Peter Lombard [Hardcover]

Peter Lombard is best known as the author of a celebrated work entitledBook of Sentences, which for several centuries served as the standard theological textbook in the Christian West. It was the subject of more commentaries than any other work of Christian literature besides the Bible itself. TheBook of Sentencesis essentially a compilation of older sources, from the Scriptures and Augustine down to several of the Lombard's contemporaries, such as Hugh of Saint Victor and Peter Abelard. Its importance lies in the Lombard's organization of the theological material, his method of presentation, and the way in which he shaped doctrine in several major areas. Despite his importance, however, there is no accessible introduction to Peter Lombard's life and thought available in any modern language. This volume fills this considerable gap. Philipp W. Rosemann begins by demonstrating how theBook of Sentencesgrew out of a long tradition of Christian reflection-a tradition, ultimately rooted in Scripture, which by the twelfth century had become ready to transform itself into a theological system. Turning to theSentences, Rosemann then offers a brief exposition of the Lombard's life and work. He proceeds to a book-by-book examination and interpretation of its main topics, including the nature and attributes of God, the Trinity, creation, angelology, human nature and the Fall, original sin, Christology, ethics, and the sacraments. He concludes by exploring how theSentenceshelped shape the further development of the Christian tradition, from the twelfth century through the time of Martin Luther.

Philipp Rosemann has written an excellent book on Peter Lombard. Rosemann's fine study is a highly recommended opportunity to be guided carefully into the theological world of the Master of Sentences and through what the author calls 'the greatest textbook theology in the West.' --Speculum

Philipp W. Roseml#§