Biblical Poetics before Humanism and Reformation

by Christopher Ocker

Overview

Christopher Ocker's book is a study of the interpretation of the Bible in the late Middle Ages. He argues that interpreters developed a biblical poetics very similar to that cultivated and promoted by Protestants in the sixteenth century, which was reinforced by the adaptation of humanist rhetoric to Bible reading after Lorenzo Valla. This comparative study is derived from a variety of unpublished commentaries as well as more familiar works by Nicholas of Lyra, John Wyclif, Jean Gerson, Denys the Carthusian, Wendelin Steinbach, Desiderius Erasmus, Philip Melanchthon, and John Calvin.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521089210
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/30/2008
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Christopher Ocker is Associate Professor of History at the San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Medieval exegesis; 2. Signification; 3. Rhetoric; 4. Divine speech; 5. Reformation; Conclusion; Appendix: Selections from commentaries.

Editorial Reviews

"...a well-researched, well-produced book." IRT Bulletin

"...impressive..." Theology Today

"...insightful...Biblical Poetics is a valuable contribution to the history of exegesis, combining a broad textual base with detailed and nuanced analysis." The Journal of Religion

"This important contribution to current studies in the history of exegesis argues for significant continuity between late medieval exegetical methods and those of the Reformation...This book will greatly aid those engaged in biblical studies as well as late medieval and Reformation history." Religious Studies Review

"Do not be misled by the title of this book; it is not about biblical poetry but about medieval exegesis, and it may well be one of the most seminal works on the topic in the last decade." Calvin Theological Journal

From the Publisher