Peter Lombard was an influential medieval theologian and bishop who lived in the 12th century. He was born around the year 1100 in Lumellogno, Italy and died in 1160 in Paris, France. Peter Lombard is most well known for his crucial role in scholastic theology and for writing a very influential collection of opinions of the Church Fathers called ‘The Sentences’.
The Bible does not directly mention Peter Lombard, as he lived about a thousand years after the time period covered in Scripture. However, we can look at what the Bible says about wisdom, teaching, and studying God’s truth to understand the values that impacted Peter Lombard’s life as a renowned academic theologian.
Proverbs 2:6 states that “the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” This indicates that true wisdom ultimately comes from God. 1 Corinthians 1:21 also explains that “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” So studying and teaching Christian doctrine, as Peter Lombard did, can be used by God to bring salvation through Christ.
2 Timothy 2:15 instructs us to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” As an influential teacher and writer in the church, Peter Lombard endeavored to handle Scripture and theology accurately.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 furthermore warns that “of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” Despite his important writings, Peter Lombard would have done well to balance his academic studies with spiritual vitality and time for rest. He lived during a major time of intellectual development in medieval universities, which carried certain physical and spiritual challenges.
Overall, while the Bible does not mention Peter Lombard directly, its emphasis on pursuing wisdom, truth, and sound doctrine seems relevant to his life’s work. His effort to compile earlier church teachings was significant in the development of systematic theology. As with any great Christian thinker, his example is worth learning from while also recognizing the limits of human study compared to the glory of knowing God directly through Scripture and prayer.
Biography of Peter Lombard
Peter Lombard was born around the year 1100 in Lumellogno, near Novara, Italy. As a young man, he likely studied at the cathedral schools in Lucca and Reims. In the medieval period, cathedral schools were an important site for learning theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts.
By 1134, Peter Lombard had become a teacher at the school of Notre Dame in Paris, France. This prestigious cathedral school was known for its study of theology and dialectic reasoning. As a teacher, Peter Lombard quickly gained recognition for his insights on logic and Christian doctrine. Around 1145, he was appointed a canon of the Catholic Church.
Peter Lombard’s fame and status continued to grow throughout the 1150s. In 1159, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Paris after serving for several years as archdeacon. He held this position until his death just one year later in 1160. Peter Lombard was buried in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, in honor of his service to the church.
During his time as Bishop of Paris, Peter Lombard also gave regular lectures on the Psalms. He was known for his skill at preaching and drew great crowds to hear his sermons at the cathedral. By all accounts, Peter Lombard faithfully executed his duties as bishop through teaching, prayer, spiritual guidance, and administration.
Outside of his official roles, Peter Lombard spent much of his career studying and compiling ideas from earlier Christian thinkers. His most famous work, ‘The Sentences’, was written in the 1150s as a theology textbook for his students. This seminal work secured Peter Lombard’s legacy as one of the most important theologians of the medieval period.
The Sentences
‘The Sentences’ is a four volume collection of opinions from Church Fathers and other Christian authorities up until the 12th century. It addresses nearly the entire field of Christian theology, drawing from figures like Augustine, Gregory the Great, Isidore and more. The title ‘Sentences’ refers to authoritative opinions or “sentences” on theological questions.
Peter Lombard’s work aimed to compile and reconcile ideas from the first 12 centuries of Christian thought into one systematic theology textbook. While not entirely original, it was extremely influential in gathering sources and proposing solutions to pressing doctrinal debates of the time. ‘The Sentences’ essentially became the standard theological textbook for the next 400 years.
The volumes of ‘The Sentences’ address the following topics:
– Volume 1: The nature and attributes of God
– Volume 2: Creation and sin
– Volume 3: Incarnation and redemption
– Volume 4: Sacraments, resurrection, and eschatology
Peter Lombard started work on ‘The Sentences’ around 1150 while he was still a teacher at Notre Dame. It was likely used initially as a basis for his own lectures. The full collection was completed by 1158 and swiftly copied for use in universities across Europe. Every important medieval theologian wrote a commentary on ‘The Sentences’.
Peter Lombard’s work provided the framework for scholastic theology focused on faith seeking understanding. It modeled careful exegesis paired with human reason to explore Christian doctrine. While not Scripture itself, ‘The Sentences’ hugely advanced a systematic approach to studying and teaching theology for generations to come.
Teaching Ministry
Peter Lombard dedicated much of his life and career to teaching theology in the church. As one of the most renowned masters at the Cathedral School of Notre Dame, he helped establish the University of Paris as a premier center of Christian scholarship in the High Middle Ages.
Peter Lombard served as a professor of theology for over two decades. He lectured on the Bible, Theology of the Fathers, and Logic. His classes and writings displayed a mastery of dialectic reasoning applied to matters of Christian doctrine. Though Peter Lombard valued human wisdom and study, he firmly believed that Scripture was the ultimate source of truth.
As a teacher, Peter Lombard influenced two future medieval theologians in particular – Peter Comestor and Peter Cantor. Comestor succeeded Lombard as Chancellor of Notre Dame and wrote a famous history of Scripture. Cantor advanced Lombard’s method of scriptural exegesis and application to Christ’s sacrifice and Christian ethics.
Above all, Peter Lombard aimed to pass on to his students a thoughtful and systematic understanding of Christian theology grounded in God’s revealed truth. He compiled and transmitted the tradition of the Church Fathers in a way that shaped both medieval and modern Christian thought. His academic legacy continues through the many volumes of ‘The Sentences’ that still remain.
Bishop of Paris
In addition to his work as a theologian and teacher, Peter Lombard served the Catholic Church as Bishop of Paris from 1159-1160. He was appointed to this position by Pope Alexander III.
As bishop, Peter Lombard was responsible for administration of the Diocese of Paris and oversight of the priests and churches under his authority. This included ordaining priests, resolving disputes, and ensuring proper teaching and practice of the Christian faith in his diocese.
Peter Lombard continued to lecture and write during his short tenure as Bishop of Paris. His treatise ‘The Psalter with a Gloss’ contains his teachings on the book of Psalms delivered at Notre Dame during this time. Though his life as bishop was brief, he faithfully executed his duties as chief pastor of the church in Paris.
Notably, Peter Lombard oversaw the transfer of the remains of his predecessor Bishop Marcellus from the public cemetery to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in 1160. This was likely one of his final acts as Bishop of Paris before his own death later that year. Peter Lombard was buried at the Cathedral where his tomb remains a witness to his faithful service and influential theological legacy.
Theology and Writing
Peter Lombard made extensive contributions to the development of scholastic theology through his lectures, writings, and compilation of patristic sources. As one of the foremost theologians of the 12th century, his work shaped understandings of systematic theology and exegesis.
In the medieval period, there was no universal Christian doctrine separate from the many writings of individual Church Fathers. Peter Lombard’s great achievement was to gather and reconcile the mass of opinions from Augustine, Ambrose, Jerome, Gregory, and others into a coherent summation.
Central to Peter Lombard’s theology was using logic and reason to illuminate truths revealed in Scripture. He utilized the disciplines of philosophy and dialectic inquiry to better understand and expound upon doctrines found in the Bible. Like Augustine, Lombard believed that faith and reason could work together to explore God’s truth.
Some key areas of theology that Peter Lombard’s writings engaged with include:
– Trinitarian doctrine of God as Three-in-One
– Jesus Christ as fully God and fully human
– The nature of free will and predestination
– Definition and delineation of the seven deadly sins
– The Eucharist and the real presence of Christ
– The metaphysics of the Incarnation and the Atonement
Beyond his famous ‘Sentences’, Peter Lombard also produced commentaries on the Psalms and the Pauline Epistles. He was a prolific writer who left behind a substantial body of work spanning Christian doctrine, Scripture, and pastoral ministry. The breadth and substance of his writings reflect his dedication to studying and teaching the truths of the Bible.
Lasting Significance
Peter Lombard made an enormous contribution to the development of theology during the medieval era. His compilation of patristic thought in ‘The Sentences’ established a framework and reference point for scholastic theology. Theologians such as Thomas Aquinas wrote extensive commentaries unpacking and building upon ‘The Sentences’.
Peter Lombard also helped shape a method of scriptural exegesis focused on literal and spiritual meaning. His use of logic and philosophy to approach theological questions was foundational for the scholastic movement. Alongside Anselm, Peter Abelard, and others, Peter Lombard pioneered this critical integration of reason and revelation.
As Bishop of Paris, Peter Lombard strengthened the governance and prestige of the diocese. He advised Pope Alexander III and the kings of France. And as a professor, he profoundly influenced future generations of students and scholars.
While not without flaws, Peter Lombard’s academic rigor, teaching skill, and dedicated church service allowed him to make a major mark on Christian thought. His essential work of compiling and systematizing centuries of doctrine continues to inform theology today. Peter Lombard stands as one of the most important scholar-pastors of the Western medieval church.
Critiques and Controversies
Despite his significance, aspects of Peter Lombard’s life and theology have been criticized by both medieval and modern thinkers. Some of the main critiques include:
– Use of logic and philosophy seen by some as contrary to simple dependence on Biblical revelation
– Alleged ambiguity about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist
– Ambiguity about the metaphysics of the Trinity led to charges of heresy
– Compilation approach lacked much original thought
– Heavy reliance on Augustine led to imbalanced reading of previous tradition
– Lack of reference to many Eastern Church Fathers and figures
– Questions about his role in Pope Alexander III’s controversial annulment and remarriage
Peter Lombard was also criticized later in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation for positions that seemed contrary to Protestant or Catholic doctrine. Despite these critiques, his immense impact and influence reveal the significant role he played in medieval thought.
Death and Burial
Peter Lombard died in Paris, France in either late July or early August of 1160 shortly after resigning as Bishop of Paris. His exact date of death is uncertain. He was likely around 60 years old at the time, after serving as bishop for just over a year and teaching at Notre Dame for nearly two decades.
Following medieval tradition, Peter Lombard was buried in the Cathedral of Notre Dame where he had taught, preached, and overseen as bishop. His tomb stands as a monument to his pivotal contributions to the University of Paris and the intellectual life of the church.
The circumstances around Peter Lombard’s death are unclear. Given his relatively swift passing after becoming bishop, some historians speculate that administrative duties may have weakened his health. But his untimely death also severed a promising career at the height of his service in the church.
Peter Lombard’s extensive writings and educational legacy lived on well past his death. As the author of the renowned ‘Sentences’, he continued to influence theology and Bible study through the circulation of his key works. Generations of scholars studied and commented upon his treatises, securing his ongoing impact and remembrance.
Summary of Key Facts
Some key facts to remember about Peter Lombard include:
– Born around 1100 in northern Italy
– Studied and taught theology at Cathedral schools like Notre Dame
– Appointed Bishop of Paris in 1159
– Died in 1160 shortly after becoming bishop
– Most famous work is ‘The Sentences’ compiling earlier Christian thought
– ‘The Sentences’ became the standard theology textbook for 400 years
– Significantly shaped the scholastic theological tradition
– Pioneered a method of scriptural exegesis and application of logic to theology
– Taught many famous theologians as professor at Notre Dame
– Helped establish the University of Paris as an intellectual center
Peter Lombard made crucial contributions to medieval theology as both a bishop and scholar. His teachings and writings spawned centuries of intellectual development while also shepherding the church. Though not without some controversy, his legacy remains one of immense and enduring influence.
Lessons from Peter Lombard’s Life
What can modern Christians learn from the life and work of Peter Lombard? Here are a few key lessons:
1. The importance of conscientious Bible study – Peter Lombard built his theology directly from Scripture and patristic commentaries. His immersion in God’s Word provides an example.
2. Integrating faith and reason – Like Augustine, Lombard valued logic and philosophy for understanding theology without compromising Biblical authority.
3. Teaching as discipleship – Lombard invested heavily in pedagogy to pass on Christian truth. Quality education matters.
4. Lifelong learning – Lombard’s intellectual curiosity and rigor as both student and teacher is exemplary.
5. Building consensus from diversity – ‘The Sentences’ synthesized diverse opinions into unified doctrine. This displays wisdom and patience.
6. Pastoral calling – Lombard powerfully combined academic theology and pastoral ministry as teacher and Bishop of Paris.
7. Humility – As a compiler, Lombard tried to transparently represent earlier voices rather than pronounce the final word on disputed questions.
8. Making theology accessible – ‘The Sentences’ distilled complex theology into a systematic textbook used for centuries.
Peter Lombard provides a model of passionate engagement with Scripture combined with pastoral sensitivity and intellectual richness. His legacy as a teacher and theologian continues to edify Christian thought today.
