François Combefis (or Combefisius) (November 1605 – 23 March 1679) was a French Dominican

patrologist Patristics, also known as Patrology, is a branch of Theology, theological studies focused on the writings and teachings of the Church Fathers, between the 1st to 8th centuries CE. Scholars analyze texts from both orthodox and heretical authors. Pat ...

. He published previously unedited works by

John Chrysostom John Chrysostom (; ; – 14 September 407) was an important Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and p ...

Life

He was born at

Marmande Marmande (; in Occitan language, Occitan, ''Marmanda'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Lot-et-Garonne ''Departments of France, département'' in south-western France. Geography Marmande is located 35 km north-west of Agen, on the ...

, made his preliminary studies in the Jesuit College at

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...

, and joined the Dominican Order in 1624. After finishing his theological course, he became professor of theology, and taught in several houses of his order. In 1640 he was transferred to Paris where he undertook the publication of patristic texts. He remained there until his death.

Works

He published successively the works of

Amphilochius of Iconium Amphilochius of Iconium () was a Christian bishop of the fourth century, son of a Cappadocian family of distinction, born, perhaps at Caesarea, ca. 339/340, died probably 394–403. He is venerated as a saint on November 22 in the Roman Cathol ...

, of

Methodius of Olympus Methodius of Olympus () (died c. 311) was an early Christian bishop, ecclesiastical author, and martyr. Today, he is honored as a saint and Church Father; the Catholic Church commemorates his feast on June 20. Life Few reports have survived on ...

, and of

Andrew of Crete Andrew of Crete (, c. 650 – July 4, 712 or 726 or 740), also known as Andrew of Jerusalem, was an 8th-century bishop, theologian, homilist,A list of forty of his discourses, together with twenty-one edited sermons, is given in ''Patrologia Gr ...

, together with some writings of John Chrysostom not yet in print. In 1648 appeared his in two parts, exegitical and historico-dogmatic. The , which formed part of the historical section of this work, met with much opposition in Rome, principally because it was at variance with the opinions of Bellarmine and Baronius. In an assembly of the French bishops held in Paris, 1655, an annual subsidy was voted to enable him to carry on his publications, the sum voted being subsequently doubled. In 1656 he edited John Chrysostom's , in 1660 a collection of Acts of the martyrs. In 1662 there appeared the , or "Preachers' Library of the Fathers", a rich and comprehensive work, prepared in a painstaking manner from all the available manuscripts, and containing a short historical account of all the authors whose names appeared in the work. Another important work, , appeared at Paris in 1672. The three following years saw many publications from the pen of Combefis. In 1674 appeared , etc. In 1675 appeared , and in the same year an edition of the works of

Maximus Confessor Maximus the Confessor (), also spelled Maximos, otherwise known as Maximus the Theologian and Maximus of Constantinople ( – 13 August 662), was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar. In his early life, Maximus was a civil servant, and an ...

in two volumes with a Latin translation. A third volume of the works of Maximus Confessor was ready when Combefis died. Perhaps the most important of the works of Combefis is his edition of

Basil of Caesarea Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (330 – 1 or 2 January 379) was an early Roman Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia from 370 until his death in 379. He was an influential theologian who suppor ...

in two volumes, , etc. (Paris, 1679). This shows the critical skill of Combefis at its best, though it was later surpassed by the

Maurist The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), a ...

edition (Paris, 1721–30). Besides these and several other critical editions of works of the

Church Fathers The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were ancient and influential Christian theologians and writers who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of Christianity. The historical peri ...

, there were some polemical works of Combefis.

References

External links

Partial list of works by François Combefis (Post-Reformation Digital Library)
;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Combefis, Francois 1605 births 1679 deaths 17th-century French historians French Dominicans Patristic scholars People from Marmande