Wolfgang Buchmüller OCist: Integumentum, involucrum, revelatio: Zur Kontroverse um eine philosophisch-theologische Schrifthermeneutik bei Wilhelm von Conches, Wilhelm von Saint-Thierry und Isaak von Étoile
In the wake of the 12th century Renaissance, the integumentum method, an ancient philosophical way of decoding mythological texts, attracted also Christian authors, especially in the so-called School of Chartres. This form of exegesis was perceived as problematic, however, when applied to biblical revelation. Bernard of Clairvaux in particular would only allow the use of familiar methods in biblical hermeneutics, inherited from the Church Fathers, such as allegory or typology, that aims at strengthening and stimulating Christian Faith. Abaelard had already been criticized by representatives of Monastic theology for his philosophical (philosophice) reinterpretation of Christian teaching. Abaelard´s disciple, William of Conches, went further, by interpreting certain passages of Holy Scripture physice, that is, by means of the natural sciences. However, he had to retract this move towards demythologizing, as a result of protests from Abbot William of Saint-Thierry. Even so, not all representatives of Monastic theology in the Cistercian Order criticized or rejected the methods of integumentum and involucrum. Abbot Isaac of Stella looked favorable at the method itself, while avoiding to use the incriminated terms. He preferred the neutral revelatio instead. In an ironically written defense (apologia), he tried to point out the advantages of a philosophical interpretation of the mysteries of Holy Scriptures. As can be seen from his monumental work on preaching, he himself made generous use of the freedom of these »new« exegetical methods.
Keywords: Isaak of Stella – William of Conches – biblical heremeneutics – philosophical exegesis