commentary of Psalm 14: 106
• Commentary of Psalm 15: 111
• Commentary of Psalm 16: 113
• Commentary of Psalm 17: 119
• Commentary of Psalm 18: 123
• Commentary of Psalm 19: 133
• Commentary of Psalm 20: 139
• Commentary of Psalm 21: 141
• Commentary of Psalm 22: 145
• Commentary of Psalm 23: 156
• Commentary of Psalm 24: 159
• Commentary of Psalm 25: 163
• Commentary of Psalm 26: 169
• Commentary of Psalm 27: 172
• Commentary of Psalm 28: 178
• Commentary of Psalm 29: 181
• Commentary of Psalm 30: 187
• Commentary of Psalm 31: 192
• Commentary of Psalm 32: 198
• Commentary of Psalm 33: 202
• Commentary of Psalm 34: 207
• Commentary of Psalm 35: 212
• Commentary of Psalm 36: 218
• Commentary of Psalm 37: 222
• Commentary of Psalm 38: 229
• Commentary of Psalm 39: 233
• Commentary of Psalm 40: 237
• Commentary of Psalm 41: 243
• Commentary of Psalm 42: 248
• Commentary of Psalm 43: 252
• Commentary of Psalm 44: 254
• Commentary of Psalm 45: 259
• Commentary of Psalm 46: 268
• Commentary of Psalm 47: 273
• Commentary of Psalm 48: 276
• Commentary of Psalm 49: 281
• Commentary of Psalm 50: 288
• Commentary of Psalm 51: 294
• Commentary of Psalm 52: 304
• Commentary of Psalm 53: 308
• Commentary of Psalm 54: 311
• Commentary of Psalm 55: 314
• Commentary of Psalm 56: 323
• Commentary of Psalm 57: 327
• Commentary of Psalm 58: 331
• Commentary of Psalm 59: 336
• Commentary of Psalm 60: 344
• Commentary of Psalm 61: 349
• Commentary of Psalm 62: 353
• Commentary of Psalm 63: 357
• Commentary of Psalm 64: 361
• Commentary of Psalm 65: 364
• Commentary of Psalm 66: 371
• Commentary of Psalm 67: 377
• Commentary of Psalm 68: 380
• Commentary of Psalm 69: 395
• Commentary of Psalm 70: 404
• Commentary of Psalm 71: 406
• Commentary of Psalm 72: 413
• INDICES: 421
• General Index: 423
• Index of Holy Scripture: 427

Bibliographic information

• Title: Commentary on the Psalms, Psalms 1-72; Volume 1 of Commentary on the Psalms, Robert Charles Hill; Fathers of the church, ISSN 0014-8814; Fathers of the church; 101-102; The Fathers of the Church: A New Translation; Volume 1 of Theodoret of Cyrus: Commentary on the Psalms, Robert Charles Hill
• Author: Theodoret (Bishop of Cyrrhus.)
• Editor: Robert C. Hill
• Translated by: Robert C. Hill
• Edition: annotated
• Publisher: CUA Press, 2000
• ISBN: 0813201012, 9780813201016
• Length: 472 pages
• Subjects: Bibles / General; Religion / Biblical Commentary / Old Testament / General; Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament; Religion / Biblical Meditations / General; Religion / Biblical Studies / Old Testament / General; Religion / Christian Church / History; Religion / Christian Living / Leadership & Mentoring; Religion / Christianity / General