Department of Theology

Symbolon is an informal study group dedicated to the study of exegesis and doctrine in early Christian literature. We are interested in becoming more familiar with some of the major texts of early Christianity, while keeping our focus on the intimate relation between biblical exegesis, doctrinal developments, and liturgy.

The name Symbolon seems appropriate, since it is not only a key term for patristic exegesis of Scripture, but also a common designation of creedal texts and Ps-Dionysius’ term for sacraments.

For any questions, please contact the coordinators:

Dr. William Wright (profile; E-mail: wrightw@duq.edu); Dr. Bogdan Bucur profile; E-mail: bucurb@duq.edu); Fr. Radu Bordeianu (profile; E-mail:bordeianur@duq.edu)

Fall 2009

[pdf]

"Symbolon" will meet on five Wednesdays this semester, from 4pm to 5pm, in the Department Library.

Wed, 10/7, 4pm to 5pm
Wed, 10/21, 4pm to 5pm
Wed, 11/4, 4pm to 5pm
Wed, 11/18, 4pm to 5pm
Wed, 12/2, 4pm to 5pm

We will be discussing the following texts:
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew , extracts [pdf] -- new translation (10/5)!
Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 1, chs. 1-5 [pdf]
Emmanuel Levinas, Difficult Freedom, chs. "Persons and Figures"; "A Voice on Israel" [pdf]
Emmanuel Levinas, Difficult Freedom, ch. "Messianic Texts" [pdf]

Spring 2009

Student Presentations
[pdf]

Tuesday, April 7, 4pm: GLENN SINISCALCHI,
"Resurrecting Jesus and Critical Historiography: William Lane Craig and Dale Allison in Dialogue" [pdf] (article to be submitted to Philosophia Christi).

Tuesday, April 21, 4:30pm: STEVEN AGUZZI,
"Georges Florovsky's The Limits of the Church in Dialogue with the Reformed Tradition: Toward a Catholic and Charismatic Ecumenical Ecclesiology" [pdf] (presentation at the Pappas Patristic Institute)

Tuesday, April 28, 4pm: RYAN MCLAUGHLIN,
"Evidencing the Eschaton: Themes of Animal Welfare in the Church Fathers" [pdf] (presentation at the Pappas Patristic Institute

Tuesday, May 7, 4pm: DAN LATTIER,
"The Reception of Vincent of Lerin and the Rejection of Doctrinal Development"  (presentation at the North American Patristics Society)

Spring 2008

[pdf]

Wednesday, February 27, 11:45 am
Duquesne University, Fisher Hall, 324

Dr.  EDITH HUMPHREY (Pittsburgh Theological  Seminary)
"Entering the Text: Exegesis, Theology, and A Hermeneutics of the Imagination"

Wednesday, April 9, 11:45 am
Duquesne University, Fisher Hall, 324

DR.  JACK CUSTER (Byzantine Catholic Seminary):
"Recovering Catholic Exegesis: The Byzantine Perspective"