Xavier Léon-Dufour
French theologian (1912–2007)

Xavier Léon-Dufour (Paris, 7 March 1912–13 November 2007) was a French Jesuit biblical scholar and theologian. He was professor of the Bible at the centre Sèvres and director of collections at éditions du Seuil and éditions du Cerf.
Xavier Léon-Dufour made the choice to become a priest at the age of 17. While a priest, he worked with the resistance in the Southwest network during World War II.
In the years 1948-1957 he was a lecturer of the Holy Bible in the Jesuit theological faculty of Enghien in Belgium. From there, he moved to Lyon-Fourvière. He was a consultor of the Pontifical Biblical Commission in Rome and a member of the New Testament study society - Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas. He published in theological magazines: "Recherches de Science Religieuse" and "New Testament Studies".
He is best known for his 'Vocabulary of Biblical Theology'. This work, published in 1962, remains, fifty years later, a reference book for students in theology. He also did important work on the synoptic gospels and on the gospel according to John.
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