Bede the Theologian: History, Rhetoric, and Spirituality (Patristic Theology)

Revered by contemporaries and posterity for both his sanctity and his scholarship, Bede (672-735) is a pivotal figure in the history of the Church. Known primarily as an historian for his Ecclesiastical History of the English People , Bede was also an accomplished pedagogue, hagiographer, and biblical scholar. Bede the Theologian: History, Rhetoric, and Spirituality takes a fresh look at this classic Christian thinker, exploring the gamut of Bede's literary corpus. The book investigates key themes, including Bede's understanding of the theological significance of time, his conception of the relationship between the temporal and eternal orders within history, his theological use of rhetoric, his foray into narrative theology, and his spirituality. The purpose of this volume is to introduce the reader to principal theological themes in Bede's thought. Bequette's thesis is that Bede was a theologian writing in continuity with the Christian tradition and yet making creative, original contributions to that tradition for the sake of his contemporaries, both in the monastery and in the culture at large. The method involves a close reading and analysis of key texts within Bede's corpus of writings. These texts include the Ecclesiastical History of the English People , the Life of St Cuthbert , and several of Bede's biblical commentaries (On the Tabernacle, On the Temple) his homilies, and didactic treatises (On the Reckoning of Time, Concerning Figures and Tropes in Sacred Scripture). Bede the Theologian: History, Rhetoric, and Spirituality constitutes a scholarly study of Bede's thought as an integral whole, identifying key themes and ideas that pervade his writings. Thus, it can serve as an introduction to Bede's thought for non-specialists in the areas of theology, religious studies, and other areas of the humanities. Revered by contemporaries and posterity for both his sanctity andhis scholarship, Bede (672-735) is a pivotal figure in the historyof the Church. Known primarily as an historian for hisEcclesiastical History of the English People, Bede wasalso an accomplished pedagogue, hagiographer, and biblical scholar.Bede the Theologian: History, Rhetoric, and Spiritualitytakes a fresh look at this classic Christian thinker, exploring thegamut of Bede's literary corpus. The book investigates key themes,including Bede's understanding of the theological significance oftime, his conception of the relationship between the temporal andeternal orders within history, his theological use of rhetoric, hisforay into narrative theology, and his spirituality. The purpose ofthis volume is to introduce the reader to principal theologicalthemes in Bede's thought. Bequette's thesis is that Bede was atheologian writing in continuity with the Christian tradition andyet making creative, original contributions to that tradition forthe sake of his contemporaries, both in the monastery and in theculture at large. The method involves a close reading and analysisof key texts within Bede's corpus of writings. These texts includethe Ecclesiastical History of the English People, the Life ofSt Cuthbert, and several of Bede's biblical commentaries (Onthe Tabernacle, On the Temple) his homilies, and didactic treatises(On the Reckoning of Time, Concerning Figures and Tropes in SacredScripture). Bede the Theologian: History, Rhetoric, andSpirituality constitutes a scholarly study of Bede's thoughtas an integral whole, identifying key themes and ideas that pervadehis writings. Thus, it can serve as an introduction to Bede'sthought for non-specialists in the areas of theology, religiousstudies, and other areas of the humanities "Bede (672-735) is known primarily as an historian for his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, but he was also an accomplished pedagogue, hagiographer, and biblical scholar. This book takes a fresh look at this classic Christian thinker, exploring the gamut of Bede's literary corpus. The book investigates key themes, including Bede's understanding of the theological significance of time, his conception of the relationship between the temporal and eternal orders within history, his theological use of rhetoric, his foray into narrative theology, and his spirituality. Bequette's thesis is that Bede was a theologian writing in continuity with the Christian tradition and yet making creative, original contributions to that tradition for the sake of his contemporaries, both in the monastery and in the culture at large"-- Provided by publisher. CONTENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION 1-BEDE’S HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT 2-BEDE AND THE THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME 3-BEDE THE ORATOR 4-THE TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL ORDERS 5-NARRATIVE THEOLOGY 6-CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY IN BEDE CONCLUSION APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX