Learning in the Middle Ages had the purpose of making it possible to understand the Bible better. This study looks at the assumptions within which Western Bible students from Augustine through the 12th century approached their reading and developed more refined critical methods.

Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; List of ancient and mediaeval sources; Biographical notes; Introduction; Part I. The Background: 1. The monastic way; 2. Bible study in the schools; 3. A standard commentary: the Glossa Ordinaria; Part II. Lectio: Surface and Depths: 4. Words and things and numbers; 5. The historical sense and history; 6. Exegesis and the theory of signification; 7. Transference of meaning; Part III. Disputatio: 8. Questions; 9. Contradictory authorities; 10. A new approach to resolving contradictions; Conclusion; Notes; Select bibliography; Index.