Franciscan Studies

Nova et Vetera: Things New and Old in St. Bonaventure’s Commentary on the Gospel of St. John Preface As one approaches the Friedsam Memorial Library at St. Bonaventure University and looks at the statuary at its entrance, one notes that there are two angels. The angel on the left holds a plague that reads NOVA while the angel on the right holds a plague that reads VETERA. Over the last number of years I have been providing annotated translations of Bonaventure’s biblical commentaries. As I sit in my office in the basement of Friedsam, looking out my two windows and twelve bars, I have often thought that Bonaventure’s material, although old, is truly new. I could compare, for example , Bonaventure’s commentary on the Parable of the Good Samaritan to that of François Bovon in his acclaimed critical contemporary commentary, and find little difference between the two of them. While Bonaventure’s oldness may not make the news the way “The Gospel of Judas” from the third century is doing these days and may not be the subject of two books and a special documentary sponsored by National Geographic, it truly is new. Having laid out the menu, I invite you to sample what Bonaventure has to offer in his Commentary on the Gospel of St. John.  This essay was first presented March 11, 2006, at Saint Louis University during a symposium in honor of Zachary Hayes, OFM.  For greater detail see the Introduction to St Bonaventure’s Commentary on St. John’s Gospel. Translation, Introduction and Notes by Robert J. Karris. Works of St Bonaventure XI (St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2007). For a different angle of interpretation see Roland W. Carroll, “Faith and Reason in the John Commentaries of Bonaventure, Aquinas, and Eckhart” (Chicago: University of Chicago PhD Dissertation, 2005). 121 Franciscan Studies 65 (2007) 07.Karris.indd 121 11/28/07 17:22:34 Robert J. Karris 122 Introduction Two very serious introductory remarks seem appropriate. The first batch of remarks focuses on aspects of Bonaventure’s commentary project. With one exception Bonaventure’s exegesis of the Fourth Gospel is unavailable in a modern language. It is considerably shorter than his Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke and seems to be a composite production from materials from both his days as biblical bachelor and as master and datable to 1257. There are sixty-seven extant manuscripts, a fact that indicates that it was very useful and worth the time, effort, and money to copy it. Its popularity invites us to ask about the nature of this commentary. Many contemporary commentaries, especially those that are as dry as wheat germ, do not provide helpful parallels to the nature of Bonaventure’s commentary . For Bonaventure was not afraid to let his faith show. He was teaching and preaching through his commentary on the Inspired Word. Dominic Monti observed over twenty-five years ago: “The work of the preacher of the Gospel is not simply to propose the saving truth of the Incarnation to his audience; he must be an instrument of God’s actual grace, so moving their affections that they might be disposed to receive it.” My second point is closely aligned to my first. Bonaventure’s work as an exegete and preacher in his commentary on John has as its goal to kindle sparks in the hearts of his listeners and readers. Thus, their hearts may be  San Bonaventura, Commento al Vangelo di san Giovanni/1 (1-10). Translation by Eliodoro Mariani. Introduction and Notes by Jacques Guy Bougerol (Rome: Città Nuova, 1990). San Bonaventura, Commento al Vangelo di san Giovanni/2 (11-21). Translation by Eliodoro Mariani and Notes and Indices by Jacques Guy Bougerol (Rome: Città Nuova, 1991).  St. Bonaventure’s Commentary on the Gospel of Luke Chapters 1-8, 9-16, 17-24. With an Introduction, Translation and Notes by Robert J. Karris. Works of St. Bonaventure VIII/I-III (St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2001, 2003, 2004). In its critical edition this commentary has 600 pages.  The very brief comments on the literal sense of a passage stem from Bonaventure ’s days as biblical bachelor while...