A Companion to Job in the Middle Ages

Description

'A Companion to Job in the Middle Ages' provides a thorough introduction to the wide range of interpretations of Job produced in the medieval Christian West, from those in exegetical and theological works to those in poetry and art. The biblical book of Job is a timeless text that relates a story of intense human suffering, abandonment, and eventual redemption. It is a tale of profound theological, philosophical, and existential significance that has captured the imaginations of auditors, exegetes, artists, religious leaders, poets, preachers, and teachers throughout the centuries. This original volume provides an introduction to the wide range of interpretations and representations of Job — both the scriptural book and its righteous protagonist — produced in the medieval Christian West. The essays gathered here treat not only exegetical and theological works such as Gregory’s 'Moralia' and the literal commentaries of Thomas Aquinas and Nicholas of Lyra, but also poetry and works of art that have Job as their subject. List of Figures and Diagrams vii Abbreviations ix Notes on Contributors xi Introduction / Franklin T. Harkins and Aaron Canty 1 Part 1. Exegetical and Theological Perspectives 1. Job in the Ancient Versions and the Pseudepigrapha / Angela Kim Harkins 13 2. Job in Patristic Commentaries and Theological Works / Kenneth B. Steinhauser 34 3. Job’s Sin in the Moralia of Gregory the Great / Carole Straw 71 4. Job in the Glossa Ordinaria on the Bible / Lesley Smith 101 5. From the Fiery Heaven to the Fire of Hell: Job in the Sentences Commentaries of Albert the Great, Bonaventure, and Thomas Aquinas / Franklin T. Harkins 129 6. Christ and the Eternal Extent of Divine Providence in the Expositio super Iob ad litteram of Thomas Aquinas / Franklin T. Harkins 161 7. A Passionate Dispute Over Divine Providence: Albert the Great’s Commentary on the Book of Job / Ruth Meyer 201 8. Nicholas of Lyra’s Literal Commentary on Job / Aaron Canty 225 9. Job in the German Reformation / Ronald K. Rittgers 254 Part 2. Vernacular and Popular Perspectives 10. Look upon My Affliction (Job 10:15): The Depiction of Job in the Western Middle Ages / Gamble L. Madsen 289 11. The Book of Job in Latin Biblical Poetry of the Later Middle Ages / Greti Dinkova-Bruun 324 12. The Book of Job and the Figure of Job in Old English Literature / Martin Chase 354 13. Patience on Pilgrimage: Job in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales / Jane Beal 392 14. Job and the Wycliffites / J. Patrick Hornbeck II 410 Bibliography 437 Index 466