Peter Lombard

Peter Lombard (c. 1100 – July 20, 1160 in Paris) was a scholastic theologian and bishop of the 12th century.

Related Topics:
1100 - July 20 - 1160 - Paris - Scholastic theologian - Bishop - 12th century

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Peter Lombard was born in Lumellogno, near Novara, Italy, to a poor family. He must have begun his education in Italy, most likely at the cathedral schools of Novara and Lucca. The patronage of Otto, bishop of Lucca, and of St. Bernard allowed him to leave Italy and further his studies at Reims and Paris. In Paris, he came into contact with Peter Abelard and Hugh of St. Victor, who were among the leading theologians of the time. Around 1145, Peter became a "magister," or professor, at the cathedral school of Notre Dame in Paris.

Related Topics:
Novara - Italy - St. Bernard - Reims - Paris - Peter Abelard - Hugh of St. Victor - Notre Dame

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In 1159, he was named bishop of Paris.

Related Topics:
1159 - Bishop of Paris

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Peter Lombard's most famous work was "Libri quatuor sententiarum, the "Book of Sentences." This served as the standard textbook of theology at the medieval universities, from the 1220s until the sixteenth century. There is no work of Christian literature, except for the Bible itself, that has been commented upon more frequently. All the major medieval thinkers, from Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas to William of Ockham and Gabriel Biel, were influenced by it. Even the young Martin Luther still wrote glosses on the "Sentences."

Related Topics:
Book of Sentences - Bible - Albert the Great - Thomas Aquinas - William of Ockham - Gabriel Biel - Martin Luther

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The "Book of Sentences" is a compilation of biblical texts, together with relevant passages from the Church Fathers and many medieval thinkers, on the entire field of Christian theology. Peter Lombard's genius consisted in the selection of passages, his attempt to reconcile them where they appeared to defend different viewpoints, and his arrangement of the material in a systematic order. Thus, the "Book of Sentences" starts with the Trinity in Book I, then moves on to creation in Book II, treats Christ, the savior of the fallen creation, in Book III, and deals with the sacraments, which mediate Christ's grace, in Book IV.

Related Topics:
Church Fathers - Christ

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Peter Lombard's most famous and most controversial doctrine in the "Sentences" was his identification of charity with the Holy Spirit in Book I, distinction 17. According to this doctrine, when we love God and neighbor, this love literally is God; we become divine and are taken up into the life of the Trinity. This idea was never declared unorthodox, but few theologians have been prepared to follow Peter Lombard in his audacious teaching.

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Literature: Philipp W. Rosemann, "Peter Lombard" (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004).

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