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RBL 08/2005

Albl, Martin C.
Pseudo-Gregory of Nyssa: Testimonies against the
Jews
Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature; Leiden: Brill,
2004. Pp. xxx + 172. Paper/cloth. $23.95/$101.00.
ISBN 158983092X/9004130403.
Hendrik F. Stander
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa 0002
In order properly to appreciate Albls work, it is perhaps necessary to first of all give a
short overview of where Pseudo-Gregory of Nyssas work fits in within the wider
patristic literature. The pseudonymous nature of the Testimonies is widely accepted, and
is placed within the second half of the fourth century. The Testimonies itself is regarded
as belonging to the testimonia genre. This genre is usually defined as a collection of
scriptural proof-texts which were used as witnesses of particular beliefs. In this case Ps-
Gregory has written his Testimonies as a Christian apologetic against Jewish objections.
The Testimonies therefore also belongs to the adversus Judaeos literature.
In this book Albl gives the reader a short, but valuable, introduction to Pseudo-Gregory
of Nyssas Testimonies against the Jews. Thereafter he also provides a Greek text of the
Testimonies, based on Mignes edition. However, Albl occasionally makes some very
good and justifiable emendations to the Migne text. He also adds notes to the text in
which he supplies the necessary references, and he even shows where the text deviates
from the LXX reading. He also compares the Scripture readings with readings found in
other church fathers, especially those who themselves used testimonia collections. The
result is that the reader now has, for the first time ever, a very reliable and scholarly
edited text of the Testimonies.
This review was published by RBL 2005 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on obtaining a
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Albl follows the text divisions of Pseudo-Gregory, but he also adds various subheadings
that help the reader to follow the contents of the book in a structured way. The most
valuable part of the book is Albls commentary on the work.
About a century ago, J. Rendel Harris proposed the theory that there existed a single
authoritative testimonia collection. It consisted of two types of prooftexts. The first
category consisted of texts showing that Christs passion was predicted in the Old
Testament. The second category consisted of texts that were used in anti-Jewish polemics
showing why God had rejected the Jewish people and established a new covenant with
the Gentiles. Harris believed that the early theologians often quoted from these
collections and not from the Bible manuscripts themselves. This testimonia hypothesis
underwent various modifications by later scholars. C. H. Dodd, for example, accepted the
theory that the ancient theologians drew on a specific body of Old Testament texts and
that these texts played a major role in the development of early Christian theology.
However, Dodd rejected Harriss model of a single testimonia collection. Dodd argued
that these texts were part of the early Christian oral tradition.
Recently this testimonia hypothesis was revived. In his commentary Albl relies heavily
on this testimonia hypothesis and tries to synthesize and update it. He gives some very
good arguments for believing that there existed testimonia collections. This would, for
example, explain why one would find the same series of texts in independent authors,
why one would find the same exegetical comments in independent authors, or why
various theologians would falsely attribute a specific quotation to a specific author (for
example, a quotation from Isaiah would frequently be attributed to Jeremiah). This thesis
would also explain why the same composite quotations are found in various independent
writings and why there is an evident lack of awareness of the biblical context of a
quotation.
Albl believes that Pseudo-Gregorys Testimonies shows a literary relationship with
several strands of testimonia tradition. He therefore traces the main lines of these
relationships and often provides several examples of detailed parallels. Albl shows, for
example, that Pseudo-Gregory begins his collection with Ps 32:6, which was a well-
known testimonium for the Trinity in early Christian literature. He then shows that
Pseudo-Gregorys exegetical comments on Ps 32:6 were almost identical with those
found in On the Holy Spirit by Basil of Caesarea. He also argues that, despite the almost
verbatim nature of these comments, it is unlikely that one of these authors is the source
for the other. Albl bases his argument on the fact that the contexts in which these
comments occur are quite different. He thus concludes that, since a direct literary
relationship between the two authors is unlikely, the most probable explanation is that
This review was published by RBL 2005 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on obtaining a
subscription to RBL, please visit http://www.bookreviews.org/subscribe.asp.
both authors are relying on an exegesis of Ps. 32:6 drawn from a common, written
catechetical source (85).
There are also uncertain quotations that were used by various independent authors. One
such example is the phrase Behold the heifer has given birth, and has not given birth.
The source of this quotation is unknown, but it is believed that it probably comes from
the lost Apocryphon of Ezekiel. It was also transmitted in the testimonia tradition and has
been used by various church fathers as a proof of Jesus virgin birth.
This line of argumentation is found throughout Albls commentary. As a matter of fact, it
forms the basis of his commentary. One might sometimes differ from Albl and question
his assumption that when the same prooftexts were used by different theologians, one
should draw the conclusion that there was a common source. Nevertheless, one should
concede that Albl provides his reader with valuable parallels. Moreover, in most of the
cases Albls arguments are convincing.
The theological themes addressed by Pseudo-Gregory in his Testimonies are still very
much relevant today. These themes pertain, for example, to the Trinity, the virgin birth,
the miracles of Jesus, the resurrection, and the ascension. Since Albl discusses parallel
texts in other patristic writings as well, his work offers us valuable insight into patristic
thinking in this regard. It is clear that Albl is at home in the patristic world. He has wide
knowledge and has done sound research. Albl also gives us a very helpful index of all
biblical passages and other ancient sources referred to in his work. His writing is clear,
and typographical errors are very rare (see, for example, Greogry instead of Gregory
in the last line of page 62).
I have enjoyed reading this book, and it is a worthy addition to the series Writings from
the Greco-Roman World. Albl has indeed introduced us to one of the lesser-known early
theologians.