| Paper 1315-a | 'Blessed are the Poor' - in Spirit?: The Late Medieval Career of the First Beatitude
(Language: English)
V. Stanley Benfell, Department of Humanities, Classics & Comparative Literature, Brigham Young University, Utah
Index terms: Biblical Studies, Philosophy, Religious Life |
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| Abstract | Paper -a:
In this paper I will investigate the ways in which the first beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount became involved in late medieval debates surrounding the vice of avarice and its corresponding virtues of poverty and/or liberality. Earlier in the Middle Ages, most commentators emphasized Matthew's formulation of the beatitude - the 'poor in spirit' - which refers to the humble, regardless of their wealth. With the rise of avarice in the later Middle Ages, an increasing number of moral theologians were drawn to Luke's formulation: blessed are the poor. An evolving moral theology, that is, caused a prominent biblical proof text to be reinterpreted.
Paper -b:
According to the story of Joseph in Egypt (Gen 37–50), Joseph, a powerless foreign slave, becomes 'king' in spite of intrigues, enmities, and false charges against him. Manifestation of Joseph's exceptional moral integrity in times of his exaltation explains the vast influence and broad reception of the narrative in Judaism and Christianity in various genres, literature, music, the visual art as well as in Islam and other religious traditions. The paper aims to show how various social, religious and political ideas were developed in the period of Middle Ages by those who utilized the biblical story in literary texts.
Paper -c:
Jacques Fournier, well-known inquisitor of Montaillou, continued his fervent anti-heretical staunchness during the years of his cardinality and pontificate (1335-1342), providing a multi-faceted contribution to the fight against heterodoxy. His Commentary on Matthew's Gospel contains long theoretical reflections on the characters of heretics. In particular, the passage 'Nolite possidere aurum neque argentum neque pecuniam (Mt 10,9)' offers the occasion for a long commentary concerning the controversial issue of the poverty of Christ and the Apostles. Although Fournier's trials against beguins have been lost, this scarcely known exegetical work complements inquisitorial records providing his most complete account on poverty and heresy.
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