Il prezzo della pace. Il Cantico dei cantici ad Antiochia tra Teodoro e Teodoreto (con l’edizione del Prologo dell’Explanatio in Canticum canticorum)

In spite of the importance of the Song of Songs in determining the rules and guidelines of patristic exegesis, its canonization was anything but simple, and aroused tough and lasting opposition over the centuries. The Antiochian tradition was particularly hostile to the Song: Diodorus of Tarsus never mentioned it; Theodore of Mopsuestia subjected it to a strong criticism, denying its divine inspiration; John Chrysostom limits himself to sporadic and banal quotations, which demonstrate a clear disinterest in this book. In Antioch the Song was definitively accepted only thanks to Theodoret, who authored an extensive commentary on it, harshly arguing against Theodore and welcoming the results of the Alexandrian allegorical exegesis. This essay proposes a new interpretation of Theodore’s exegesis and Theodoret’s Commentary, discussing on a new basis the chronology, the identity of the recipient and the aims of the work in the light of the political, ecclesiastical and theological conflict that opposed Antioch and Alexandria during the Nestorian crisis. The critical edition of the Prologue of the Commentary on the Song of Songs by Theodoret is provided in the Appendix.