Jan Mazerski sdb (1901-1944), biblical scholar and orientalist  Cover Image

Jan Mazerski SDB (1901-1944), biblista i orientalista
Jan Mazerski sdb (1901-1944), biblical scholar and orientalist

Author(s): Sylwester Jędrzejewski
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe Franciszka Salezego (TNFS)
Keywords: Mazerski; Bible; biblical scholar; orientalist; Jagiellonian University in Cracow

Summary/Abstract: After studying in Rome and Jerusalem and conducting scientific explorations in Egypt, Eng-land, Holland, and France, Fr. John Mazerski served as a theologian and biblical scholar in Poland from 1933 to 1944. He was one of those scholars who in the fourth decade of the twentieth century reinvigorated Polish science, deepening expertise in biblical studies. He drew extensively on cur-rent archeological discoveries, particularly texts of neighboring cultures of Israel, to verify existing views. He believed that it is necessary in biblical exegesis to include the wider oriental cultural and religious environment because it has a significant effect on the shape and meaning of the biblical text. He included Jewish apocryphal literature among significant research sources. His study of the biblical texts in their original languages, search for ancient models which help to understand the biblical message, and respect for the Vulgate, the Bible of the Church, indicate that Fr. J. Mazer-ski was a biblical scholar, serving the Church in a competent and modern way. Unfortunately, he departed prematurely, dying in a bomb attack during World War II, only partially fulfilling his research, teaching and publishing intentions.

  • Issue Year: 35/2014
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 11-19
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Polish