Commentary on Revelation, ch. 1–3”. Translation from Latin, Intoduction and Notes by Maria R. Nenarokova
https://doi.org/10.31802/2658-4476-2019-3-3-52-98
Abstract
The article presents «Commentary on Revelation», the first work of the Anglo-Saxon theologian Beda the Venerable in the genre of commentary. It is regarded as a literary work, since in the Middle Ages the choice of the literary form was determined by its communicative task. A brief overview of studies and translations of the text consists of the works, published since the 50ies of the XXth century. The following issues are touched upon: dating of the test, the connection of Bede’s text with the ancient rhetorical heritage, the use of allegory, the problem of the Commentary’s genre, the role of cross-cutting images, the division of the text into books. The study of the text showed that Bede regarded Revelation as a historical narrative in content, but as an allegory in form. A special role is assigned to recapitulation technique and cross-cutting images. Three books of the Commentary may correspond to the division of history into three eras. Bede’s Commentary is not only an explanation of obscure places of the «Revelation of St. John the Theologian», but also the pioneering experience of a historical description of the fate of the Ecumenical Church.
About the Authors
B. VenerableRussian Federation
Saint Bede the Venerable
M. R. Nenarokova
A. M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IWL RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Maria R. Nenarokova, Doctor of Philology, Leading Researcher
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Review
For citations:
Venerable B., Nenarokova M.R. Commentary on Revelation, ch. 1–3”. Translation from Latin, Intoduction and Notes by Maria R. Nenarokova. Bible and Christian Antiquity. 2019;(3):52-98. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31802/2658-4476-2019-3-3-52-98
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