LUCAS, FRANCISCUS (BRITGENsis), one or the ablest of the Roman Catholic commentators, was born at Bruges in 1549. He studied under Arias Montanus, was a licentiate of theology of Louvain, and Dean of St. Omers, and died at the age of seventy, Feb. 19, 1619. He was celebrated for his knowledge of the sacred languages, and their cognate dialects ; and was appointed to superin tend the edition of the Biblia A'egia, brought out by Plantin, the famous printer of Antwerp, tinder the auspices of Philip II. of Spain. The work by which he is principally known is his Commentarius in Qnatuor Evangelia, Antw. 1606, which was completed by Supplementnm Commentar. in Luc. et Joann., Antw. 1612, 1616. The commentary is preceded by a harmony of the gospels under the title of Itinerarium 7. Ch., and has appended to it a dissertation on the Chaldee paraphrase. This work originated in his compliance with a request of Plantin that Lucas would compile Scholia on the N. T. similar to those of Vatablus on the O. T. The work grew on his hands and became a com mentary, and one of no ordinary merit. Entirely passing by, or alluding in the briefest manner to the mystical sense, and omitting all doctrinal dis cussions, he explains clearly and concisely the literal meaning, illustrating it frequently from the Greek and Latin fathers, as well as from later writers of authority, though never burdening his pages with lists of conflicting authorities. His
plan is a simple one, and judiciously carried out. He chooses one sense, and that the one which the sacred writer appeared to have had in view, and briefly expounds and illustrates that, never distract ing his readers with varying interpretations only mentioned to be rejected. Lucas had no mean critical ability, and his knowledge of Greek, He brew, and Syriac, was exact and trustworthy. A truly devotional spirit breathes through the whole. He was also the compiler of Notationes in Sacr.
Amst. 1581, with a careful summary of the various readings, which were also appended to the edition of the Vulgate that appeared from the press of Plantin with Emman. Sa's notes, Antw. 1624, under the title Fr. LliCiE, Roman. correct. in Bibl. Latin. loc. insignthra. He also produced a Concordance of the Pidgate, corrected and aug mented by Herbert Phalesius and Benedict of Afflighem, Antw. 1606 (best edition, Antw. 1642). _E. v.