Folia Theologica et Canonica 1. 23/15 (2012)

IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, Biblical Texts and Medieval Ecclesiastical Discipline up to the Decretum Gratiani

BIBLICAL TEXTS AND MEDIEVAL ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE... 149 fore the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ” (Eph 1:3-5). The Decretum Gratiani uses also commentaries of St. Augustine (D. 4 c. 11 de pen.) on the Gospel according to John63 (i.e. Jn 14), and there is also a com­mentary by Beda the Venerable (C. 23 q. 4 c. 35) to the Letter to Galatians 6. This last one is good example again for the allegorical interpretation,64 which is the instrument of the author in order to explain the importance of piety for the sinful men. Conclusion We can see the particular transformation from the Early Middle Ages up to the High Middle Ages regarding the motive which was the basis to use the Bible as a source of canonical collections.65 The penitential collections used the Biblical citations to enlighten some moral problems. However, the canon law collections of the High Middle Ages - including the Decretum Gratiani - inserted Biblical passages in order to support in a normative form certain fields of the ecclesias­tical discipline, especially concerning the clerical state, marriage and penitence. It is also clear, that the gradual improving of the Biblical culture, especially from the 11th century, moreover the composition of the Glossa Ordinaria to the Bible and also the most important commentaries had made further effect on the use of the Biblical texts by the canonical collections. During this process the canonical material had been supplied with some Biblical interpretations of the classical patristic authors. Their works received more stress through the activity of the Gregorian Reform, and these texts could enrich the canonical culture especially with the allegorical Biblical interpretation. Obviously, this prosperity can be understood basically by the formation of the scholastic theolo­gical instruction and the systematic teaching of the Biblical studies at the new universities.66 63 S. Aurelii Augustini, In Evangelium loannis tractatis centum viginti quatuor, Tract. 68: http://www.augustinus.it/latino/cpmmento_vsg/index2htm [29th December 2012], 64 Cf. Jones, Ch. W., Bede, in Strayer, J. R. (ed.), Dictionary of the Middle Ages, 2. New York 1983. 153-156, especially 154. 65 Cf. Szuromi, Sz. A., Biblical sources in the Medieval Canonical Collections (9h -12"' centuries), in Angelicum 86 (2009) 921-929. 66 Nielsen, L. O., Theology and Philosophy in the Twelfth Century, Leiden 1982. 243-361. Bel- lomo, M., Il Medioevo e Vorigine delTuniversità, in Bellomo, M. (a cura di), Medioevo edito e inedito I. Scholae, Universitates, Studia (I Libri di Erice 20/1). Roma 1997. 15-30.

Next

/
Thumbnails
Contents