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Scripture and Self in Origen of Alexandria's Exegetical Practice

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Scripture and Self in Origen of Alexandria's Exegetical Practice University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2014 Scripture and Self in Origen of Alexandria's Exegetical Practice Micah David Saxton University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Saxton, Micah David, "Scripture and Self in Origen of Alexandria's Exegetical Practice" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 577. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/577 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. SCRIPTURE AND SELF IN ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA’S EXEGETICAL PRACTICE __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Micah David Saxton June 2014 Advisor: Gregory Robbins PhD ©Copyright by Micah David Saxton 2014 All Rights Reserved Author: Micah David Saxton Title: SCRIPTURE AND SELF IN ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA’S EXEGETICAL PRACTICE Advisor: Gregory Robbins PhD Degree Date: June 2014 ABSTRACT In this dissertation I examine the nature of scripture and the self as presented by Origen of Alexandria. I argue that Christian scripture and the Christian self are constructed by exegetical practice; furthermore, in the case of Origen, I will demonstrate that Christian scripture and the Christian self are so closely related that it is best to speak of a scripture-self complex emerging out of his exegetical practice. I use a theory of structure as developed by William Sewell as a means to discuss both scripture and the self. As “structures,” scripture and the self are composed of “resources” and “schemas” that are paired together into meaningful wholes. That whole is a structure, which in turn structures other aspects of culture. However, resources and schemas are not automatically paired together. Rather, they are paired together by practices of historical agents who both shape structures and are shaped by them. With this framework in mind, I discuss the ways in which exegetical practices pair resources and schemas together into meaningful wholes. There are two initial processes, the becoming scripture of biblical texts and the becoming the self of a human person, which I trace in Heracleon, Irenaeus, and Origen. I then argue that in the case of Origen, scripture and self mutually structure one another. I call these processes “the anthropomorphizing of scripture” and “the scripturalizing of the self.” These processes result in what I call a scripture-self complex, by this term I mean that scripture cannot be what scripture is without the self being what the self is and the self cannot be what the ii self is without scripture being what scripture is. Key texts for my study of Origen’s exegetical practices are his Commentary on the Gospel according to John, On First Principles, Homilies on Jeremiah, and finally, Commentary on the Song of Songs. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There is a hackneyed proverb that claims, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I have never raised a child, but I have now completed a dissertation and I know that it takes a village to complete a dissertation. I would like to acknowledge that village. First and foremost I am grateful to my dissertation advisor Gregory Robbins who will always know more about this topic than I will. I am also grateful to Pamela Eisenbaum and Sarah Pessin who served on my dissertation committee. I could not have asked for better committee members, they each pushed me to think through many issues from angles I would not have anticipated. Katherine Turpin has graciously volunteered her time to chair my dissertation defense; I am pleased that my defense was in such capable hands. There are others who were also a part of my dissertation’s village. Notably, my intrepid writing group: Eric Smith and Erica Ferg Muhaisen. My early chapters benefited greatly from Erica’s input and Eric’s keen eye has saved me from many embarrassing errors; to say nothing of his intellectual contributions. Finally, I would also like to acknowledge Mark George and Michael Hemeneway, both of whom have helped me to be a more careful thinker. I am grateful to this village for helping raise my dissertation. Any errors contained herein are, however, my own and for them I am responsible. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION................................................................................. 1 Introduction and Thesis................................................................................................... 1 Questioning Scripture and the Self ................................................................................. 3 Scripture...................................................................................................................... 3 The Self....................................................................................................................... 9 Methodological Tools: Structure, Discourse, and Practice........................................... 15 Structure.................................................................................................................... 15 Discourse................................................................................................................... 23 Practice...................................................................................................................... 28 Method .......................................................................................................................... 30 Sources.......................................................................................................................... 31 Key Studies ................................................................................................................... 34 Outline of Chapters....................................................................................................... 36 CHAPTER TWO: SCRIPTURE AND SELF BEFORE ORIGEN .................................. 38 Heracleon ...................................................................................................................... 40 The Structure of Scripture in Heracleon ................................................................... 45 The Structure of the Self in Heracleon ..................................................................... 53 Irenaeus......................................................................................................................... 62 The Structure of Scripture in Irenaeus’s Against Heresies....................................... 64 The Structure of the Self in Irenaeus’s Against Heresies ......................................... 78 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 89 CHAPTER THREE: STRUCTURING SCRIPTURE IN ORIGEN ............................... 92 Scriptural Resources ................................................................................................. 93 Scriptural Schemas.................................................................................................... 99 Exegetical Practices that Construct Scripture............................................................. 102 The Greco-Roman School....................................................................................... 103 The Use of Books.................................................................................................... 107 Commentary as a Practice....................................................................................... 114 The Practice of Grammar........................................................................................ 121 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 137 CHAPTER FOUR: STRUCTURING THE SELF IN ORIGEN .................................... 140 Origen’s Structure of the Self ..................................................................................... 141 Resources of the Self .............................................................................................. 142 The Schema of the Self........................................................................................... 152 Liturgical Practices that Construct the Self ................................................................ 155 Baptism ................................................................................................................... 159 Eucharist ................................................................................................................. 164 Prayer ...................................................................................................................... 169 Homiletical Practices that Construct the Self ............................................................. 172 Homiletical Situation .............................................................................................. 172 v Addressing the Text to the Hearer .......................................................................... 180 Constructing
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