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Thesis Structure, April 2016

The document reviews previous theories regarding the symbolism of two trees in biblical texts, highlighting their limitations and proposing the 'One Tree Thesis' as a more satisfying solution. It discusses the implications of this thesis through various theological lenses, including patristic principles of exegesis and connections between the Eucharist and the cross. The text emphasizes the relevance of these interpretations for contemporary theology and the understanding of Catholic principles.

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Mark Makowiecki
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12 views2 pages

Thesis Structure, April 2016

The document reviews previous theories regarding the symbolism of two trees in biblical texts, highlighting their limitations and proposing the 'One Tree Thesis' as a more satisfying solution. It discusses the implications of this thesis through various theological lenses, including patristic principles of exegesis and connections between the Eucharist and the cross. The text emphasizes the relevance of these interpretations for contemporary theology and the understanding of Catholic principles.

Uploaded by

Mark Makowiecki
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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 REVIEW OF PREVIOUS THEORIES CONCERNING THE TWO TREES (E.G.

BUDDE,
WESTERMANN, LACOCQUE – A DUALIST), EXPLAINING THEIR LIMITATIONS.
 PROPOSE THE ONE TREE THESIS AS ARRIVED AT USING THE WAW EXPLICATIVUM
(LEVY, WYATT). PROMISES THE MOST SATISFYING SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
 IMMEDIATE HURDLES, PARTICULARLY GEN 3:22-24 (AS SUGGESTED BY ZEVIT)
 PATRISTIC PRINCIPLES OF EXEGESIS (ESP. IRENAEUS, AUGUSTINE)
 THE PASSION AS THE POINT OF DEPARTURE – GEN/JOHN CORRESPONDENCES
 THE CROSS IS THE TREE OF LIFE, THE EUCHARIST ITS FRUIT
 WHERE IS THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL IN JOHN’S GOSPEL?
 JUDAS AND THE MORSEL/ADAM AND THE FRUIT
 ST PAUL’S WORDS CONCERNING THE EUCHARIST
 FOOD LAWS RE PARADISE, PASSOVER, EXODUS, EUCHARIST
 POST-RESURRECTION INCIDENTS (E.G. THEIR EYES WERE OPENED AT THE
BREAKING OF THE BREAD)
 DEEPENING OF CATHOLIC ANTHROPOLOGY AND EUCHARISTIC THEOLOGY

PART 1
METHODOLOGY
CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
- Church documents
- The old is revealed in the new (i.e. look to the NT for understanding)
- Christology, typology and recapitulation

CHAPTER ONE
ONE TREE THESIS:

 KARL BUDDE (1883, “we murder to dissect”).


 LUDWIG LEVY (1917, waw, psychoanalyst, takes the sexual sin view).
 CLAUS WESTERMANN (“separate trees”; “the [Gilgamesh] plant has two effects p.214”)
 ZIONY ZEVIT (2013, waw, disregards one tree possibility owing to 3:22).
 NICOLAS WYATT (2014, waw).

I did not come to the one tree theory via Hebrew philology, but by looking for the symbols of
paradise atop Golgotha, finding not two trees, but one. This observation introduces opportunities to
reprise patristic principles of exegesis, esp regarding the NT as fulfilment of the OT.

CHAPTER TWO
ONE TREE ALREADY INTUITED IN 15th CENTURY CATHOLIC ART – THE LIVING TREE AND TREE OF LIFE
AND DEATH

PART 2
CHAPTER THREE
I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA - GOLGOTHA AS A POINT OF DEPARTURE (an image of paradise)
- Irenaeus’ concepts of recirculatio (eating the fruit/drinking the cup, clothed/stripped, garden,
serpent/Judas, new Adam, new Eve) and recapitulation. Golgotha as paradise a sign of contradiction.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE CROSS – TREE OF LIFE (re Protestant theology: the cross without the corpus is the tree without the fruit)
THE CROSS – TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL

PART 3
CHAPTER FIVE
FOOD LAWS RE THE FRUIT OF PARADISE, PASSOVER, MANNA, EUCHARIST

CHAPTER SIX
THE EUCHARIST – TO SALVATION OR DAMNATION (St Paul to Corinthians)
"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division” (Lk 12:51)
one means of separating light from darkness, wheat from tares.

CHAPTER SEVEN
APPLICATIONS FOR 21st CENTURY THEOLOGY
- Catholic interpretive principles provide the framework (trellis) upon which the discoveries of
biblical criticism etc can be grafted.
- A deeper understanding of and appreciation for the Eucharist

KEY THEOLOGIANS

ST AUGUSTINE
ST IRENAEUS
ST PAUL

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