Description
Book SynopsisThis is the first English translation of the Venerable Bede’s commentary on the book of Genesis. Dealing as it does with the biblical account of the creation of the world and of mankind, and of mankind’s fall from grace and exile into the life of time, On Genesis offers essential insights into Bede’s fundamental assumptions as a theologian, historian, and scientific cosmologist. Bede’s role in laying the foundations of the modern world cannot be overemphasised. From his quantitative approach to questions of science to his introduction of the Anno Domini system of dating and his text-critical methods of biblical analysis, he anticipated and influenced modern ways of thinking. Bede regarded the opening chapters of Genesis as the foundation narrative of the world. From it Bede derived the theoretical basis for his scientific treatises and his notion of the English as a chosen people of God, which informs the Ecclesiastical History. This translation and introduction attempts to make Bede’s commentary accessible to anyone with an interest in his work.
Trade ReviewAnother welcome addition to the most valuable 'Translated Texts for Historians Series from the Liverpool University Press. * New Directions *
Calvin Kendall is to be commended for continuing the excellent standards in translating and annotating that mark the series. His is the first rendering of the work into any language. The achievement is significant as reading Bede's commentaries in the original Latin is not easily essayed. Kendall's book this joins the other published translations of Bede's commentaries in making these important texts -- which Bede himself did not hesitate to describe as his life's work. * English Studies, Vol. 90, No. 3 *
Kendall’s volume – very skilfully copy-edited and attractively and durably produced – is the latest in a long series of excellent Bedan translations in the TTH series, and one sincerely hopes that it will not be the last. * Early Medieval Europe Vol. 18 (4) *
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Bede’s audience
- Bede’s methodology: literal interpretation of the Bible and Noah’s flood
- Bede’s methodology: allegorical exegesis
- The thematic structure of On Genesis
- Jews and Saracens
- Bede’s cosmology: the six days of creation
- Bede’s religious though
- The two version of On Genesis
- Rethinking the date(s) of On Genesis
- Jones’s edition of On Genesis and the present translation
- Catalogue of manuscripts and editions of On Genesis
- On Genesis
- Preface
- Book One
- Book Two
- Book Three
- Book Four
- Appendix 1: Plummer’s argument for the year 720 defended
- Appendix 2: Textual corrections and emendations
- Bibliography
- Index of sources and parallels
