Ad sensum or ad verbum? Aquinas on Textual Difficulties in Biblical Exegesis

Abstract

The characteristic feature of Thomas Aquinas’ biblical exegesis is his reference to many variants of biblical texts. Contrary to popular opinion, Aquinas does not rely solely on one text (e.g., the Vulgate), but juxtaposes different translations and thus seeks to address the difficulties arising from reading the biblical text. Sometimes, however, he does not so much juxtaposes several possible interpretative options as he directly chooses the best one. This shows his effort not so much to reach the reading of the words themselves, but the meaning intended by the author of the Scripture. In this way, his understanding of Revelation, whose testimony is the Holy Scripture, is manifested. The article presents Aquinas’ approach to the biblical text, visible in the exegetical procedures he employs, when he emphasizes the gaps in the text or possible alternative readings of a given passage, often referring to the Church Fathers, especially through the Glossa, to seek explanations for doubts. Then, situations where Aquinas raises textual differences and establishes a gradation of proposed solutions will be analyzed, thus indicating the criteria for its selection.