Summi disertissimi theologi, sacris dutaxat literis omnia probantis, in XII. prophetas minores, commentariorum libri XXXII. (...).

“Rupert of Deutz (ca. 1075-1129) is widely recognised as one of the most prolific writers of the Middle Ages. Along with other Church Fathers such as Augustine of Hippo, his work occupies more than three volumes of the Patrologia Latina. During his lifetime, he devoted more than twenty years to tireless commentary on the Scriptures and was involved in many theological debates. His writings touched almost all of the genres of religious literature for that period: numerous biblical commentaries (on all the historical books in the Old Testament, on the twelve Prophets, on the Gospels of Mathew and John, and on the Apocalypse), commentaries on the Rule of St. Benedict, two Lives of Saints and more apologetic works. The fact that his works are preserved in more than 250 manuscripts is a testament to his popularity, especially across the German Empire (and more specifically, the ecclesiastical provinces of Cologne and Salzburg). More than half of these manuscripts date from the middle of the twelfth century, and thereafter his influence appears to have dwindled dramatically. This noticeable phenomenon witnesses the vicissitudes of traditional Benedictine monasticism during the transformative period of the first half of the twelfth century.” (Teng Li, The Holy Spirit in Twelfth-Century Thoughts:  Rupert of Deutz (ca 1075-1129) and Anselm of Havelberg (ca 1095-1158).

Johannes Cochlaeus, a Deacon of the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Frankfurt, lived in exile in Cologne where he became acquainted with the Abbot of Deutz through his host George Lauer. Cochlaeus learned that certain works of Rupert were to be published by Lutherans in Nuremberg. He strongly opposed and tried to obstruct this effort because the Lutherans had previously struggled to find medieval authors who supported Luther's doctrines. When a book by Rupert was discovered and favored by Lutherans, they sought more of his works. Osiander, a married priest and preacher, added Lutheran ideas to Rupert's writings before their publication. Cochlaeus persuaded publishers Peter Quentell and Arnold Birckmann to print Rupert's works and promised to oversee the edition. As demand grew, Cochlaeus and the Abbot of Deutz gathered more volumes of Rupert's writings from various sources. 

Rupert of Deutz influenced theologians and thinkers in the medieval period and particularly within the Benedictine tradition. His writings were widely read and respected during his time and in the centuries that followed.

Adams R-935.
Graesse VI, 193.
BM STC German, 1455-1600, P. 762.