Peter Martyr Vermigli bibliography
Peter Martyr Vermigli (8 September 1499 – 12 November 1562) was a Reformed theologian of the Reformation period. Born in Florence, he fled Italy to avoid the Roman Inquisition in 1542. He lectured on the Bible in Strasbourg, Oxford, and Zürich.
Vermigli's best known work is the Loci Communes (Latin for "commonplaces"), a collection of the topical discussions scattered throughout his biblical commentaries.[1] The Loci Communes was compiled by Huguenot minister Robert Masson and first published in 1576, fourteen years after Vermigli's death.[2] Vermigli had apparently expressed a desire to have such a book published,[3] and it was urged along by the suggestion of Theodore Beza.[4] Masson followed the pattern of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion to organize it.[3] Fifteen editions of the Loci Communes spread Vermigli's influence among Reformed Protestants.[5] Anthony Marten translated the Loci Communes into English in 1583, adding to it considerably.[6]
Vermigli published commentaries on I Corinthians (1551), Romans (1558), and Judges (1561) during his lifetime.[7] He was criticized by his colleagues in Strasbourg for withholding his lectures on books of the Bible for years rather than sending them to be published. He called his lecture notes on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and the Minor Prophets "brief and hasty annotations". His colleagues edited his remaining corpus of biblical commentary after his death: prayers on the Psalms (1564) and commentaries on Kings (1566), Genesis (1569), and Lamentations (1629).[8] Vermigli, as well as his contemporary John Calvin, adopted an essential literal mode of biblical interpretation. He occasionally adopted an allegorical reading, but he did not utilize the quadriga method of medieval biblical interpretation, where each passage has four levels of meaning. Vermigli's command of Hebrew, as well as his knowledge of rabbinic literature, surpassed most of his contemporaries, including Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli.[9]
329 of Vermigli's letters (sent and received) are preserved, written over the period 1542 to 1562.[10][lower-alpha 1] Many of these were for the purpose of exchanging news about the conditions in England, but they often discussed theological matters as well. His opinion carried a great deal of authority in the Reformed community, especially on the Eucharist. Vermigli used his letters to clarify his position and safeguard the Reformed consensus on the Eucharist against harmful divisions.[12]
Biblical commentaries
| Book of Bible | Latin short title | Year of first publication |
First edition publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Corinthians | In selectissimam D. Pauli Priorem ad Corinth. epistolam Commentarij...[13] | 1551 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | 1548–1549 Oxford lectures |
| Romans | In Epistolam S. Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos commentarij doctissimi...[14] | 1558 | Basel: P. Perna | 1550–1552 Oxford lectures |
| Judges | In Librum Iudicum...Commentarij doctissimi...[15] | 1561 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | 1554–1556 Strasbourg lectures |
| Samuel | In duos Libros Samuelis Prophetae...Commentarii doctissimi...[16] | 1564 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | 1556 Zürich lectures |
| Psalms | Preces Sacrae ex Psalmis Davidis desumptae...[17] | 1564 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | Prayers to close lectures during Schmalkaldic War |
| Kings | Melachim id est, Regum Libri Duo posteriores cum Commentarijs.[18] | 1566 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | 1560–1562 Zürich lectures |
| Genesis | In Primum Librum Mosis, qui vulgo Genesis dicitur Commentarii doctissimi...[19] | 1569 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | 1542–1547 Strasbourg lectures; ends at Genesis 42:25 |
Major theological and philosophical works
| English title | Latin short title | Year of first publication |
First edition publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tract and Disputation on the Eucharist | Tractatio de sacramento eucharistiae, habita in universitate Oxoniensi. Ad hec. Disputatio habita M.D. XLIX[20] | 1549 | London: [R. Wolfe] | 1549 Oxford disputation |
| Defense Against Smith on Celibacy | Defensio...ad Riccardi Smythaei...duos libellos de Caelibatu sacerdotum & Votis monasticis...[21] | 1559 | Basel: P. Perna | |
| Dialogue on the Two Natures in Christ Against Brenz | Dialogus de utraque in Christo Natura...[22] | 1561 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | Reply to Johann Brenz's 1560 work |
| Commentary in Aristotle's Ethics | In primum, secundum, et initium tertii libri Ethicorum Aristotelis ad Nicomachum...Commentarius doctissimus.[23] | 1563 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | 1553–1556 Strasbourg lectures |
| Loci Communes | Loci Communes. Ex variis ipsius Auchthoris libris in unum volumen collecti, & quatuor classes distributi...[2] | 1576 | London: John Kyngston | Compiled by Robert Masson |
Minor works
| Short title | Year of first publication |
First edition publisher | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Una semplice Dichiatoratione sopra gli XII Articoli della Fede Christiana[24] | 1544 | Basel: [Johan Hervagius] | Explanation of Apostles' Creed |
| An Epistle unto the right honorable...duke of Somerset...[25] | 1550 | London: [N. Hill] | ? |
| A Treatise of the cohabitacyon of the faithfull with the unfaithfull[26] | [1555] | [Strasbourg: W. Rihel] | ? |
| Epistolae Duae, ad Ecclesias Polonicas, Iesu Christi...de negotio Stancariano...[27] | 1561 | Zürich: C. Froschauer | Letter from Zürich ministers to Polish church |
| Epistre escritte par P. Martir avant son decez, à un sien amy grand seigneur, Traduitte de Latin en françois[28] | 1565 | No place or publisher | ? |
| Trattato della vera chiesa catholica, et della nenessitá di viver in essa.[29] | 1573 | [Geneva]: no publisher | Ecclesiology |
| Epistre...a quelques fideles touchant leur abiuration & renoncement de la verité.[30] | 1574 | No place or publisher | ? |
| A briefe treatise, concerning the use and abuse of Dauncing...[31] | [1580] | London: John Jugge | Dancing |
| Sendbrieff...an seine Evangelische Brüder Statt Luca.....[32] | 1624 | No place or publisher | Letter to his former congregation in Lucca |
| An Unpublished Letter of...to Henry Bullinger[33] | 1850 | London: J. Hatchard and Son | Letter to Bullinger on sacramental offerings |
Peter Martyr Library
The Peter Martyr Library is an ongoing effort to translate Vermigli's works into modern English. The series is jointly published by Sixteenth Century Journal Publishers and Truman State University Press in Kirksville, MO, beginning in 1994.[34]
| Volume | Title | Year of publication |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Writings: Creed, Scripture, Church | 1994 |
| 2 | Dialogue on the Two Natures in Christ | 1995 |
| 3 | Sacred Prayers Drawn From the Psalms of David | 1996 |
| 4 | Philosophical Works: on the Relation of Philosophy to Theology | 1999 |
| 5 | Life, Letters, and Sermons | 1999 |
| 6 | Commentary on the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah | 2002 |
| 7 | The Oxford Treatise and Disputation on the Eucharist | 2000 |
| 8 | Two Theological Loci: Predestination and Justification | 2004 |
| 9 | Commentary on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics | 2006 |
Notes and references
Notes
- ↑ He exchanged 50 letters with Bullinger, 46 with Calvin, thirteen with others of his colleagues in Zurich, nine with Beza, 53 with various of the English reformers, 21 with Bucer, and 17 with Jan Utenhove, with the remaining exchanged with other correspondents.[11]
References
- ↑ McLelland 2009b, p. 480.
- 1 2 Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 98.
- 1 2 McLelland 2009b, p. 487.
- ↑ Donnelly 1976, p. 172.
- ↑ McLelland 2009b, p. 488.
- ↑ McLelland 2009b, p. 493–494.
- ↑ Balserak 2009, p. 284.
- ↑ Hobbs 2009, p. 52.
- ↑ Campi 2014, pp. 134–135.
- ↑ Moser 2009, p. 434.
- ↑ Campi 2014, p. 129.
- ↑ Moser 2009, pp. 454–455.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 11.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 18.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 37.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 62.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 72.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 82.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 92.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 1.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 31.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 48.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 56.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 130.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 136.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 138.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 140.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 141.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 142.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 144.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 146.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 148.
- ↑ Donnelly & Kingdon 1990, p. 150.
- ↑ Zuidema 2009, pp. 501–502.
Sources
- Donnelly, John Patrick, S. J.; Kingdon, Robert M. (1990). A Bibliography of the Works of Peter Martyr Vermigli. Sixteenth Century Essays & Studies XIII. Kirksville, MO: Sixteenth Century Journal Publishers. ISBN 978-0-940474-14-7.
- Donnelly, John Patrick (1976). Calvinism and Scholasticism in Vermigli's Doctrine of Man and Grace. Studies in Medieval and Reformation Thought. XVIII. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-04482-1.
- Balserak, Jon (2009). "I Corinthians Commentary: Exegetical Tradition". In Kirby, W. J. Torrance; Campi, Emidio; James, Frank A. A Companion to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition 16. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 283–304. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004175549.i-542.69. ISBN 978-90-474-2898-5.
- Campi, Emidio (2014). Shifting Patterns of Reformed Tradition. Göttingen, Germany: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 978-3-525-55065-6.
- Hobbs, R. Gerald (2009). "Strasbourg: Vermigli and the Senior School". In Kirby, W. J. Torrance; Campi, Emidio; James, Frank A. A Companion to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition 16. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 35–70. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004175549.i-542.11. ISBN 978-90-474-2898-5.
- ————————— (2009b). "A Literary History of the Loci Communes". In Kirby, W. J. Torrance; Campi, Emidio; James, Frank A. A Companion to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition 16. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 479–494. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004175549.i-542.129. ISBN 978-90-474-2898-5.
- Moser, Christian (2009). "Epistolary: Theological Themes". In Kirby, W. J. Torrance; Campi, Emidio; James, Frank A. A Companion to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition 16. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 433–456. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004175549.i-542.113. ISBN 978-90-474-2898-5.
- Zuidema, Jason (2009). "Vermigli Studies Bibliography". In Kirby, W. J. Torrance; Campi, Emidio; James, Frank A. A Companion to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition 16. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 499–518. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004175549.i-542.139. ISBN 978-90-474-2898-5.