Theophylact

Theophylact was a Byzantine scholar and commentator who lived in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. He was a student of Michael Psellos and later became a tutor to the son of Emperor Romanos IV. Theophylact is primarily known for his extensive commentaries on the New Testament, which were widely read and influential in both the Byzantine East and the Latin West. His works often combined allegorical interpretation with a more literal, grammatical approach, drawing upon a deep knowledge of classical Greek literature and the Church Fathers.

His commentaries covered all four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles of Paul. They are characterized by their clarity, systematic approach, and reliance on earlier exegetical traditions. Theophylact's aim was to make the scriptures accessible to a broader audience and to provide a solid foundation for Christian belief and practice. His writings were preserved and disseminated throughout the medieval period, and they continued to be used by scholars and clergy for centuries after his death. In addition to his biblical commentaries, Theophylact also wrote a history of the Byzantine Empire covering the period from 717 to 1081, and biographical works.