As I work through Catenae MSS I can't help escaping the theological questions that arise from the make up of these artifacts. A list of commentators found in the MS in no specific order:
John Chrysostom
Origen
Cyril of Alexandria
Theodoret
Theodore of Mopsuestia
Oecumenius
1/9

Severus of Antioch
Severianos
Photius
And others.

At the time of these catenae (6th - 11th c. mostly) Severus of Antioch was considered a heretic and his works destroyed. In Greek, they only really exist in the catenae. Origen was also a heretic at this time. Aside from that 2/9

You have Antiochenes alongside Alexandrians. Theodore of Mopsuestia despised the Alexandrians propensity for allegory. Photius believed that Origen was offensive.

Theodoret attempted to bridge the divide, as did Cyril, using both the literal and spiritual readings 3/9

Then you have John Chrysostom. Easily the most prevalent in the comments and the most gifted preacher. Yet, alongside Chrysostom is Severianos, a man who took part in the Synod of Oaks illegally condemning Chrysostom to exile.

Heretics alongside the orthodox 4/9

Alexandrians alongside Antiochenes. And yet in the preface to one of the oldest catenae, Codex Zachynthus, we read a quote from Cyril of Alexandria's Letter to Eulogius, stating that it's permissable to quote heretics when they speak orthodox things. This quote is also found 5/9

In a surviving work of Severus of Antioch, ironically. Is it that the catenae are attempting to bring the heretical into Orthodoxy? Are they trying to harmonize Antioch with Alexandria? It doesn't seem that way. Rather, I believe that what we have is a discussion 6/9

Of various Byzantine voices. In most cases the biblical text is in the center of the page with the commentary surrounding it. I believe what we see in the page is a type of table with the Bible upon it, open to the passage at hand. Surrounding this table are the commentators 7/9

Each sharing there interpretation. Every voice given time to speak, be it on Paul, the gospels or others. The catenae give us a window into the theological conversation, allowing the reader to weigh for themselves what rings most true. When I look at these texts, I'm reminded 8/9

Of Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." 9/9