Comentariul la Evanghelia după Matei(1544) al lui Wolfgang Musculus, sursă de inspirație pentru Tâlcul evangheliilor(1567), Omilia la Duminica a treia din Post

Abstract

Although the Protestant ideas in Coresi’s early Postil (Tâlcul evangheliilor), published in 1567, have long puzzled scholars interested in the first Romanian books, attempts to trace the exact origin of these elements have yielded no decisive results. The current paper focuses on the 47th homily of the Postil, based on Mark 8:34–9:1, and identifies the Commentary on Matthew (1544) by Wolfgang Musculus (1497–1563) as one of the main sources. Commenting on Matthew 16:24-28 and its Markan parallel, Musculus introduces the concept of duplex crux, asserting that the common cross notwithstanding (by virtue of which all Christians must put off the flesh with its passions and desires), each believer has his or her unique cross, ordained by God. Writing at a time when the emergent magisterial Protestants were trying to forge their confessional identities in opposition to the Catholic Church, Musculus singles out Catholic monks for criticism, asserting that in pursuing asceticism they bear a cross of their own choosing, not the cross ordained by God. The Reformed theologian also writes that the cross must be borne joyfully and provides various Scriptural prooftexts to support this idea. The 47th homily of Coresi’s Postil is developed along the same theological lines and provides strong evidence that Wolfgang Musculus served as a source of inspiration for the anonymous author of the first Romanian collection of homilies.