School of Antioch

During the first Christian centuries the schools of Alexandria and Antioch were the main theological centers. Alexandria emphasized the allegorical interpretation of Scriptures. Antioch focused on literal understanding.

The school of Antioch is best divided into three periods:

• the early school (270-early fourth century)
• the middle school (350–433)
• the late school (after 433).

After the early school of Antioch came into decline, the presbyter Diodore of Tarsus re-founded it in the middle of the fourth century as a semi-monastic community.