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Concepts of Prophecy in the Middle Ages : Inspired Exegesis, Visions

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Concepts of Prophecy in the Middle Ages : Inspired Exegesis, Visions CONCEPTS OF PROPHECY IN THE MIDDLE AGES: INSPIRED EXEGESIS, VISIONS FROM GOD, AND THE INTERACTION OF THEORIES AND PRACTICE By Eric Alan Constant A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of History – Doctor of Philosophy 2016 ABSTRACT CONCEPTS OF PROPHECY IN THE MIDDLE AGES: INSPIRED EXEGESIS, VISIONS FROM GOD, AND THE INTERACTION OF THEORIES AND PRACTICE By Eric Alan Constant This dissertation examines medieval conceptualizations of prophecy beginning in the twelfth century, when Europe produced its first widely-noticed prophets, and ending in the early sixteenth century when the Fifth Lateran Council sought to subject dissemination of prophecy to the control of the bishops. This dissertation finds that the conceptualization of prophecy in the Middle Ages evolved over time, in part due to shifting intellectual currents, and in part due to interactions with prophecy as it was practiced. Furthermore, research presented in this study identifies two broad arcs of development as a way of understanding the evolution of medieval thinking about prophecy. The first begins with Joachim of Fiore (ca. 1135-1202) who both theorized and practiced a new way of thinking about prophecy that challenged the existing conception that regarded prophecy as the passive and direct reception of divine revelation. Rather than see himself as a direct conduit or mouthpiece for God, Joachim believed he was an inspired exegete and that God granted him special methodological insights that guided his efforts to interpret the Scriptures and derive from them hidden truths and predictions about the future. The second arc begins midway through the fourteenth century with the decline of this type of prophecy and the return to widespread belief that a prophet ought to be a passive conduit of divine revelation. The second arc is also characterized by the emergence of concerns about the possible role of demons as a source of apparently prophetic vision, and accordingly, greatly increased attention on the part of both prophets and theologians in determining which was which. By examining a longer history of conceptualizations of prophecy, and by seeking a synthetic understanding of how medieval thinking about prophecy and its practice interrelated, this dissertation proposes both structures and explanations for these developments. Copyright by ERIC ALAN CONSTANT 2016 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Through their encouragement, support, and assistance a number of people helped make this dissertation possible and contributed to its completion. I cannot thank enough my advisor and committee chair, Charles M. Radding. His patient guidance and knowledge, encouragement and instruction, and thoughtful critiques and suggestions have contributed greatly to this dissertation and to my development as a historian. I would also like to thank my committee members: Liam Brockey, Christopher Celenza, and Emily Tabuteau. Each provided many insightful comments and suggestions that helped make this dissertation a stronger work of scholarship. My research and writing was completed as I maintained another career in non profit fundraising, first in the Advancement Office at Michigan State University and then at Catholic Extension in Chicago. I greatly appreciate the support and flexibility with time offered by my colleagues and the leadership at these organizations, and I especially thank my supervisors, Carol Hall and Julie Turley. Thank you also to my fellow graduate students, especially Matthew Miller for his friendship. Finally, I would like to thank my family. I am grateful for the love and encouragement over the years offered by my parents, and by my parents-in-law. Thank you to my children: Thomas, Peter, James, Philip, Leo, and Cecilia. I appreciate each of you for your patience, expressions of encouragement, and willingness to share your dad with his project. Most of all I thank my wife, Bridget. Words cannot express my gratitude. Your love, support, and sacrifices have been more than I should ask but you have willingly given them all and more. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 Joachim of Fiore and the Problem of Inspired Exegesis ....................................... 13 1.1 Augustine: Prophecy and Visions, Conjecture and Apocalyptic Speculation ............ 14 1.2 Joachim of Fiore and a New Paradigm for Prophetic Knowledge .............................. 26 1.2.1 Joachim’s Initial Reception: Conjecture or Prophecy? ........................................ 28 1.2.2 Adam of Persigny’s Question: prophetia, conjectura, seu revelatione ................ 30 1.2.3 Joachim’s Response: spiritualis intelligentia........................................................ 38 1.2.4 The Reception of spiritualis intelligentia Among Joachim’s Contemporaries .... 46 Chapter 2 Prophecy in the Schools ........................................................................................ 54 2.1 Gilbert of Poitiers: An Early Schoolman on Prophecy ............................................... 56 2.2 Early Thirteenth Century Aristotelian Concepts ......................................................... 65 2.3 Revival of Joachimism and the Scholastic Response ................................................. 71 2.4 Thomas Aquinas: An Aristotelian Reading of Prophecy ............................................ 77 2.4.1 Aquinas’ Opposition to Joachimism .................................................................... 77 2.4.2 Aquinas on Prophecy ........................................................................................... 80 2.5 Bonaventure: Theory and Practice .............................................................................. 85 2.5.1 An Aristotelian De prophetia Treatise, Possibly by Bonaventure ....................... 88 2.5.2 Bonaventure’s Relationship to Franciscan Joachimism ....................................... 91 Chapter 3 The Spiritual Moment ......................................................................................... 101 3.1 Peter John Olivi: A Scholastic Joachite? .................................................................. 104 3.1.1 Olivi’s Synthesis of Joachimism with Scholastic Thought ................................ 107 3.1.2 Papal Condemnation of Olivi and Suppression of the Spiritual Franciscans..... 116 3.2 Prophecy Among the Learned and the Unlearned .................................................... 123 3.2.1 Prophecy and the Beguins .................................................................................. 125 3.2.2 Arnold of Villanova: Prophecy and the Learned Layman ................................. 134 3.2.3 John of Rupescissa and Prophecy’s Association with the Spiritual Franciscans144 vi Chapter 4 The Democratization of Prophecy: Laity, Visions, and the Problem of Demons 151 4.1 Prophets, Their Confessors, and the Alignment of Practice with Theory ................. 158 4.2 The Categories of Prophetic Vision .......................................................................... 168 4.3 Gender and Conceptions of Prophecy ....................................................................... 179 4.4 Demons and Discernment of Spirits as a Spiritual Gift ............................................ 198 Chapter 5 The Failure of the Fourteenth-Century Synthesis: Joan of Arc, Savonarola, and the Fifth Lateran Council ......................................................................................................... 210 5.1 The University Theologians and Discernment as a Method ..................................... 211 5.2 Joan of Arc ................................................................................................................ 225 5.2.1 Joan of Arc and the Conception of Prophecy..................................................... 247 5.3 Savonarola ................................................................................................................. 256 5.3.1 Savonarola’s Conception of Prophecy ............................................................... 259 5.3.2 Savonarola’s Opponents and Condemnation ..................................................... 264 5.4 The Fifth Lateran Council Decree on Preaching and Prophecy ................................ 273 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 282 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................... 287 vii Introduction My interest in medieval conceptions of prophecy began as I was studying the immortality of the soul and the relationship between philosophy and faith around the time of the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-1517).1 Included in the documents of the council were two that stood out for what they said concerning prophecy: a sermon delivered at the opening of the council expressing prophetic hopes for reform, and a decree from 1516 that sought to impose controls on the preaching of prophecy.2 The council’s simultaneous interest in and fear of prophecy led me to wonder how matters had arrived to this point and further, why such an important matter in Christian belief as prophecy seemed to remain so unsettled. And while many historians have studied medieval prophets and their prophecies, a relative few have concentrated on medieval thinking about prophecy as an intellectual
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