Fr. Robert Matheus: Theodoret of Cyr and Prophetical InspirationTHE AUTHORIn this period of renewed interest for the bible and for the early Syriac commentators it is interesting to study theposition and contribution of the great bishop of Cyr, Theodoret. Though he has written in Greec, he is a typicalrepresentant of the Antiochean method of exegesis, adopted by the Church of the East. The author is born in 393and became bishop in 423 of Cyr. He is known for his apological works against heretics, a history of the churchand a work on the Syriac monks. He was asked by Patriarch John of Antioch to answer the Anathemes of Cyrillof Alexandria against Nestorius (PG 76:316-452) and was the principal author of the christological Act of Union(433) which restablished for some time the peace between Antioch and Alexandria. His refutation of Eutuches'monophysism was fatal for him: he was deposed by the "Brigandage of Ephesis" in 449 until the Council ofChalcedon in 451 restored him to his see.During his pontificate he had to preach and write against several heresies, especially the christological contro-versy obliged him to compose several traities. In spite of this, he still found time to write biblical commentaries:he has commented almost all books of the Old Testament, and the letters of St. Paul (cf. PG 80-82). It seems heacquired his deep knowledge from the scripture and the commentaries during the 11 years he spent in a monasteryin Nikertai, just before becoming a bishop1.He undertook this exegetical work partially because of his personal interest, partially for apologetical reasons: hehad to safeguard his flock against the numerous Jews and heretics (Marcionites, Arians and Monophysites) whowere trying to attract the faithful in his diocese by their biblical interpretations. He wanted to make the biblicaltext more accessible to the faithful. But the main reason for composing commentaries was to find in the Scripturethe answer to the christological controversy of his time...