Studies on Texts of Early Irish Latin Gospels (A. D. 600-1200)

268 Pages·1990·10.485 MB·English

by  Martin McNamara

INSTIVMINTA PATIUSTlCA
XX
INSTRVMENTA PATRISTICA
XX
STUDIES ON TEXTS OF
EARLY IRISH LATIN GOSPELS
(A. D. 600 - 1200)
MCMXC
KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS
DORDRECHT
STtJDIES ON TEXTS OF
EARLY IRISH L.t\TlN GOSPELS
D. 0 - 1200)
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PREFACE
In fascide no. 2 of Sacris Erudiri for 1954 Professor Bernhard Bischoff
of Munich made a notable contribution to our knowledge of early Irish
commentary material through his essay "Wendepunkte in der
Geschichteder lateinischen Exegese im Frühmittelalter". In this study
he showed that the extant exegetical material from Ireland, or con
nected with Ireland, from the years A.D. 650 to 800 is far more
extensive than had been believed. In the introduction to his catalogue
of thirty-nine items believed by him to be Hiberno-Latin or at least as
showing Irish influence, he admits that the catalogue is necessarily
somewhat disproportionate by reason of the basis on which it was
compiled. The greatestdefect of hisessay,in hisexpressed view, is that
hardly anything could be said concerning the biblical text of books
commented on. He goes on to remark that the basis for future research
on the history of the Latin text of the Bible in Ireland is however
broadened.
Aplanis already in operation between the Royal Irish Academy,
the Irish Biblical Association and Brepols Publishers to edit critically
and publish in the Corpus Christianorum the newly identified Hiberno
Latin or Celto-Latin exegetical, homiletic and theological material. It
is to be hoped that with regard to each of the compositions involved
a thorough examination of the biblical text employed will be made. In
conjunction with this critica1 examination of the Hiberno-Latin exe
getical, homiletic and theological works, it is ideally desirable that
similar attention be given to the Irish biblical texts themselves. In this
manner the biblical texts used in Ireland would concurrently be
studied in their direct and indirect transmission.
To date there has been no plan made for such an examination of
Irish biblical texts. In the belief that soundings in this area should
prove profitable, 1 accepted the kind offer of the Ancient Biblical
Manuscript Center for Preservation and Research, Claremont, Cali
fomia of a Visiting Scholarship during the summer of 1986. The basic
work here published was done during thîs period. Due to other
commitments I have found it impossible to prepare it for publication
earlier than late 1989.
Thanks to a travelling scholarship from DAAD (Deutscher
Akademischer Austauschdienst) I had the opportunity of visiting
some German centres of leaming during the Summer of 1988, notably
the Vetus Latina Institut, Beuron and Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat,
Freiburg im Breisgau. This helped me further to prepare these studies
for publication. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to ail these
institutions for the courtesy and help they have offered.
vil
PREFACE
It is not to be expected that the Latin texts of the Gospels from
Ireland will contribute anything of importance towards an under
standing of the original Greek texts. Their interest lies elsewhere,
mainly in the light they may shed on the transmission of the Gospel
texts in a particular area of the La tin Church. It is hoped that the essays
here published will give an idea of the extent of the material to be
studied, as well as an indication of its importance. From these may
corne in due time a concrete plan for the complete and thorough
examination of the entire evidence.
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