Abstract
Summary Departing from the ambiguous attitude in medieval Christian literature towards Jewish exgesis, this article analyzes some motives at play in De Emmanuele, a dispute over Isaiah 7.14 between two pupils of Hugh of St.Victor, Richard and Andrew. The use of Jewish exegesis is demonstrated to be just one aspect of the problem of literal interpretation. This problem is elucidated on the basis of Hugh's teachings in the Didascalicon and De scripturis by a differentiation between sensus historiens as the foundation of the spiritual exposition, and lectio historica as preparatory study and exercise in humility. It becomes clear that in presenting the christological sensus historicus of the prophecy Richard stresses the coherence in exegesis, because in Andrew's specialistic literal exegesis the lectio historica seems to have lost its preparatory and humble character. The article concludes with locating the dispute in the twelfth century shift from monastic towards scholastic attitudes.
Published Version
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