Explanatio in Canticum canticorum by Theodoret of Cyrrus as a lost chance for the Antiochene exegesis
Abstract
The paper deals with Commentary on the Song of Songs by Theodoret of Cyrus. It presents its structure and exegetical method used by the exegete as well as its dependence on Origen's commentary and its polemical emphasis directed most likely at Theodore of Mopsuestia.
It analyses in more detail the reasoning of Theodoret's polemic against Theodore's historical interpretation of the text and points out struggle of both exegetes with the corporeal and erotic content of the Song of Songs, which, however, each of them addressed in a different way. Theodore was faithful to his methodological criteria and denied the text its canonicity whereas Theodoret was faithful to the tradition of Song of Songs being divinely inspired and refused its literal and historical meaning.