Scriptural Interpretation [Theoria] as Onomastic Theurgy

Discursive theology, however, is limited in so far as the human intellect cannot enter the hyper-noetic realm, except by a rare attainment of mystical theoria. This higher theoria, only occasionally experienced by man though continually experienced by the first hierarchy of angels, is marked by an initiation into the divine work. It seems that theoria when used to refer to the divine names is simply another one of Dionysius' terms for onomastic theurgy. This chapter discusses Dionysian scriptural interpretation as a mode of theurgy comparable to Proclus' inspired reading of the Homeric poems – both see their respective texts as containing divine power which can be unlocked through a ritualized reading. For Dionysius, scriptural interpretation fulfils the Hellenic definition of theurgy, with the divine names acting as symbols par excellence. Following in the Procline tradition of divine names as symbols, Dionysius holds that the divine names in scripture refer to the processions of God.