St. Hilary Of Poitiers On The Christocentrism Of The Spiritual Interpretation Of The Holy Scriptures

Two general remarks arise from the synthetic interpretation of the biblical christocentrismpresented by Saint Hilary. e first concerns the subject of theologicalstudy and biblical studies. e above-mentioned presentation of the argumentsof Hilary implies that the mystery of Christ manifesting itself in history, of whichhe is the creator and interpreter at the same time, constitutes the essence of theologyand exegesis. e biblical senses, considered as the result of biblical andtheological research and study, in this approach are nothing but different aspectsof incomprehensible mystery of Christ. Because the mystery of Christ is revealedin history and is history itself, therefore the theological and exegetical studyis of a historical nature at least in the sense that this mystery can be recognizedby applying the aspect-oriented method by comparing what is contained in theScriptures with what people are currently experiencing in a particular episodeof history, because the creator of the latter is Christ. One could say that it seemsto follow from the last statement, that for Saint Hilary, there are no rigid formsof dogmas established once and for all but one: the incomprehensible mysteryof Christ. Although always and everywhere studied, it will never be understoodand expressed in words. In the act of studying it, a person constantly extractsnew aspects from it. It is the task of the exegete and theologian to update it,to make the faithful acquainted with the complexity of its message. If ordinarybelievers do this even at liturgical meetings, then, according to Hilary, eventhough they have not completed specialist theological and biblical studies, theycan read and interpret the holy text fruitfully.e second remark indicates the conditions sine qua non of the existenceand operation of the theologian, exegete, no matter if he is a specialistor an ordinary faithful. ese conditions are faith in Christ and perservancein participation in the Christological reality of the Church and the communityof the faithful. e above claim does not undermine the value of biblical andtheological studies – as understood by us in terms of erudite knowledge. Scholarlybiblical commentaries and the theological and historical writings of Saint Hilary can be regarded as the denial of such a conclusion. e Bishop of Poitiers,by encouraging his readers – by his own example – to intellectual and moralpreparation for the study of the Scriptures, also emphasizes the pointlessnessof practicing exegesis and theology if it is not accompanied by faith in Christ,in isolation from tradition, the continuity of history, finally in isolation fromthe community of the members of Church.