Bucer, Ephesians and Biblical Humanism The Exegete as Theologian [Paperback]

This book describes Martin Bucer (1491-1551) as a teacher of theology, focusing on his time as Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge between 1549 and 1551. The book is centered on his 1550 Cambridge lectures on Ephesians, and investigates them in their historical context, exploring what sort of a theologian Bucer was. The lectures are examined to find out how they represent Bucers method of teaching and doing theology, and shed light on the relationship between biblical exegesis and theological formulation as he understood it. Divided into two interconnected parts, the book first sets the historical context for the lectures, including a broad sketch of scholastic method in theology and the biblical humanist critique of that method. It then closely examines Bucers practice in the Cambridge lectures, to show the extent to which he was a theologian of the biblical humanist school, influenced by the method Erasmus set forth in the Ratio Verae Theologiae in which true theology begins, ends, and is best done as an exercise in the exegesis of the Word of God.

Chapter 1 : Introduction.- PART I : HISTORICAL CONTEXT.- Chapter 2: The Old Theology and the New Learning at Cambridge to 1549.- Chapter 3: Remember the Readings and Preachings of Gods Prophet and True Preacher, Martin Bucer: Bucers Sojourn in Cambridge, 1549-1551.- PART II: THE PRAELECTIONES AS AN EXERCISE IN BIBLICAL-HUMANIST METHOD.- Chapter 4: Ratio seu Methodus Martini Buceri: Bucers Prefatory Lectures on Ephesians and His Use of Biblical Humanist Theological Method.- Chapter 5: An Exposition of the Whole Doctrine of Salvation: Bucers Deployment of Biblical Humanist Method in Exegesis and Theology and the Shape of the 1550 Ephesians Lectures as a Whole.- Chapter 6: Theology in an Exegetical Context: Bucer on Ephesians 1:3-6 and the Doctrine of Election.- Chapter 7: Theology in an Exegetical Context: Bucer on Ephesians 1:1lŠ