Jacques Bonfrere

Jacques Bonfrere
Jacques Bonfrere
    Jacques Bonfrère
     Catholic_Encyclopedia Jacques Bonfrère
    Biblical scholar, born at Dinant, Belgium, 12 April, 1573; died at Tournai, 9 May, 1642. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1592. After having taught rhetoric, philosophy, and theology, he devoted himself to the Sacred Scriptures. He was long a professor of Scripture and Hebrew at Douai, where he was Superior of the Scots College. Sweert, in his "Athneae Belgicae," speaks of him as a man of rare virtue; he praises his industry and prudence, as well as the penetration of his mind and the solidity of his judgment. His work in the department of Sacred Scriptures, into which, he tells us, he had been initiated by Cornelius à Lapide, has always been highly appreciated. His "Praeloquia" was, in 1839, selected by Migne as the most suitable treatise or general introduction with which to begin his "Sacrae Scripturae Cursus Completus" (I, cols. 5-242). In this work, Bonfrere deals with subjects pertaining to the Bible as a whole. He selection and treatment of topics was largely determined by the controversies of the time regarding the value of the Vulgate, the obscurity of Scripture, etc. But many of them still retain their interest; and they are all handled in a clear and interesting way. The historical methods now applied to the canon text, and hermeneutics of Sacred Scripture were not known in his time. He deals with inspiration in one chapter (ch. viii: De modo quo Deus cum hisce Scriptoribus hagiographis habuit). The views he sets forth here do not in all respects agree with the teachings of modern theologians. He holds, for instance, that approval of a writing by God, subsequent to its composition, would suffice to make it canonical. In point of fact, though, he assures us, no book of the Bible was so composed. He then expresses the opinion that when writing on what they knew without revelation, the sacred authors only had the assistance necessary to preserve them from error. He does not make a clear distinction between inspiration and revelation. (See Pesch, De Inspiratione," Nos. 323 and 324).
    The "Praeloquia" were published along with a commentary on the Pentateuch in a volume entitled: "Pentateuchis Mosis commentario illustatis, praemissis praeloquiis perutilibus (fol., Antwerp, 1625). This was followed by his commentary on Josue, Judges, and Ruth, to which he added a treatise on sacred geography, composed by Eusebius and translated by St. Jerome: Josue, Judices et Ruth commentario illustarti. Accessit Onomasticon" (fol. Paris, 1631). Bonfrere had undertaken to explain the Books of Kings before his work on the Pentateuch, he tells us in his preface to the latter; but he had felt the need of going back to the beginning of things. His "Libri Regnum et Paralipomenon commentariis illustrati," was given to the press in Tournai, in 1643, after his death. But the printing-house was burned, and the work did not appear. Biographers have no reference even to the manuscripts. The learned professor is said to have left commentaries on nearly all the other books of the Bible. Bonfrere's explanation of the text of scripture shows a very good knowledge of Hebrew, and pays special attention to the places mentioned. His erudition is extensive for his time. The soberness and judiciousness of his comments are generally admired.
    Alegambe, Bibl. Script. S.J., Andre, Bib.belgica; Sweert, Athenae Belgicae.
    W.S. REILLY
    Transcribed by M. Donahue

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


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  • Jacques Bonfrère — (12 April 1573 – 9 May 1642) was a Roman Catholic Biblical scholar who was a leading commentator on the Old Testament.LifeBonfrère was born in Dinant, Belgium. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1592. After having taught rhetoric, philosophy, and …   Wikipedia

  • BONFRÈRE, JACQUES° — (1573–1642), Belgian Jesuit, professor of Hebrew and Bible exegesis. Bonfrère wrote a commentary on the Pentateuch (Pentateuchus Moysis commentario illustratus…, Antwerp, 1625), which has been reedited several times. The book has a strong… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Bonfrère, Jacques — • Biblical scholar, born at Dinant, Belgium, 12 April, 1573; died at Tournai, 9 May, 1642 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

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  • List of Biblical commentaries — This is an outline of exegesis. Discussed are the salient points of Jewish, patristic, medieval, and modern commentaries, starting with the Jewish writers. The topic starts with the Targums, Mishna, and Talmuds. While these are not regarded as… …   Wikipedia

  • Louis de Carrières — (September 1, 1662, Angers, France mdash;June 11, 1717, Paris) was a French priest and Bible commentator.Carrières was born in the chateau de la Plesse in Avrille, Angers. He entered the French Oratory at a time when such masters as Le Cointe,… …   Wikipedia

  • List of biblical commentaries —  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Commentaries on the Bible . Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company …   Wikipedia

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