Importance of Cassiodorus
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?
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann
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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."
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Not directly related to his writing on the Psalms, this has interesting details about Cassiodorus' role in the preservation of classical texts: https://kiwihellenist.blogspot.com/2020/06/who-preserved-greek-literature-2.html
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Are there any others who cite Cassiodorus? The Annotated Luther volumes returns 11 hits in 3 resources.
Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man.
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I get 6,621 results in 83 resources plus more in the cloud.
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MJ. Smith said:
I get 6,621 results in 83 resources plus more in the cloud.
Well, I only get 3,680 results but from 368 resources. A great many of the results are from the Neale Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, Louis and Short Latin Dictionary, and Di Berardino Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity, and the one volume of Themelios mentioned above. And yes, the first set of Luther's Lectures on Psalms (Vol 10 and 11 of the American Edition) mention him a bit.
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann
L8 Anglican, Lutheran and Orthodox Silver, Reformed Starter, Academic Essentials
L7 Lutheran Gold, Anglican Bronze
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