Of his writings, some were lost after his death, and none enjoyed considerable circulation. Two “confessions” of his were discovered in the 17th century, about 800 years after his death, and were printed by Bishop Ussher. In the 19th century they were reprinted by Migne, and MGH published several of his poems that had been discovered. Then in the early 20th century, a scholar found a large number of his writings in a library in Berne, and in 1945 Cyrille Lambot printed them. They include treatises on predestination, the Trinity, the Eucharist, and grammar.

Since 2003, Victor Genke and I have been translating these works from Latin to English. We decided to narrow our project down to his works on predestination, although Victor had previously translated the treatise on the Eucharist. After translating the texts and writing short introductions to each, we divided up the remaining tasks. Victor composed a comprehensive introduction to the life and theology of Gottschalk, and I standardized the biblical quotes and footnotes, compiled a bibliography, and created indices. We submitted the completed work to a major university press, and after several revisions, were offered a publishing contract.

The book, tentatively entitled Gottschalk of Orbais: Translated Texts from a Medieval Predestination Controversy, will be published by Marquette University Press in 2011 in their series Medieval Philosophical Texts in Translation. The final Word document was over 400 pages, which after typesetting will probably be a bit smaller.

Part One will include Gottschalk’s “Shorter Confession,” “Longer Confession,” “Confession of Faith at Mainz,” “On Predestination,” “On Different Ways of Speaking About Redemption,” and “Another Treatise on Predestination.” In addition selections from Gottschalk’s “Answers to Various Questions,” and the extant fragments of his “Reply to Rabanus Maurus,” and “Tome to Giselmar” will be translated therein.

Part Two is comprised of translations of letters by Rabanus Maurus, Hincmar of Reims, and Amolo of Lyons, along with a sermon on predestination by Florus of Lyons, all written during the Gottschalk controversy. These texts shed light on the history of the controversy, provide a glimse of how others viewed Gottschalk, and elucidate the arguments of his opponents.

It is our hope that these twenty-one texts, together with the introduction, maps, and photos that accompany them, will stimulate further research on this fascinating figure of the Carolingian renaissance. For more information on Gottschalk, I invite you to read the articles posted on this website “Predestination in the Century Before Gottschalk,” and “Gottschalk of Orbais: A Medieval Predestinarian.” I also encourage you to visit Victor Genke’s website Gottschalk of Orbais at gottschalk.inrebus.com.

Blessings,
Frank

Forthcoming Translation of Gottschalk of Orbais is a post from: Books and Articles on the Theology of Grace and Eschatology ~ Francis Gumerlock

Two summers ago I translated this student confession from Latin to English for Volume 2 of Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation edited by James T. Dennison, Jr. According to a recent catalog from the publisher, this hardcover book of 928 pages, which contains my translation of the confession (only nine pages), will be available in April 2010. I trust that those interested in the history of education, early modern Europe, or the Reformation will find it enlightening. For more information, refer to Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation.

Students at the Public School in Geneva in 1559 is a post from: Books and Articles on the Theology of Grace and Eschatology ~ Francis Gumerlock

These articles appeared in recent issues of Evangelical Quarterly. You can read both articles here: Predestination in the Century Before Gottschalk, Part 1 & Part 2

Have a great day. Frank

Predestination in the Century Before Gottschalk is a post from: Books and Articles on the Theology of Grace and Eschatology ~ Francis Gumerlock

Fulgentius defended the doctrine of the Trinity against Arianism, which was the official religion of the Vandals that denied that the Son was one in being with the Father. He was exiled for his Trinitarian faith to the island of Sardinia for fifteen years. Fulgentius also wrote treatises on grace, free will, and divine predestination. These works are largely the foci of my book entitled Fulgentius of Ruspe on the Saving Will of God: The Development of a Sixth-Century North African Bishop’s Interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:4 During the Semi-Pelagian Controversy (Mellen, 2009). It shows that in his earlier writings, Fulgentius often asserted the universality of God’s saving will and general grace. But as he entered a debate on grace and free willl, he restricted that universality to all those among the nations predestined by God for salvation.

There are only two other books in print in English devoted to Fulgentius, and Fulgentius on the Saving Will of God is the only one devoted wholly to his theology of grace. It is based upon the latest scholarship on Fulgentius, and in it many passages from his works are translated for the first time in English. In addition, other texts from his time period are translated therein, such as Caesarius of Arles’ On Grace and short works by John Maxentius. Available only in hardback and published by an academic press, Fulgentius on the Saving Will of God is expensive, but worth the investment for those interested in the theology of grace in church history, Augustinian studies, and the Semi-Pelagian debate. To read a review of it, click here. To order a copy, click here. Happy reading. Frank

Fulgentius of Ruspe on the Saving Will of God is a post from: Books and Articles on the Theology of Grace and Eschatology ~ Francis Gumerlock

Genke lives in Russia, works as an overseer of a team of translators there, and is finishing up his doctoral thesis on the political aspects of the controversy related to Gottschalk. Genke and I finished our book tentatively entitled Gottschalk of Orbais: Translated Texts from a Medieval Predestination Controversy. It will include twenty-one texts by Gottschalk and by others about Gottschalk. Genke wrote a very comprehensive introduction and I gathered the bibliography.

We have recently submitted the book to an academic press in the United States for inclusion in their series of medieval philosophical texts in translation. The press is very interested in publishing it, but we will wait for a contract before officially announcing it as forthcoming.

To see the table of contents, click the link on this site under “Current Projects.” For more information about Gottschalk, I invite you to read the article “Gottschalk of Orbais” on this site under “Articles” and to visit the website of Victor Genke at http://gottschalk.inrebus.com/.

Gottschalk of Orbais is a post from: Books and Articles on the Theology of Grace and Eschatology ~ Francis Gumerlock