Catena (biblical commentary)

As Katenen the emerging since the 6th century Bible commentaries are referred to in the form of philological scholia in classical philology, Byzantine and theology.

Content, one has to imagine a Katene so that at the edge of the biblical text (or between the lines ) the relevant commentaries older exegetes are cited. The quotes were taken partly the original patristic literature, but partly also younger collective works ( anthologies ). The quotes senior writer in the Katenen are often very extensive and sometimes allow a far-reaching reconstruction of older works that are lost as such. For us, much of what about Origen or Chrysostom wrote, only later Katenen known.

Well known is the Catena Aurea of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Thomas C. Oden with a team the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture ( Ancient Christian commentaries on Scripture ) developed a twenty -volume work (2006 ), which is in the style of medieval Katenen the comments of the Fathers to the biblical books.