Biblical Exegesis

The Abbey of St. Victor was characterized by a focus on biblical exegesis (Smalley). From Hugh and Andrew of St.

Vicor’s reevaluation of the historical sense (Zinn) to Herbert of Bosham’s interest in the hebraica veritas and Hebrew exegesis (Goodwin), the school had a significant impact not only on twelfth-century exegesis but also on the subsequent medieval tradition. The Hugonian corpus includes theoretical works of exegesis (De scripturis et scriptoribus sacris, PL 175, col. 9-28; Didascalicon) and several important individual exegetical works (Expositio super Psalmos, PL 177, col. 589-634; Homiliae in Ecclesiasten, PL 175, col. 113-256).

Again, following Augustine (De doctrina christiana), Hugh divided Scripture into three distinct scriptural types: (1) literal (historical), (2) allegorical, and (3) tropo-logical (moral). The literal sense, as Hugh understands the category, is closely related to a historical understanding. Hugh places a strong priority on the historical sense, and it functions as a guide by which he evaluates the other senses, in particular arguing against an uncontrolled or undisciplined use of the spiritual sense (Didascalicon 6, 3; De scripturis et scriptoribus sacris 3-5). A particular passage of Scripture can be understood to have a literal, allegorical, and tropological sense, implying that these are not ‘‘competing’’ categories in Hugh’s exegesis.