The ‘Golden Age’ of Catholic Biblical Scholarship (1550–1650) and its Relation to Biblical Humanism

Abstract

The Category of a 'Golden Age' of Catholic Biblical Scholarship in HistoriographyAlthough the category of a 'Golden Age' of Catholic Biblical Scholarship finds its origin in nineteenth century Catholic apologetic literature, we use it here as a rhetorical device to point to the enormous amount of biblical work Catholic scholars published from ca. 1550 until 1650 -(the start and end dates may fluctuate according to the author describing the phenomenon). In particular, this 'Golden Age' concerns: (1) the production of skillfully executed textual critical studies of the Bible (Hebrew, Greek, and especially Latin), ( 2) the publication of sound biblical commentaries, and (3) the issuing of Bible based sermons both in Latin and in the vernacular. Catholic biblical scholarship received important stimuli from the humanists' rediscovery of philological and language studies in addition to the early aspirations of a Bible-based Reformation. The early years of the 'Golden Age' were further bolstered by a 'consecration' and encouragement at the 'humanist' Fifth Session of the Council of Trent, on 17 June 1546.The aim of this contribution is to fill the notable gap regarding 'Golden Age' scholarship by offering an overview essay, based upon the most recent studies in the field, and contribute to a conversation about this lacuna in the history of Catholic biblical scholarship. We begin with an introductory 'defense' which traces the use of the term 'Golden Age' as both a historical and apologetic category used to delineate the century following the Council of Trent. Then in the first section we discuss the preparatory stage of Renaissance humanism and how biblical scholars integrated the 'ad fontes' movement into Catholic reform-minded circles in Italy, Spain and the Low Countries (ca. 1500-1546). This section will also assess to what degree Catholic biblical humanism found a place at the Fourth and, especially, Fifth Session of the Council of Trent (1546). Then in section two, we single out some of the most important contributors to Catholic biblical scholarship in the wake of the Council of Trent (until ca.