Xavier Léon-Dufour (
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, 7 March 1912–13 November 2007) was a French Jesuit biblical scholar and theologian.
[Les Français qui ont fait la France - Page 822 Philippe Boitel - 2009 "LÉON-DUFOUR (Xavier) 1912-2007 Né et mort à Paris «Théologien jésuite, il fut une grande figure de l'exégèse biblique. » Le Parisien de naissance rejoint Fourvière à Lyon où il s'initie à la philosophie, aux langues anciennes et modernes."] He was professor of the Bible at the
centre Sèvres and director of collections at
éditions du Seuil and
éditions du Cerf.
In the years 1948-1957 he was a lecturer of the Holy Bible in the Jesuit theological faculty of Enghien in Belgium. From there, he moved to Lyon-Fourvière. He was a consultor of the
Pontifical Biblical Commission in Rome and a member of the New Testament study society -
Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas. He published in theological magazines: "Recherches de Science Religieuse" and "
New Testament Studies".
He is best known for his Vocabulary of Biblical Theology, published in 1962, a work that remains, fifty years later, a reference book for students in theology. He has done important work on the synoptic gospels and on the gospel according to John. He took part in the doctrinal controversies that followed the Second Vatican Council.
Xavier Léon-Dufour made the choice to become a priest at the age of 17. While a priest, he was a resistance in the Southwest network during World War II.
He was president of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas in 1980.
Works
*
*
*
* and its English version:
*
*
*
See also
References
1912 births
2007 deaths
French biblical scholars
Roman Catholic biblical scholars
20th-century French Jesuits
20th-century French Catholic theologians
{{France-reli-bio-stub