Bernd Goebel: Ralph von Battles Traktat über die Dreifaltigkeit
Like Anselm of Canterbury, Abbot Ralph of Battle (1040-1124) was a student of Lanfranc at Le Bec and a proficient theologian, whose works received more attention in recent years. This contribution is an edition with introduction and German translation of Ralph's short treatise on the Trinity by the title Fides exposita quomodo credatur unus deus trinitas et trinitas unus deus. After a survey of the author's life and work, the introduction discusses the textual tradition of the treatise and its place in Ralph's overall oeuvre. Particular attention is paid to its structure and content, its relationship to the doctrine of the Trinity in Ralph's other works as well as in Augustine, Boethius, Anselm of Canterbury, Gilbert Crispin and in the treatise Quid de sancta from the school of Laon. At a time when the doctrine of the Trinity was discussed more acutely within Western theology and the Church was facing increasing criti- cisms of this dogma from Jewish and Muslim sides, Ralph renewed the genre of the short theological treatise, explaining the Latin doctrine of the Trinity in concise form. While An- selm of Canterbury responded to the challenge by seeking "necessary reasons" for the truth of the dogma, Ralph, following Boethius, was content to expound its meaning and inner co- herence. He did so in accordance with his un-Anselmian view that the Divine Trinity exceeds the scope of a purely rational theology.
Keywords: Ralph of Battle - theology - Trinity - Anselm of Canterbury - Boethius-Augustine - Gilbert Crispin - Anselm of Laon