Richard Simon and the tiers parti

Abstract Recent scholarship has sought to reinterpret the French biblical scholar Richard Simon, viewing him less as unwitting participant in an agenda of radical secularisation, and more culmination centuries humanistic learning. This article repositions this rehabilitated Simon within contested theological landscape late seventeenth century Catholicism. Drawing upon Simon’s exchanges with Jansenist Antoine Arnauld Jesuit Dominique Bouhours concerning translation New Testament into French, it argues that critical approach scripture can be seen as—and himself defined as—representative a tiers parti . stood outside structural divisions Catholicism between Jansenists Molinists, advocates efficacious sufficient grace. It deployed historical criticism bolster authority Tradition, undermine rational speculative theology, mollify intra-confessional division.