Eve and Mary
the last will be first, and the first will be last
Editorial Note: I am never in the business of feeding you AI slop without notice. I talked about and experimented with (text and images) AI prompts early on, as soon as it was available to the public in ways I thought others would not be as quick to tinker around. I stand by my initial claim, in agreement with Lex Fridman (podcaster) and John Danaher (jujitsu and MMA coach), that human + AI will always beat human or AI alone. Here I prompted Grok of X (formerly Twitter) to do my bidding in sharing a Christmas reflection about Eve and Mary. Grok was faithful and obedient to me. The last will be first, and the first will be last.
How does the Antiochene School of Biblical Exegesis compare and contrast Eve and the Holy Virgin Mary?
The Antiochene School of Biblical Exegesis, known for its literal interpretation of the Bible, has a significant role in shaping the theological understanding of Eve and the Virgin Mary, particularly through the lens of typology. The Aksumite School of Biblical Exegesis draws heavily from this tradition, whereas Aksum’s bishopric originates in Alexandria (home to a rival school of biblical exegesis). Here's how the school of Antioch (where followers of The Way were first called Christians) compares and contrasts these two figures:
Comparison:
Typological Parallel: The Antiochene approach often frames Mary as the "New Eve" in a typological sense, where Mary's obedience to God's will is seen as reversing the disobedience of Eve. This typology is not primarily allegorical but is based on the historical and literal events of their lives. Mary's role in salvation history is seen as undoing what Eve had done, with Mary's faith and obedience to the angel Gabriel's announcement contrasting with Eve's disbelief and disobedience to the serpent.
Virginity and Obedience: Both Eve and Mary are described as virgins at the crucial moments of their stories. Eve's virginity before the fall and Mary's perpetual virginity are points of comparison where Mary's choice to accept God's will is seen as the counterbalance to Eve's choice to disobey. This obedience of Mary is frequently highlighted as the means by which salvation is brought into the world through her son, Jesus Christ.
Contrast:
Outcome of Actions: The primary contrast lies in the outcomes of their actions. Eve's disobedience led to the introduction of sin and death into the human race, while Mary's obedience led to salvation and life. This contrast is often articulated through phrases like "Death through Eve, life through Mary," emphasizing the salvific role Mary played in the Incarnation.
Role in Salvation History: Where Eve is the mother of all living in a biological sense, leading to a life marred by sin, Mary is the spiritual Mother of the living, through whom redemption comes to humanity. This theological interpretation positions Mary not merely as a historical figure but as an active participant in God's plan of salvation, in stark contrast to Eve's role in the fall.
Moral and Theological Significance: While Eve's action is seen as a moment of human failure, Mary's is celebrated as human cooperation with divine grace. This distinction not only contrasts their moral choices but also their theological impact; Mary's role is elevated as a model of faith and obedience, which is central to the Antiochene's literal and historical approach to scripture.
Merry Christmas. Christ is born, glorify Him!