Grosseteste, Robert

Grosseteste, Robert (c.1170–1253), Bp. of Lincoln. Little is known of his early life. By 1225 he was lecturing on theology at Oxford; about 1230 he gave up his position as university lecturer to become the first lector to the recently established community of Franciscans outside the city walls of Oxford. In 1235 he became Bp. of Lincoln.

Until 1225 he was mainly occupied with scientific studies. His most important work in this field was a commentary on Aristotle's Posterior Analytics. Between c.1225 and 1235 he produced most of his theological works, notably the Hexaemeron, De Decem Mandatis, De Cessatione Legalium, and commentaries on the Psalms and Galatians. He also acquired a competence in Greek hitherto almost unparalleled in the W. As bishop he employed a group of scholars to carry through large enterprises of translation from Greek to Latin; these included the works of Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite and commentaries on them and the Ethics of Aristotle with commentaries. He also translated part of the works of St John of Damascus, St Basil, the newly-discovered Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, and the Greek lexicon ascribed to Suidas.

In his episcopal work he showed energy and dedication. He promoted political action against the intrusion of royal and Papal officials into parochial benefices. He made a famous appeal in person on the subject to Innocent IV at Lyons in 1250. He denounced the abuses of power by Papal officials, the curia, and the Pope himself, proposing reforms. Feast day in the American BCP (1979) and CW, 9 Oct.