npatrol:
Hi Copland, is that a photo of you – “JohnLitteral”>?
:idea:
I am not sure exactly how you intend the resource to be used. But I was thinking that, although individual verses were explained in various ways, that unless one was trying to examine a specific verse and already had an idea of what the text was about – that it would be easy to get lost in the overall flow of the passage.
So, perhaps you might thing about an overview or outline; eg: use some of the ECF’s general remarks about the chapter or general vicinity, as well as comments on individual pericopes/passages.
I only have a limited selection of the ECF – and was surprised at the texts from Origen, as I don’t remember ever seeing those before; I thought I had all his writings!
(Not that he is considered orthodox, eg: by Jerome… but his views are important historically)
One of things that I am noticing, and I would have to dig for the references, is that there is a distinct lack of the interplay of pagan ideas/symbols in what I read.
Eg: The four winds show up in divine Greek mythology; (not that I suggest you paganize anything) – but I also seem to recall that OT Jewish sources similarly attributed there being four directions (winds). eg: those that blow throughout the day.
These seem to be related to the passage at hand; eg: The wind blew above the waters in the creation account (Genesis) and then the waters were divided, the heavens from those below – and Here we have 4 winds dividing the Macedonian empire up into four parts ( a similar divine theme ) – and they are over the “sea”, which in many OT references is made to the Pagans. (the world of people not specifically chosen, but mixed together.) The river from the Holy temple being that which makes fresh water of everything (am I remembering correctly?) – either Daniel or Ezekiel, and also there are references to the the sea/rivers flowing UP the hill to zion in reference to the conversion of the Gentiles.
It seems to me, that there ought to be more in the ECF on some of these points – if perhaps not on these passages specifically, at least to the general idea and meaning of images which recurr throughout the bible. eg: He makes his angels rushing winds (is a psalm also…I think) etc. The angels are viewed as guardians of nations, Michael being originally assigned to israel. So perhaps the theme could be expanded by locating the ECF’s who perhaps speak somewhat about whether or not angels also guided the Pagans (inasmuch as they would allow God to do so.)
I remember St. Paul, speaking at Athens, talking about the altar to the God with no name – and following the reference back historically, I came across Pagan prophecy involving the unusual sacrifice of sheep. etc. which shows quite strongly why st. Paul would sieze on the use of “dio” (merely meaning divinity, but which often meant Zeus) in the text as a reference to the God of Israel.
Daniel was in a foreign land, at this time, babylonian? I think?; and some of this imagery may also be related to the context he was in. Just as Revelation was hidden language to avoid the wrath of the Romans by John the Apostle; John was copying the literary style of Daniel (including the horns, and 10 of them which interprets Daniel retroactively) – and also the , oh, diptych type format – the first half being of one kind of narritive, and the second part being the prophetic imagery.
etc.
I Only have limited ECF texts – but I would almost bet that there is more if one were to dig/search across a wider body of them.
Keep going, I enjoy your stuff.
–Andrew.
