Alexander of Hales and the Introduction of Peter Lombard’s Sentences as the Standard Theological Text (c. 1220 CE)

Around 1220, Alexander of Hales, an English theologian teaching at the University of Paris, became the first master to lecture on Peter Lombard’s Sentences as a formal part of theological education. His decision to adopt the Sentences as the foundational theological textbook set a precedent that would shape scholastic theology for centuries.

Alexander of Hales: A Pioneer of Scholastic Theology

• Born in Hales, England, Alexander began his formal education at the University of Paris in 1201, at the age of 15, studying arts, philosophy, and theology.
• By 1220, he had achieved the rank of master, allowing him to lecture on theology.
• It was during this period that he introduced Peter Lombard’s Sentences as the standard text for theological studies, transforming scholastic education.

Peter Lombard’s Sentences: The New Theological Textbook

• Written in the 12th century, Peter Lombard’s Four Books of Sentences was a systematic compilation of Christian doctrine, structured around:
  1. The Trinity
  2. Creation and sin
  3. The Incarnation and virtues
  4. The sacraments and the Last Things (eschatology)
• Before Alexander’s time, theology was studied primarily through commentaries on Scripture.
• By establishing the Sentences as the standard theological textbook, Alexander shifted theological study toward a structured, question-and-answer format, laying the foundation for scholastic disputation.

Impact and Legacy

1. Standardization of Theological Education

   • The Sentences became the core text for theological study at Paris, Oxford, and other medieval universities.
   • Every major scholastic theologian from Thomas Aquinas to John Duns Scotus and William of Ockham would later be required to write a commentary on the Sentences.

2. Scholastic Methodology

   • Alexander’s use of the Sentences encouraged rigorous logical analysis of theological issues, influencing the development of systematic theology.

3. Establishing the Scholastic Tradition

   • His work helped define the intellectual framework of medieval theology, bridging Augustinian thought with Aristotelian logic.

Alexander of Hales’ decision to lecture on Peter Lombard’s Sentences around 1220 revolutionized the study of theology, cementing the scholastic tradition that would dominate medieval Christian thought for the next three centuries.