Catequese e leitura bíblica no contexto da patrística

Abstract

The goal of the present dissertation is to verify how catechesis and bible reading happened in the context of the Patristics. Seven writings of three known writers (Irenaeus of Lyons, Athanasius of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo) and two anonymous ones are studied aiming at describing the content and methodology of the catechesis in the context of the Patristics and at investigating the way the Church Fathers interpreted the Bible, ascertaining the similarities and differences between the writings before and after the Council of Nicaea. It is perceived, in general terms, that with the progression of time, the analyzed documents started to emphasize more and more specific topics, and that after the Council of Nicaea, the authors proceeded to use Ante-Nicene Christianity’s written sources as an interpretative guide to the Bible. It is concluded that the catechesis guided the biblical interpretation based on the Gospel, namely, the sayings of Jesus, and that the analyzed writings exhorted to seek the neighbor´s welfare and to recognize – through knowledge about the person and work of Jesus Christ – wrong doctrines which could divert the believers from their faith.