"I highly recommend this marvelous exploration of the sacramental reading of Scripture. Hans Boersma expertly and comprehensively opens up many different dimensions of the theological interpretation of Scripture--a category increasingly invoked today--as exemplified by the great practitioners of early Christianity. By bringing the insights gained into constructive dialogue with contemporary concerns, Boersma shows how Christ's real presence in Scripture can still be encountered today. A must-read both for those concerned with the hermeneutics of scriptural engagement and for those seeking to enrich their own reading of Scripture, this book is an indispensable resource."  
\--__Fr. John Behr__, St. Vladimir's Seminary, New York  
  
"This volume makes an outstanding contribution to the retrieval of the ancient Christian biblical hermeneutic. Through a careful analysis of individual texts, Boersma demonstrates that patristic exegesis is not based on naive allegorizing but on a theology of history in which Christ is recognized as truly present in the words and deeds of the old covenant. This book will reinforce the growing consensus that patristic exegesis remains valid and indispensable for the church today."  
\--__Mary Healy__, Sacred Heart Major Seminary  
  
"In the spirit of Henri de Lubac and Jean Daniélou, Hans Boersma here makes his own important contribution to the nature of biblical interpretation. _Scripture as Real Presence_ is informed by a deep reading of the patristic tradition. With that tradition Boersma advocates for a sacramental approach to Scripture, contending that the mystery of the Christ event is already present in the Law and Prophets. This book offers a lively foray into the current debates about the theological interpretation of the Bible and its place in the academy and pulpit."  
\--__Peter W. Martens__, Saint Louis University  
  
"A splendid and scholarly study! Here is required reading for any who are rightly intrigued by the renewed concern for the theological interpretation of Scripture. With astute awareness of contemporary prejudices, Boersma disarms both the Protestant rigorist who may be scandalized by the patristic emphasis on human virtue, and the historicist who dismisses ancient spiritual interpretation as arbitrary. All the while, he carefully and lovingly retrieves winsome writings of various church fathers, who taught that Scripture itself participates in the life of Christ and vitally changes the interpreter and the church when received according to that conviction."  
\--__Edith M. Humphrey__, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

__Hans Boersma__ (PhD, University of Utrecht), a highly regarded theologian and an experienced preacher, is St. Benedict Servants of Christ Chair in Ascetical Theology at Nashotah House in Wisconsin. He previously taught at Regent College, Vancouver. Boersma is the author of numerous books, including _Sacramental Preaching_; _Violence, Hospitality, and the Cross_; and _Heavenly Participation_.

In _Scripture as Real Presence_, leading theologian Hans Boersma argues that the heart of patristic exegesis is the attempt to find the sacramental reality (real presence) of Christ in Scripture. Boersma discusses numerous sermons and commentaries of the church fathers to show how they regarded Christ as the treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament and explains that the church today can and should retrieve the sacramental reading of the early church.  
  
"Few scholars have contributed as much to the vigorous debate in our generation about the theological interpretation of Scripture as Hans Boersma. His latest offering for our edification, _Scripture as Real Presence_, presents nine examples of patristic interpretations of important (and challenging) passages from Scripture. They illustrate, for Boersma, an ecclesial hermeneutic that treats Scripture as a sacrament containing a treasure of great value, Christ, hidden and waiting for the church's discovery. Boersma's examples of the rich, polyphonic readings given by the fathers provide models of how pastors and all students of Scripture might unearth the treasure that will give depth to preaching and teaching. Boersma and the fathers transform modern exegesis from reconstructing the past to participating in the life-giving Word."  
\--__J. Warren Smith__, Duke Divinity School  
  
"Biblical exegesis has to be approached amid metaphysical and spiritual commitments attuned to the gospel or else unexamined assumptions will invariably cause even our most disciplined efforts at biblical interpretation to unravel. Hans Boersma helps us think carefully about how we read the Bible by reintroducing us to patristic exegesis. Alerting us to the exegetical practice of Origen, Gregory, and many others, he reminds us that 'they saw the Scriptures as a sacrament and read them accordingly.' For sensitive readings of varied early church fathers and a host of their reading approaches, all rooted in common commitments to the relations of God and the world and of theology and spirituality, take up and read Boersma's book."  
\--__Michael Allen__, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

___Christianity Today_ Book Award Winner__   
This work argues that the heart of patristic exegesis is the attempt to find the sacramental reality (real presence) of Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Leading theologian Hans Boersma discusses numerous sermons and commentaries of the church fathers to show how they regarded Christ as the treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament and explains that the church today can and should retrieve the sacramental reading of the early church. Combining detailed scholarly insight with clear, compelling prose, this book makes a unique contribution to contemporary interest in theological interpretation.

A leading theologian shows how the church fathers regarded Christ as the hidden treasure of the Old Testament Scriptures and how we can retrieve the sacramental reading of the early church today.

__Contents  
  
1. Patristic Reading__ _The Church Fathers on Sacramental Reading of Scripture_ Scripture as Sacrament  
Metaphysics and Hermeneutics: Origen, Hobbes, and Spinoza  
Sacramental Reading in Origen: Discerning Heavenly Patterns  
Irenaeus's Recapitulation as Sacramental Reading  
Retrieving Sacramental Reading: Meaning, Virtue, Progress, and Providence  
Conclusion  
__2. Literal Reading__ _Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine on the Creation Accounts of Genesis_ Patristic Interest in Reading by the Letter  
Gregory of Nyssa, _On the Making of Man_  
Gregory's Literal Reading as Theological  
Augustine's Turn to Literal Exegesis  
Theological Literalism in Saint Augustine  
Conclusion  
__3. Hospitable Reading__ _Origen and Chrysostom on the Theophany of Genesis 18_ Interpretation as Hospitality  
Origen: The Son of God at Mamre  
Origen: Hospitality as Allegory  
Chrysostom: Divine Condescension at Mamre and in Scripture  
Chrysostom: Hospitality as Interpersonal Moral Virtue  
Conclusion  
__4. Other Reading__ _Melito of Sardis and Origen on the Passover of Exodus 12_ The Exodus: Allegory as Arbitrary Reading?  
Typology in Scripture  
Melito of Sardis, _On Pascha_  
Origen, _Treatise on the Passover_  
Conclusion  
__5. Incarnational Reading__ _Origen on the Historical Narrative of Joshua_ Allegory and Event  
Origen's Polemical Context  
Scripture as Incarnate Logos  
_Mysterii video sacramentum_ History's Rightful Place  
From History to Spirit: Biblical Rationale  
Conclusion  
__6. Harmonious Reading__ _Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, and Augustine on the Music of the Psalms_ Tuning People with the Psalms  
Harmony in the Platonic Tradition  
Harmony in the Early Church  
Restoring Harmony: Virtue and Emotions in the Psalms  
Harmony with the Voice of Christ  
Gregory of Nyssa on the Order of the Psalms  
Conclusion  
__7. Doctrinal Reading__ _Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa on the Wisdom of Proverbs 8_ Spiritual Interpretation and Christian Doctrine  
From Origen to Eusebius  
Athanasius: Interpretive Strategies  
Athanasius: Exegesis 1 and 2  
Gregory of Nyssa: Turning the Peacock  
Gregory of Nyssa: Christ Created, Established, and Born in Us  
Reading Wisdom Sacramentally  
Conclusion  
__8. Nuptial Reading__ _Hippolytus, Origen, and Ambrose on the Bridal Couple of the Song of Songs_ Contemporary Readings of the Song of Songs  
Hippolytus: Allegory and Economy  
Origen: Ecclesial and Personal Readings  
Ambrose: Ecclesial Asceticism  
Conclusion  
__9. Prophetic Reading__ _Irenaeus, Cyril of Alexandria, Origen, Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa, Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine on the Servant Songs of Isaiah_ Prophecy and Fulfillment: A Sacramental Bond  
Edward Pusey's Sacramental Typology  
Looking for Christ in Isaiah's Prophecies  
Christ as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53  
Christological Reading and the _Wirkungsgeschichte_ of the Text  
Christological Mystery Hidden in the Servant Songs  
Wounded by Love: Associations of the Chosen Arrow (Isa. 49:2)  
Conclusion  
__10. Beatific Reading__ _Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, and Leo the Great on the Beatitudes of Matthew 5_ Spiritual Interpretation of the New Testament  
Interpreting between Cave and Mountain  
Gregory of Nyssa and Multiplicity of Meaning  
Virtue and Salvation  
Virtue and Interpretation  
Numbering the Steps of Virtue  
Conclusion  
__Conclusion  
Indexes__

\["For theologians and serious students of Scripture", "Reveals Christ's presence in the Old Testament texts", "You will deepen your understanding of Scripture's meaning"\]

This book explores the sacramental reality of Christ in the Old Testament.

Boersma, Hans

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Preface

Abbreviations

1. Patristic Reading

2. Literal Reading

3. Hospitable Reading

4. Other Reading

5. Incarnational Reading

6. Harmonious Reading

7. Doctrinal Reading

8. Nuptial Reading

9. Prophetic Reading

10. Beatific Reading

Conclusion

Bibliography

Name Index

Ancient and Medieval Writings Index

Scripture Index

Subject Index

Back Cover

A scholarly exploration of sacramental exegesis in early Church writings. Hans Boersma examines how Church Fathers viewed Christ in the Old Testament. Ideal for theologians and students.

\["For students, teachers and preachers","Hans Boersma unfolds the biblical interpretations of the early Church","You'll find a compelling arguments for sacramental readings from centuries ago "\]

1\. Patristic Reading  
The Church Fathers on Sacramental Reading of Scripture  
Scripture as Sacrament  
Metaphysics and Hermeneutics: Origen, Hobbes, and Spinoza  
Sacramental Reading in Origen: Discerning Heavenly Patterns  
Irenaeus's Recapitulation as Sacramental Reading  
Retrieving Sacramental Reading: Meaning, Virtue, Progress, and Providence  
Conclusion  
2\. Literal Reading  
Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine on the Creation Accounts of Genesis  
Patristic Interest in Reading by the Letter  
Gregory of Nyssa, On the Making of Man  
Gregory's Literal Reading as Theological  
Augustine's Turn to Literal Exegesis  
Theological Literalism in Saint Augustine  
Conclusion  
3\. Hospitable Reading  
Origen and Chrysostom on the Theophany of Genesis 18  
Interpretation as Hospitality  
Origen: The Son of God at Mamre  
Origen: Hospitality as Allegory  
Chrysostom: Divine Condescension at Mamre and in Scripture  
Chrysostom: Hospitality as Interpersonal Moral Virtue  
Conclusion  
4\. Other Reading  
Melito of Sardis and Origen on the Passover of Exodus 12  
The Exodus: Allegory as Arbitrary Reading?  
Typology in Scripture  
Melito of Sardis, On Pascha  
Origen, Treatise on the Passover  
Conclusion  
5\. Incarnational Reading  
Origen on the Historical Narrative of Joshua  
Allegory and Event  
Origen's Polemical Context  
Scripture as Incarnate Logos  
Mysterii video sacramentum  
History's Rightful Place  
From History to Spirit: Biblical Rationale  
Conclusion  
6\. Harmonious Reading  
Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, and Augustine on the Music of the Psalms  
Tuning People with the Psalms  
Harmony in the Platonic Tradition  
Harmony in the Early Church  
Restoring Harmony: Virtue and Emotions in the Psalms  
Harmony with the Voice of Christ  
Gregory of Nyssa on the Order of the Psalms  
Conclusion  
7\. Doctrinal Reading  
Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa on the Wisdom of Proverbs 8  
Spiritual Interpretation and Christian Doctrine  
From Origen to Eusebius  
Athanasius: Interpretive Strategies  
Athanasius: Exegesis 1 and 2  
Gregory of Nyssa: Turning the Peacock  
Gregory of Nyssa: Christ Created, Established, and Born in Us  
Reading Wisdom Sacramentally  
Conclusion  
8\. Nuptial Reading  
Hippolytus, Origen, and Ambrose on the Bridal Couple of the Song of Songs  
Contemporary Readings of the Song of Songs  
Hippolytus: Allegory and Economy  
Origen: Ecclesial and Personal Readings  
Ambrose: Ecclesial Asceticism  
Conclusion  
9\. Prophetic Reading  
Irenaeus, Cyril of Alexandria, Origen, Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa, Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine on the Servant Songs of Isaiah  
Prophecy and Fulfillment: A Sacramental Bond  
Edward Pusey's Sacramental Typology  
Looking for Christ in Isaiah's Prophecies  
Christ as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53  
Christological Reading and the Wirkungsgeschichte of the Text  
Christological Mystery Hidden in the Servant Songs  
Wounded by Love: Associations of the Chosen Arrow (Isa. 49:2)  
Conclusion  
10\. Beatific Reading  
Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, and Leo the Great on the Beatitudes of Matthew 5  
Spiritual Interpretation of the New Testament  
Interpreting between Cave and Mountain  
Gregory of Nyssa and Multiplicity of Meaning  
Virtue and Salvation  
Virtue and Interpretation  
Numbering the Steps of Virtue  
Conclusion  
Conclusion  
Indexes

Leading theologian Hans Boersma discusses sermons and commentaries on seeing Christ in the Old Testament.

Sacramental Exegesis in the Early Church

Scripture as Real Presence

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