Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Johann Gerhard (Lutheran [1625]) on the Song of Solomon

  

The interpreters differ regarding the aim [scopus] of this book, yet it Is certain that it does not discuss marital love, much less excessive marital love. The Hebrews say: “Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that this be a song about obscene things! Rather, it is a metaphor . . .” Otherwise, “if it were not of great dignity, it would not be written in the catalog of the Holy Scriptures!” (Johann Gerhard, On the Nature of Theology and on Scripture [trans. Richard J. Dinda; Saint Louis, Miss.: Concordia Publishing House, 2009], 143)

 

Some of the ancient heretics used to say that the Song of Songs “was written not by the Spirit of God but by the heavy breath of lust.,” according to Philaster (De haeres, c. 133). Beza attributes the same opinion to Castalion. This book was taken into Church. In fact, among the ancient Hebrews, so great was their reverence for this book that they forbade anyone to read it-along with the beginning of Genesis and the beginning and end of Ezekiel—before his thirtieth year. The Christian interpreters seem to stand in the footsteps of those who think that the explanation of this song is not to be attained in youth but must be reserved for the solace of Christian old age and the provision [viaticum] of a devout departure. As examples, we have Bernard, Thomas Aquinas, and Jean Gerson, who spent the last days of their lives mediating upon and explaining this book. (Ibid.)