Dear Jim,

I share your point of view - the medieval dualist interpretation of the mentioned verses of Isaiah 14, 12-14 deserves to be studied and explained. John Wycliffe, one of my favorite medieval philosophers, is not an ignorant, and it is an attractive task to disclose his reason and way to use/appropriate Isaiah's verses.

By the way, "Day Star, son of Dawn" in Old Bulgarian apocrypha is a name of Satanael - Деница (Denitza). There is a lot of mystery why dualists (bogomils, patarenes, cathars, lollards) have involved this topic in their theology. They rejected the Old Testament, saying that is a book full of violence, injustice, wars, so it is a book of Satane. They loved and trusted the New Testament, because it is Christ's word of love. However dualists kept some interest in Isaiah, once for the Fall of Satanael they see there, second because Isaiah book is an appeal for (social) justice.

Peacefully (because peace and silence may be allow to hear the voices of hidden things, as well the music of spheres):

Georgi

From: James Ginther <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2011 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: [M-R] Master John Wycliffe criticized by V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M. Ph. D. Candidate

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I'm not sure if any claim is being made about right and wrong here. The original question, posed on this medieval religion discussion list, sought possible sources for the Lucifer fall narrative. The scriptural loci suggested by various list members are connected to the exegetical tradition of the medieval period. This is, after all, the point of this list: to discuss the content and contours of the period within a scholarly framework. We as scholars may not always agree with the theological and hermeneutical assumptions of medieval thinkers, but I think it does a disservice to the field to critique as failing to measure up to the current approaches in biblical scholarship. While modern scholarship has certainly made important contributions, I personally would not go so far as to say that the moderns finally found the "right" way to do biblical studies.

But neither would I claim that medieval theologians had cornered the market on precision and correctness in their scholarship. But it is still to be respected as scholarship and thus should be critically engaged, both its successes and shortcomings. But we all live in more complicated world since there are a number of ways to engage that scholarship: theologically, historically, anthropologically, sociologically, in terms of literary criticism---and the list could go on.

I personally reacted to the claim that there was not an ounce of scholarship from a historical perspective, as, I think, was Prof. Vasilev (though I hesitate to speak on his behalf in any strong way). From a documentary perspective, there are pounds of scholarship concerning the Isaiah passage as a Lucifer-fall narrative. I agree the more recent scholarship strongly disputes that position using excellent historical and literary methods. As a medievalist, I don't think that claim is very relevant; as a theologian, well, I'm of two minds on this point, but that might be tangential to this thread. Such are the joys and struggles of engaging a religious tradition that has deep historical and literary roots, and using a variety of methodologies to get as the datum. We all have to negotiate competing agendas within medieval studies as well as the discrete disciplines we all inhabit, as do our work.

And such engagement requires a good dose of diplomacy as well. In retrospect, if my own rhetoric offended you, I offer an unconditional apology.

Jim

On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 10:40 AM, V. Kerry Inman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Wycliffe lived in the middle ages. He was not a Hebrew scholar by any current standard. Should it come as any surprise that he was wrong?

Or is there some reason I should regard as irreversible the scholarship of a man who lived in the 14th century?

And who cares how the Hebrew Bible was translated into Latin? That does not help us understand Isaiah.

V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M.
Ph. D. Candidate, Arabic and Hebrew
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 06:11:16 -0700

From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [M-R] Master John Wycliffe criticized by V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M. Ph. D. Candidate

To: [log in to unmask]

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Dear V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M. Ph. D. Candidate,

I am forced to readdress your remark “there is not an ounce of scholarship in this” to master John Wycliffe (c.1330-1384) who wrote:

(on Lucufer pride, quoting Isaiah, Ysa XIV.13) I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the Stars of God …de Lucifer Ysa XIV. 13 dicitur: In celum ascendam super astra celi exaltatio solum meum. (Summa in theologia.Tractatus tertieus. De civili domino. London, MDCCCXXV, p. I)

It is known that Lucifer and his accomplices were initially in a state of innocence.

Argumentum patet de Lucifer cum suis complicibus apostatis (Ysa XIV.12-15) de primus parentibus in state innocencie. (Ibidem, p. 373).

Prof. Georgi Vasilev

From: V. Kerry Inman <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2011 1:10 AM
Subject: Re: [M-R] The Origin of the Fall

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Someone along the way mentioned Islam. The Qur'an does not teach that the Devil is a fallen angel, but a jinn. The idea of fallen angels, in Islam, comes from later commentators.

V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M.
Ph. D. Candidate, Arabic and Hebrew
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 18:06:56 -0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] The Origin of the Fall
To: [log in to unmask]

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

What is this supposed to mean?

V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M.
Ph. D. Candidate, Arabic and Hebrew
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 16:56:47 -0500
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] The Origin of the Fall
To: [log in to unmask]

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Here's an ounce of scholarship: Haymo of Halberstadt , PL 116.791. And that was just after a 2 minute search. I have no doubt there is more to point to.

Jim

On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 4:40 PM, V. Kerry Inman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

What are we doing here?? Isaiah 14:12-14 is not about Satan!

There is not an ounce of scholarship in this.

V. Kerry Inman, M.A., M.Div., Th.M.
Ph. D. Candidate, Arabic and Hebrew
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:09:37 -0700
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] The Origin of the Fall
To: [log in to unmask]

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Rachel,

the fall of Satan is mentioned in Isaiah 14, 12-14:
12 How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid te nations low!
13 You said in your heart:
"Iwill ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;

I will assembly on the heights of Zaphon;
14 I will ascend to the top of clouds;
I will make meself like the Most High.
15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the depths of the Pit.

But in full volume the myth of the fall of Satane and its angels is exposed in the "Secret book"of Bogomils.

According to Bogomils, initially Satanael was directly associated with the Lord, and some dualist versions even refer to him as God’s firstborn. However, he was filled with pride, and he sought to place his power above God, managing to involve one-third of the angels in his revolt. God threw the traitors in the abyss and removed the syllable “el”, a symbol of divinity, from Sataniel’s name. Satan lost his light and his face became “like molten iron.” Nevertheless, God was merciful and allowed Satan to create his own world – that was our Earth. Thus, Satan became the prince of the earthly world as the evil god. He devised and molded man in his likeness from clay, then entered angels’ souls, once true to God, disguised as the bodies of men and women.

Therefore, Creation was divided between the heavenly, invisible, immortals that belonged to the Good God, and the earthly, visible, humans, controlled by the Evil God. Such is the dualist portrayal of the world. They believed that humans, subject to the power of Satan bodies engulfing the souls of angels from the heavenly creation, constantly strive to leave the devil’s creation to return to the Good Lord. For them, communication of the Word in their native tongue, the imitation of Christ (imitatio Christi), helped spawn a return to the kingdom of heaven. So, they did not fear the stakes – fire allowed these heretics to escape the sinful kingdom of Satan, the flesh of the bodies he created, to return to the kingdom of the Good God as free souls.
Some pages of the "Secret book" in Latin, as well in English translated by professor Thomas Butler, are available on:

http://www.bogomilism.eu/Other%20authors/Thomas%20Butler.html

"Heretically"yours:

Georgi Vasilev, Ph.D., D.Litt.

Professor of European and Medieval Studies

Sofia 1784, 119 Tsarigradsko shose bd

Mob. 00359 885/969087

E-mail: [log in to unmask]

www.bogomilism.eu

P.P.
Dear Colleagues, allow me to send you this actual information:

http://22byzantinecongress.org

Free communications 23. Medieval dissent: Bogomils and other religious dissidents on the Balkans

24 August 2011

Georgi Vasilev: Bogomilism – an important precursor of the Reformation
Thomas Butler: Bogomil Cultural Syncretism
Théofanis L. Drakopoulos : Questions méthodologiques sur le bogomilo-catharisme
Hisatsugu Kusabu: Approaches of New Heresiology and Beyond – the Bogomils, a case study
Надежда Драгова: Рисуваното богословие на богомилите
Erika Lazarova: The Bogomil-Cathar’s philosophy as a theory of total social criticism
Maja Angelovska-Panova, Andrew P. Roach: Punishment of Heretics: Comparisons and Contrasts between Western Inquisitors and Eastern Churchmen
Dick van Niekerk: Crossroads of Bogomils and Cathars? New light on the “Church of the Latins” in Constantinople (12^th, 13^th century)
Grażyna Szwat-Gyłybowa: Modern adaptations of the Bogomils dissent: a few thoughts about the Bulgarian case
Asya Bereznyak: A Conversion Gone Awry? A Different Perspective on the Christianisation of Bulgaria and the Rise of Bogomilism
Nadejda Miladinova: Reuses of a Byzantine anthology in the Early Modern Period – a case study on the Panoplia Dogmatike of Euthymios Zygabenos

Moderator: Georgi Vasilev

From: Rachel Ernst <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2011 7:55 PM
Subject: Re: [M-R] The Origin of the Fall

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Thanks everyone for your help! Great suggestions!

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Saint Louis University
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--
----------
James R. Ginther, PhD
Professor of Medieval Theology
& Director,
Center for Digital Theology
Saint Louis University
-------------------------
[log in to unmask]
Faculty Page: Departmental Page

Research Blog: http://digital-editor.blogspot.com

Twitter: DH_editor

"Blessed are the Geeks for they shall encode the Earth"

"...debet esse oratio devota, ne mens sit in foro dum os psallit in choro." - Robert Grosseteste

"Walking on water and developing software from a specification are easy if both are frozen." -Edward V. Berard

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