Pierre Benoit (archaeologist)
Encyclopedia
Maurice Benoit better known as Pierre Benoit, was a French catholic
priest, exegete
, and theologian
.
, Pierre Benoit studied the New Testament
at the École Biblique
from 1934, and directed the École from 1964 to 1972. An expert on the Second Vatican Council
, he became a member of the Pontifical Biblical Institute
.
His work was principally composed of the translation of biblical texts written in Koine Greek
, and the co-ordination of the translation of the Jerusalem Bible
. In particular he was the author of the translation of the Gospel of Matthew
in this edition, as well as the Epistle to the Philippians
, Epistle to Philemon
, Epistle to the Colossians
, and the Epistle to the Ephesians
.
Pierre Benoit also was the author of four volumes of a work entitled Exegesis and Theology, created between 1961 and 1982 at éditions du Cerf
.
In the 1970s he became involved in archaeological
investigations carried out at Christian sites in Jerusalem. One of his most extensive pieces of archaeological work was the thorough and definitive excavation at the site of the Antonia Fortress
, and the surrounding area.
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
priest, exegete
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
, and theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
Biography
A DominicanDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, Pierre Benoit studied the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
at the École Biblique
École Biblique
The École Biblique, strictly the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem, is a respected French academic establishment in Jerusalem, founded by Dominicans, and specialising in archaeology and Biblical exegesis.-Foundation:...
from 1934, and directed the École from 1964 to 1972. An expert on the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, he became a member of the Pontifical Biblical Institute
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...
.
His work was principally composed of the translation of biblical texts written in Koine Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
, and the co-ordination of the translation of the Jerusalem Bible
Jerusalem Bible
The Jerusalem Bible is a Roman Catholic translation of the Bible which first was introduced to the English-speaking public in 1966 and published by Darton, Longman & Todd...
. In particular he was the author of the translation of the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in this edition, as well as the Epistle to the Philippians
Epistle to the Philippians
The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, usually referred to simply as Philippians, is the eleventh book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was written by St. Paul to the church of Philippi, an early center of Christianity in Greece around 62 A.D. Other scholars argue for an...
, Epistle to Philemon
Epistle to Philemon
Paul's Epistle to Philemon, usually referred to simply as Philemon, is a prison letter to Philemon from Paul of Tarsus. Philemon was a leader in the Colossian church. This letter, which is one of the books of the New Testament, deals with forgiveness.Philemon was a wealthy Christian of the house...
, Epistle to the Colossians
Epistle to the Colossians
The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, usually referred to simply as Colossians, is the 12th book of the New Testament. It was written, according to the text, by Paul the Apostle to the Church in Colossae, a small Phrygian city near Laodicea and approximately 100 miles from Ephesus in Asia...
, and the Epistle to the Ephesians
Epistle to the Ephesians
The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, often shortened to Ephesians, is the tenth book of the New Testament. Its authorship has traditionally been credited to Paul, but it is considered by some scholars to be "deutero-Pauline," that is, written in Paul's name by a later author strongly influenced by...
.
Pierre Benoit also was the author of four volumes of a work entitled Exegesis and Theology, created between 1961 and 1982 at éditions du Cerf
Editions du Cerf
Éditions du Cerf is a French publishing house specializing in religious books. It was founded in 1929, and operated by the Dominican Order.The name is a reference to Psalm 42 :...
.
In the 1970s he became involved in archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
investigations carried out at Christian sites in Jerusalem. One of his most extensive pieces of archaeological work was the thorough and definitive excavation at the site of the Antonia Fortress
Antonia Fortress
The Antonia Fortress was a military barracks built by Herod the Great in Jerusalem on the site of earlier Ptolemaic and Hasmonean strongholds, named after Herod's patron Mark Antony...
, and the surrounding area.
Works
- The Holy Bible (a translation under the ordinances of the École Biblique), The French Book Club, Paris, 1955–1956
- The Jerusalem Bible: The Holy Bible (a French translation, under the ordinances of the École Biblique), New ed. revised and augmented, Éditions du Cerf, Paris, 1973
- The Jerusalem Bible (a translation under the ordinances of the École Biblique), New ed. reviewed and corrected, Éditions du Cerf, Paris, 1998
- Pierre Benoit, Exegesis and Theology, Editions du Cerf, Paris, 1961. (further volumes:1968, 1982 - )
External links
- Site of the Ecole biblique
- Sacred works by Pierre Benoit (Éditions du Cerf)