Theodore Beza's Reading of the Old Testament Poetic Books in Service of the Church, 1579-1589

This dissertation examines Theodore Beza’s reading of four Old Testament poetic books – the Psalms, Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs – to demonstrate his contribution in the history of biblical interpretation. While previous scholarship has largely focused on Beza’s contributions to the New Testament, highlighting his role as a text critic, this present study of his works on the Old Testament books sheds light on political and religious dynamics within Beza’s interpretive approach beyond his text critical influences. This study portrays Beza as a pivotal figure in the Reformed faith during the political and religious upheavals of the late sixteenth century, analyzing the ways in which he utilizes biblical exegesis to comfort persecuted churches and cultivate proper piety amongst afflicted believers. In doing so, Beza employs the Old Testament biblical characters – David, Job, and Solomon – as teachers of Reformed doctrines and paragons of Christian piety, particularly in their steadfast patience and unwavering trust in divine providence amidst adversity. His writings on these poetic biblical texts reflect his commitment to promoting a specific theological agenda for the church through the practice of biblical exegesis.

This study explores each of Beza’s interpretations of the four poetic books with special attention to his exegetical method, principal themes, and pastoral applications. In his paraphrases of the Psalms, Beza draws parallels between David’s history (Christ’s history in certain psalms) and sixteenth-century believers, highlighting themes of godly kingdoms and righteous rulers, while also offering practical guidance on applying imprecations for contemporary Christians. In his commentary and paraphrases on Job, Beza focuses on Job’s history and his particular place as a member of the true church, laying the ground for using this biblical figure as a positive example for the afflicted believers of his time. In his paraphrases of Ecclesiastes, Beza conveys lessons on divine providence and the highest good through the lens of Solomon’s experience as a king. Furthermore, in his sermons on the Song of Songs, Beza employs allegorical interpretation to underscore the nature and identity of the true church throughout salvation history, from the Old to the New Testaments, on which he grounds the authority and succession of the Protestant churches over against the false churches of his time.

An analysis of Beza’s approach to these poetic books reveals consistent patterns in his emphasis on literal and historical exegesis, his focus on themes of divine providence and God’s care for God’s people as an overarching theological framework, and his reading for the edification of the persecuted church through the lens of David, Solomon, and Job. Beza’s use and application of his Old Testament readings within his political and religious milieu underscore the important role that biblical interpretation played in promoting his theological program. Consequently, these findings demonstrate Beza’s place as a consolidator of Reformed confessional identity in his exegetical and theological commitments. This study offers an understanding of Beza as an exegete dedicated to reinforcing Reformed exegetical practices, while adeptly applying his interpretations to address the specific political and religious challenges of the late sixteenth century, thereby offering comfort to churches and believers enduring persecution.