Miyako Demura - Origen and the exegetical tradition of Sarah-Hagar motif in Alexandria

Philo, Clement and Origen used Sarah-Hagar motif found in Genesis 16 for their allegorical interpretation. Sarah-Hagar motif  seems to be one of the most important theme in Alexandrian exegetical tradition, because it offered not only the clue to approach  stumbling block passages within the Biblical texts through allegorical interpretation, but also the notion that philosophy should serve as the handmaid of theology (philosophia theologiae  ancilla) to the Middle Ages.

In tracing the Alexandrian exegetical tradition of Sarah-Hagar motif represented by Philo, Clement and Origen, I recognize that they tackled this theme through biblical exegesis in their own concrete situation, and in this process, occurred gradually the distinction between them with reference to their hermeneutical method. 

Philo and Clement used Sarah-Hagar motif of Genesis 16 from philosophical and spiritual interest to show how to treat secular preliminary education in order to prevent the separation of belief and reason and encourage to seek virtues and wisdom. They often confronted their opponents within their community who reject secular education through allegorical interpretations of the Biblical texts. But when we turn to Origen, we recognize the distinctive feature of the use of allegoria fundamentally different from these two Alexandrian predecessors. Origen opens a new stage when he uses the Sarah-Hagar motif mainly from the interpretation of Pauline letter (Galatians 4:21-27) and contributes to the formation of exegetical method in the Middle Ages. 

In this paper, I would like to show how Origen uses allegorical interpretation based on Pauline exegetical method, and to outline how the Pauline letters were accepted and used in the context of the hermeneutical method taking new perspective in Pauline scholarship into consideration.