Esegesi e retorica nell'epistola 40 di Paolino di Nola

The letter 40 of Paulinus of Nola stands out from a rhetorical-exegetical point of view because it showcases how the interplay of rhetoric and exegesis in his collection of letters originates a sermo de Scripturis useful for the discussion of complex Biblical passages. Thus, while the letter’s content is an intense reflection on Ecclesiastes (especially Ecl, 3), the Psalms (especially Ps, 101) and the Gospel of Matthew (especially Mt, 19, 21), read by Paulinus in the light of the soteriology of Paul of Tarsus’ epistles (especially Rm, 1Cor, 2Cor, Eph and Phil), its structure exhibits a deliberative rhetoric through which Paulinus effectively controls the interpretation of his life course, highlighting how far he is still from reaching spiritual perfection. By analysing the rhetorical and exegetical aspects of the letter 40 in detail, this article explores how biblical exegesis and classical rhetoric interact there. First, I outline the letter’s structure to show to which extent it follows rhetorical precepts. I then trace the contemporary exegetical backdrop against which the letter is set to contrast other exegetes’ positions with Paulinus’ interpretation. Next, I sketch out the morphology of Paulinus’ exegesis by singling out the linguistic markers triggering the exegetical mode in the letter. After that, I disclose the aesthetic and poetic reasons for the concatenation of both Biblical quotations and authorial remarks and clear up how the exegetical material fits carefully into the discursive structure. I consequently argue that Paulinus’ exegesis is marked by asystematicity, combinational audacity and interpretative duplicity, which evinces, after all, his concept of writing as both an aesthetic and ascetic activity. I point out, to conclude, that Paulinus’ reading of Ecl, 3 marks out the meaning of the whole letter and brings in a note of exegetical originality through a temporal key to understanding.