Lombard, PETER

Lombard, PETER, one of the most famous of the Schoolmen, was born about the beginning of the 12th century, at a village near Novara, in Lombardy. He was educated at Bologna, and came to France with recommendations to Bernard of Clairvaux. His uncommon talents soon procured him a chair of theology in Paris. In 1159 he was appointed Bishop of Paris, but he died in the following year. He was very generally styled Magister Sententiarum, or the 'Master of Sentences,' from his work Sententiarum Libri IV., an arranged collection of sentences from Augustine and other Fathers, on points of Christian doctrine, with objections and replies, also collected from other authors of repute. The first book treats of God; the second of the creature; the third of the incarnation, redemption, and the virtues; the fourth of the seven sacraments and eschatology. A subtle heresy, Nihilianism, was detected by some in Peter's teaching, and the theological doctors of Paris in 1300 denounced it in sixteen propositions culled from his writings. Peter Lombard's work was the subject of many commentaries down to the time of the Reformation. His writings were edited by Aleaume (Louvain, 1546).