Letter and/or Allegory? Eusebius of Caesarea as Interpreter of the Prophetic Books

Journal: Cristianesimo nella Storia
Volume: 43/2
Year: 2022
Columns: No
Pages: 563-580
Abstract

In this paper, I examine the critical evaluations of Eusebius’ exegesis of Isaiah and the Psalms in order to pinpoint the critical issues of the reconstructions proposed up until now. I then analyse some sample passages drawn from the commentaries which exemplify the author’s approach to these prophetic books. Finally, I argue one must not consider the aim of Eusebius’ hermeneutical enterprise to be either “literal" or “figurative" interpretation, but rather one must conceive these latter as means derived from Origen’s works to pursue the systematic identification of the events prophesied by the divine oracles.