Forgiveness in Late Medieval Sermons: On the Unforgiving Servant
This study contributes to the history of forgiveness. It samples twenty-nine Latin model sermons on the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18. 23-35) to access instructions and persuasive material used to teach late medieval Christians about interpersonal forgiveness, peacemaking, or reconc...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
[2018]
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| In: |
Medieval sermon studies
Year: 2018, Volume: 62, Issue: 1, Pages: 42-60 |
| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament KAF Church history 1300-1500; late Middle Ages RE Homiletics |
| Further subjects: | B
Anger
B love of enemies B Forgiveness B Medieval Sermons B Reconciliation B Peacemaking B Christian Ethics |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | This study contributes to the history of forgiveness. It samples twenty-nine Latin model sermons on the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18. 23-35) to access instructions and persuasive material used to teach late medieval Christians about interpersonal forgiveness, peacemaking, or reconciliation. Only half the surveyed sermons discuss forgiveness. Of those that do, only two authors explained the qualified obligation to forgive: to obtain divine forgiveness, Christians must be willing to forgive a penitent offender agreeing to make amends. Christians could still seek justice for harm suffered, so long as they did so without resentment or the desire to harm their offender. These authors also acknowledged the practical difficulties of loving enemies. Unconditional forgiveness remained a goal for those seeking a heavenly reward for Christian perfection, especially monks and nuns. More sermons discouraged anger or warned of God's wrath against the unforgiving without detailing the norms for forgiveness. |
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| ISSN: | 1749-6276 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Medieval sermon studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/13660691.2018.1520989 |