Christian of Stavelot

Christian of Stavelot (also: Druthmar Christianus ) ( † 9th century ) was a monk of the monastery of Stavelot and emerged as a theological writer.

Life

About his life little is known. After earlier reports, he should come from Aquitaine. Recent research make the origin of Burgundy likely. Erroneously, it is informed by Trithemius with the Abbot of Corvey Druthmar in one.

He was responsible in Stablo for the formation of novices. Undetectable it is still in Stablo 880

Work

The incurred in his teaching lectures he comprehended 865-70 together in a very independent commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. This was meant for his students and he therefore used a simple language. The text consists of 56 chapters. They are followed by a further statement on the Passion.

In his dedication letter to the monks of Stavelot and Malmedy he stressed his intention to want to interpret Matthew historically. Only the knowledge of the historical context could form the basis to develop the allegorical meaning of the text. The goal was to capture the word meaning of the text correctly.

He relied on numerous older comments and writings. It is noteworthy that he used next to the Church Fathers and later theologians and secular ancient texts. Among the authors were used in addition to about Augustine, Gregory the Great and Flavius ​​Josephus.

He probably had at least a rudimentary knowledge of Greek. At the bottom of his work was a scream in Ireland Bible text, and elsewhere he appears to have been influenced by the Irish Biblical exegesis. Connected were his arguments with references to the Customs own time. Furthermore flowed geographical and natural history observations and own experiences.

He had planned to write similar comments also to the Gospels of Luke and John. Whether he has done so, is not clear. First printed in his comment in 1514 appeared in Strasbourg.