Open Museum of the Doctrine of Simony PDF
Museum
A growing collection of the texts, images, and objects behind #doreancon2026.
Sources on the table
Book Display
Six interpretive panels, printed on four sheets, introduce the books behind the exhibit, followed by the labels that identify each volume and passage on display.
Foundations · 1140–1234
Classical Canon Law
Gratian and Raymond of Penyafort
The Decretum and the Decretals (Liber Extra) represent the dual pillars of the “Classical Age” of canon law (1140–1234).
The impetus for this era of legal reform was the Investiture Controversy (1076–1122), a pivotal struggle between church and state. The Holy Roman Empire—that is, secular rulers—asserted the right to appoint clergy, a process known as “lay investiture” that often involved the exchange of money or favors for ecclesiastical positions. It was within this historical context that the term “simony” (simonia) first appeared in February 1076.
The Decretum and the Decretals became the foundational reference points for virtually all subsequent treatments of the subject, whether scholastic, proto-Reformer, Roman Catholic, or Protestant. Even when citing earlier authorities—Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory the Great, and others—authors often did not quote them precisely, but as transmitted by these two works.
CollectionCompilerDate
Decretum GratianiGratian of Bolognaca. 1140
Decretales Gregorii IXRaymond of Penyafort1234
The schools · ca. 1155–57
The Sentences
Peter Lombard
The Sentences (Sententiae) primarily consists of categorized statements collected from church fathers. Completed ca. 1155–57, it became the standard theology textbook of the medieval schools. Through the Middle Ages, theological training in the universities often consisted primarily of lectures on the Sentences, and the best theologians produced their own commentaries on it. With over 1,400 known commentaries, it stands as the most frequently analyzed Christian text other than the Bible itself.
Protestants and proto-Reformers objected to this use of the Sentences as the primary source of theology rather than Scripture, and, as can be said of most writings of that era, much of its theology was deficient. However, the same figures who cautioned against its elevated status in education still often referenced it positively. Calvin cited Lombard more than a hundred times in his Institutes alone. Modern theologians continue to debate the proper understanding of the Lombardian formula that Christ’s atonement is “sufficient for all, but efficient only for the elect.”
Lombard briefly addressed simony in Book 4, Distinction 25. Though his comments were minimal, the Sentences’ central role in medieval theology generated substantial written dialogue. Many of the best theological treatments we have on simony come from extended commentaries on that section of his work.
Moral theology · ca. 1236
Vice and Virtue
William Peraldus
William Peraldus authored the Summa virtutum et vitiorum (Summary of Virtues and Vices; ca. 1236) to systematically categorize moral failings and virtues, guiding both confession and preaching.
Within this work, Peraldus wrote a particularly fiery section on simony, likening it to both leprosy and sodomy. Like the affliction of Gehazi, it plagues all it touches. Like the sin of Sodom, it is fruitless and brings destruction. These were not particularly new or unique observations, but he drew out these analogies more extensively than previous or contemporary writings.
Citing this work, Wycliffe—and Hus, following after him—made the same observations. While Peraldus himself was no proto-Reformer, his writing was particularly influential in fueling the rhetoric of the most important proto-Reformers as they addressed the evils of simony.
Scholastic theology · ca. 1271
Summa theologica
Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas addressed simony at length in his major works, including the Summa theologica, Commentary on the Sentences, and various Quodlibets. While he introduced nothing new to the doctrine, he was its most influential student since the writings of Gregory.
In his translation of Wycliffe’s Treatise on Simony, Terrence A. McVeigh noted that the proto-Reformer “seem[ed] to have Aquinas’ exposition of the subject before him” because he invoked his wording and thought so frequently.
Patristic theology · 590–604
Registrum epistolarum
Gregory the Great
Gregory the Great’s correspondence established one of the primary resources for later authors who addressed the sale of spiritual things. At a time when the term simony did not exist, Gregory coined the influential phrase “simoniacal heresy” (haeresis simoniaca).
In the Reformed tradition, Gregory is regarded as the last true bishop of Rome. John Calvin cited him second only to Augustine.
Reformation theology · 1535–1545
Lectures on Genesis
Martin Luther
Luther wrote about simony throughout his writings, but most clearly and at length in his Lectures on Genesis. While he regarded things like indulgences as a form of this sin, it was the sale of preaching and the word of God that for Luther constituted true simony.
Moreover, in these lectures, he identified simony as the heart of all false religion: every rejection of the grace of God is an attempt to exchange our merit for heaven.
Museum Display Labels
The Sentences (ca. 1155–57)
Peter Lombard
Paris, 1508
The Sentences (ca. 1155–57)
Peter Lombard
Lyon, 1540
The Sentences (ca. 1155–57)
Peter Lombard
Lyon, 1618
The Sentences (ca. 1155–57)
Peter Lombard
Cologne, 1566
Decretum (ca. 1140)
Gratian
Paris, 1516
Decretales (1234)
Raymond of Penyafort
Antwerp, 1570
Museum Display Labels
Decretales (1234)
Raymond of Penyafort
Lyon, 1528
Summa virtutum et vitiorum (ca. 1236)
William Peraldus
Mainz, 1618
Summa theologica (ca. 1271)
Thomas Aquinas
Paris, 1846
Registrum epistolarum (590–604)
Gregory the Great
Berlin, 1891
Lectures on Genesis (1535–1545)
Martin Luther
St. Louis, 1955
Tracts and Treatises
John Wycliffe
ed. Robert Vaughan · London, 1845
Museum Display Labels
Matthew’s Bible (Tyndale)
2 Kings 5:18–27, Gehazi’s Curse · 1549
Geneva Bible
Matthew 10:8, “Freely give” · 1577
Geneva Bible
2 Kings 5:1–26, Gehazi’s Sin · 1597
King James Bible
Acts 8:9–24, Simon Magus · 1614
A Compleat History of the Holy Bible (1716)
Engraving, John Sturt
Naaman Cleansed
Foxe’s Acts and Monuments (1563)
Engraving, Cassell edition
John Wycliffe · ca. 1860
Museum Display Labels
Foxe’s Acts and Monuments (1563)
Engraving, Cassell edition
Jan Hus · ca. 1860
Twenty centuries of witnesses
The Quote Wall
Forty-eight cards carry seventy-four passages, arranged four high and twelve across in the order of their speakers’ lives. Select a card to read it, then use the arrow keys to walk the wall.
At full size, the wall is approximately 9.4 ft wide by 3.9 ft tall, with 8.5 × 11-inch cards and 1-inch gutters. Scroll sideways to see all twelve columns.
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#doreancon2026
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confess.catechize.ing
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biblegames.churchPrintable Bible games for family worship, Sunday school, or homeschool fun, plus a daily Bible Verse Wordle.
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books.freely.givingFree Christian books in print, ebook, and HTML formats, including classic works restored with modern typesetting. Download print-ready files to use with your own printer.
Stello
stello.newsSecure newsletter software. Hundreds of missionaries from dozens of mission organisations rely on Stello to stay in touch with their supporters, without compromising their privacy.
Paper Bible
paper.bibleTool for printing Scripture. Print any portion of Scripture, either at home or professionally, in any language, with many options for customising the content and appearance.
fetch(bible)
fetch.bibleBible translations platform. A software platform that provides access to every free Bible translation in the world, so they can be integrated into other apps.
Track Bible
track.bibleBible reading app. A simple app for encouraging believers to read all of Scripture, by ticking off chapters individually as they are read.
Freely Giving
freely.givingPlatform for free resources. A place to learn about freely giving, browse free resources, and get guidance on how to publish them.
Let’s copy, church
copy.churchAdvocacy against copyright. Provides information on the importance of freeing ministry resources from copyright, and instructions on how to do so.
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training.freely.givingTrainings in exegesis and theology. A set of courses for training groups how to faithfully interpret Scripture, that is free to customise and translate.
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sermonindex.netFounded in 2002. Access over 100,000 sermon resources from classic preachers like A. W. Tozer, Leonard Ravenhill, C. H. Spurgeon, etc.
Churchit
churchit.appFree, self-hosted church management for membership, giving, communications, missions, and a church website. Keep full ownership and control of your church data.
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freehebrew.onlineEquipping the global Church with biblical languages and supporting Bible translation around the world.
Baptist Hymnal
baptisthymnal.orgThe goal of BaptistHymnal.org is simple: to provide public-domain hymns and psalms for use in Jesus Christ’s churches and believers’ homes.