Benedict Hesse of Cracow’s Question about the Resurrection from the Commentary to Matthew’s Gospel

Abstract

The article deals with Benedict Hesse of Cracow’s (ca. 1389–1456) question about the resurrection, from the ms Kraków, BJ, 1369, ff. 24r–26r. The article demonstrates that the question comes from the Commentary on Matthew’s Gospel by Hesse and is also preserved in two other manuscripts: ms Kraków, BJ, 1366, pp. 516–521, and ms Città del Vaticano, BAV, Vat.Lat.14646, ff. 161va–163va. On this basis, it is possible to determine the dating of the question’s composition to the years 1446–March 7, 1448. The article also analyses the doctrinal content of the question. Hesse considers the details related to the resurrection in a numerically identical body. The medieval theologian points out the metaphysical possibility of resurrection, its time and place, as well as the material structure of the risen body. A critical edition of the text crowns the article.

Keywords

• Benedict Hesse of Cracow
• resurrection of the body
• University of Cracow
• fifteenth century
• Jagiellonian Library
• Commentary on Matthew’s Gospel