Importance of Cassiodorus

Ken McGuire

I have been greatly impressed by the volumes of ACW which I have read - and in spite of being a Lutheran, tend to spend a fair amount in the "Fathers". And so I am more than a bit interested at a surface level on the volumes that are in the Verbum July sale.

But I know little about the importance of Cassiodorus's work on the Psalms. Is there anyone out there who can tell me why these volumes are worth it for someone who already has Augustine?

Donald Antenen (Logos)

Ken, you might find this interesting: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/power-for-prayer-through-the-psalms-cassiodoruss-interpretation-of-the-honey-of-souls/ 

"Cassiodorus deserves consideration as one such conversation partner for three reasons. First, as a hinge-figure he either channels or influences the entire precritical era of church history. As the first and only surviving complete Psalms commentary in Latin from the patristic era, his three-volume Explanation of the Psalms (Exp. Ps.) intentionally distills the major Psalms interpretations preceding him. This work influenced medieval monastic interaction with the Psalms more than nearly any other work. Luther cites Cassiodorus frequently, demonstrating high regard for his exegesis of the Psalms. Second, Cassiodorus offers unmined Psalms exegesis—only one book-length study exists in English of his most influential work. Third, he addresses the contemporary need noted above. Each psalm in his commentary concludes with a section synthesizing its exegetical content with spiritual formation."