96 This
is the twenty-second work of God. Jewish and Christian exegetes
say that God performed twenty-two works. Out of which we counted
a little earlier twenty-one works in six days. The twenty-second
is the prepared kingdom of the future age and spiritual contemplation.
On account of this they enumerate their entire Old Testament in
twenty-two books. But they do not know why, nor do they know the
mystery of the twenty-second number. Nor do they think that the
number twenty consists of two perfect numbers or number tens,
signifying that Christ, composed of two perfect parts (from divinity
and humanity), wrote two testaments, the Mosaic Decalogue and
the Gospel (Anastasius of Antioch, In Hexameron, VII. PG 89.940.
Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University
of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Hoc
est enim vicesimum secundum Dei opus, viginti enim duo opera fecisse
Deum dicunt, et Judaeorum et Christianorum interpretes. Ex quibus
quidem viginti et unum jam paulo ante enumeravimus facta in sex
diebus. Vicesimum autem secundum est futuri saeculi paratum regnum,
et spiritualis contemplatio. Propterea viginti quoque duobus libris
enumerat omne Vetus suum Testamentum. Sed neque novit quamobrem,
neque scit mysterium vicesimi secundi numeri. Neque cogitat quod
vicesimus quidem numerus constat ex duobus perfectis numeris seu
numerus denariis, significans Christum ex duobus perfectis compositum
(ex divinitate, inquam, et humanitate) duo testamenta scripsisse;
Mosaicum, inquam, Decalogum, et Evangelium (Anastasius of Antioch,
In Hexameron, VII. PG 89.940).
97 NPNF2, Vol. 14, The Seven Ecumenical Councils,
The Canons of the Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Council, Canon I,
p. 555.
98 Charles Joseph Hefele, A History of the Councils
of the Church (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1895), Volume IV, p.
242.
99 NPNF2, Vol. 14, The Seven Ecumenical Councils,
The Canons of the Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Council, Canon I,
Notes, p. 556.
100 It has also seemed good to this holy Council,
that the eighty-five canons, received and ratified by the holy
and blessed Fathers before us, and also handed down to us in the
name of the holy and glorious Apostles should from this time forth
remain firm and unshaken for the cure of souls and the hearing
of disorders. And in these canons we are bidden to receive the
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles written by Clement. But formerly
through the agency of those who erred from the faith certain adulterous
matter was introduced, clean contrary to piety, for the polluting
of the Church, which obscures the elegance and beauty of the divine
decrees in their present form. We therefore reject these Constitutions
so as the better to make sure of the edification and security
of the most Christian flock; by no means admitting the offspring
of heretical error, and cleaving to the pure and perfect doctrine
of the Apostles. But we set our seal likewise upon all the other
holy canons set forth by our holy and blessed Fathers, that is,
by the 318 holy God-bearing Fathers assembled at Nice, and those
at Ancyra, further those at Neocesarea and likewise those at Gangra,
and besides, those at Antioch in Syria: those too at Laodicea
in Plirygia: and likewise the 150 who assembled in this heaven-protected
royal city: and the 200 who assembled the first time in the metropolis
of the Ephesians, and the 630 holy and blessed Fathers at Chalcedon.
In like manner those of Sardica, and those of Carthage: those
also who again assembled in this heaven-protected royal city under
its bishop Nectarius and Theophilus Archbishop of Alexandria.
Likewise too the Canons [i.e. the decretal letters] of Dionysius,
formerly Archbishop of the great city of Alexandria; and of Peter,
Archbishop of Alexandria and Martyr; of Gregory the Wonder-worker,
Bishop of Neocaesarea; of Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria;
of Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia; of Gregory, Bishop
of Nyssa; of Gregory Theologus; of Amphilocius of lconium ; of
Timothy, Archbishop of Alexandria; of Theophilus, Archbishop of
the same great city of Alexandria; of Cyril, Archbishop of the
same Alexandria ; of Gennadius, Patriarch of this heaven-protected
royal city. Moreover the Canon set forth by Cyprian, Archbishop
of the country of the Africans and Martyr, and by the Synod under
him, which has been kept only in the country of the aforesaid
Bishops according to the custom delivered down to them. And that
no one be allowed to transgress or disregard the aforesaid canons,
or to receive others beside them, supposititiously set forth by
certain who have attempted to make a traffic of the truth. But
should any one be convicted of innovating upon, or attempting
to overturn, any of the aforementioned canons, he shall be subject
to receive the penalty which that canon imposes, and to be cured
by it of his transgression (NPNF2, Vol. 14, The Seven Ecumenical
Councils, The Canons of the Council of Trullo, Canon II, p. 361).
101 Let the following books be counted venerable
and sacred by all of you, both clergy and Laity. Of the Old Testament,
five books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy;
of Joshua the Son of Nun, one; of the Judges, one; of Ruth, one;
of the Kings, four; of the Chronicles of the book of the days,
two; of Ezra, two; of Esther, one; [some texts read 'of Judith,
one'; of the Maccabees, three; of Job, one; of the Psalter, one;
of Solomon, three, viz.: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song
of Songs; of the Prophets, twelve; of Isaiah, one; of Jeremiah,
one; of Ezekiel, one; of Daniel, one. But besides these you are
recommended to teach your young persons the Wisdom of the very
learned Sirach. Our own books, that is, those of the New Testament,
are: the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; fourteen
Epistles of Paul; two Epistles of Peter; three of John; one of
James, and one of Jude. Two Epistles of Clemens, and the Constitutions
of me Clemens, addressed to you Bishops, in eight books, which
are not to be published to all on account of the mystical things
in them. And the Acts of us the Apostles (NPNF2, Vol. 14, The
Seven Ecumenical Councils, The Apostolical Canons, Canon LXXXV).
102 Notitia librorum apocryphorum qui non recipiuntur:
Liber qui appellatur Canones apostolorum, apocryphus (Decretum
Gelasianum: De Libris Recipiendis et Non Recipiendis. PL 59:163).
Liber qui appellatur Canones apostolorum, apocryphus (Decretale,
In Urbe Roma ab Hormisda Papa. PL 62:540).
Regarding the rejection of the Apostolical Canons as apocryphal
and therefore not canonical by Pope Hormisdas, Hefele states:
'Pope Hormisdas
explicitly declared the Apostolic Canons
to be apocryphal' (Charles Joseph Hefele, A History of the Councils
of the Church (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1895), Vol. 1, p.
451).
103 NPNF2, Vol. 14, The Seven Ecumenical Councils,
Appendix Containing Canons and Rulings not Having Conciliar Origin
But Approved by Name in Canon II of the Synod of Trullo, Appendix
VIII, From the Iambics of St. Amphilochius the Bishop to Seleucus,
on the Same Subject (The Canon of Holy Scripture), Note, p. 612.
104 Observe, further, that there are two and twenty
books of the Old Testament, one for each letter of the Hebrew
tongue. For there are twenty-two letters of which five are double,
and so they come to be twenty-seven...And thus the number of the
books in this way is twenty-two, but is found to be twenty-seven
because of the double character of five. For Ruth is joined on
to Judges, and the Hebrews count them one book: the first and
second books of Kings are counted one: and so are the third and
fourth books of Kings: and also the frirst and second of Paraleipomena:
and the first and second of Esdra. In this way, then, the books
are collected together in four Pentateuchs and two others remain
over, to form thus the canonical books. Five of them are of the
Law, viz. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. This
which is the code of the Law, constitutes the first Pentateuch.
Then comes another Pentateuch, the so-called Grapheia, or as they
are called by some, the Hagiographa, which are the following:
Jesus the Son of Nave, Judges along with Ruth, first and second
Kings, which are one book, third and fourth Kings, which are one
book, and the two books of the Paraleipomena which are one book.
This is the second Pentateuch. The third Pentateuch is the books
in verse, viz. Job, Psalms, Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes
of Solomon and the Song of Songs of Solomon. The fourth Pentateuch
is the Prophetical books, viz the twelve prophets constituting
one book, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel. Then come the two
books of Esdra made into one, and Esther.
There are also the Panaretus, that is the Wisdom of Solomon, and
the Wisdom of Jesus, which was published in Hebrew by the father
of Sirach, and afterwards translated into Greek by his grandson,
Jesus, the son of Sirach. These are virtuous and noble, but are
not counted nor were they placed in the ark (Philip Schaff and
Henry Wace, Nicene and Post-NiceneFathers (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1955), Series Two, Volume IX, John of Damascus, Exposition of
the Orthodox Faith, Chapter XVII).
105 These were the divine Scriptures delivered into
the canon by the Church and the number of their verses, as follows
1. Genesis has 4300 verses, 2. Exodus 2800, 3. Leviticus 2700,
Numbers 3530, 5. Deuteronomy, 3100, 6. Joshua 2100, 7. Judges
and Ruth 2050, 8. first and second Kings, 4240, 9. third and fourth
Kings 2203, 10. first and second Chronicles 5500, 11. first and
second Ezra 5500, 12. Psalms 5100, 13. Proverbs of Solomon 1700,
14. Ecclesiastes 7500, 15. Song of Songs 280, 16. Job 1800, 17.
the prophet Isaiah 3800, 18. the prophet Jeremiah 4000, 19. Baruch
700, 20. Ezechiel 4000, 21. Daniel 2200, 22. the twelve prophets
3000. Total of the books of the Old Testament: 22.
These scriptures of the Old Testament are doubtful. 1. Three books
of the Maccabees 7300 verses, 2. Wisdom of Solomon 100, 3. Wisdom
of the Son of Sirach 2800, 4. Psalms and Songs of Solomon 2100,
5. Esther 350, 6. Judith 1700, 7. Susanna 500, 8. Tobit which
is also Tobias, 700 (S. Nicephori Patriarchae CP, Chronographia
Brevis, Quae Scripturae Canonicae I, II, PG 1057-1058. Translation
by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University of Notre
Dame).
i. kai; o}sai eijsi; qeivai
grafai; ejkklhsiazovmenai kai; kekanonismevnai, kai; hJ touvtwn
sticometriva ou{tw~. - a v. Gevnesi~: stivcoi, dtv. - b v. [Exodo~:
stivcoi, bw v. - g v. Leuitkovn: stivcoi, by v. - d v. jAriqmoiv:
stivcoi, gfl v. - e v. Deuteronovmion: stivcoi, grv. - ~ v. jIhsou`~:
stivcoi, br v. - z v. Kritai; kai; JRouvq: stivcoi, bn v. - h
v. Basileiw`n av kai; b: stivcoi, dsm v. - q v. Basileiw`n g v
kai; d v: stivcoi, bsg v. - i v. Paraleipovmena av kai; b v:
stivcoi, ef v. - ia v. [Esdra~ a v kai; b v: stivcoi, ef v. -
ib v. Bivblo~ Yalmw'n: stivcoi, ay v. - ig v. Paroimivai Solomw'nto~:
stivcoi, ay v. - id v. jEkklhsiasthv~: stivcoi f v. - iev.
j'Asma aj/smavtwn: stivcoi sp v. - i~ v. jIwb: stivcoi, aw v.
- iz v. jHsaiva~ profhvth~: stivcoi, gw v. - ih v. jIeremiva~
profhvth~: stivcoi, d v. - iq v. Bapouvc: stivcoi, y v. - k v.
jIezekihvl: stivcoi, d v. - ka v. Danihvl: stivcoi, b v. - kb
v. OiJ dwvdeka profhvtai: stivcoi, g v. - JOmou` th`~
palaia`~ diaqhvkh~ bibliva ei[kosi duvo.
iii. Kai; o{sai ajntilevgontai th`~ palaia`~ auJtaiv eijsin. -
a v. Makkabai>kav g v: stivcoi, zt v. - b v. Sofiva Solomw'nto~:
stivcoi, ar v. - g v. Sofiva uiJou` tou` Sipavc: stivcoi, bw v.
- d v. Yalmoi; kai; wj/dai; Solomw`nto~: stivcoi, br v. - e v.
jEsqhjp: stivcoi tn v. - ~ v. Kai; jIoudhvq: stivcoi, ay v.
z v. Swvsanna: stivcoi, f v. - h v. Twbh;t oJ kai; Tobiva~: stivcoi
y v. (S. Nicephori Patriarchae CP, Chronographia
Brevis, Quae Scripturae
Canonicae I, II, PG 1057-1058).
Latin Reference: Quae
divinae Scripturae ab Ecclesia, et in canonem relate sunt. Earumque
versuum numerus, ut subjicitur. 1. Genesis versus habet 4300,
2. Exodus versus 2800, 3. Leviticus vers. 2700, 4. Numeri vers.
3530, 5. Deuteronomium vers. 3100, 6. Jesus vers. 2100, 7. Judices
et Ruth vers. 2050, 8. Regnorum primus et secundus vers. 4240,
9. Regnorum tertius et quartus vers. 2203, 10. Paralipomenon primus
et secundus vers. 5500, 11. Esdrae primus et secundus vers. 5500,
12. Liber Psalmorum vers. 5100, 13. Paroemiae Salamonis vers.
1700, 14. Ecclesiastes vers. 7500, 15. Canticum canticorum vers.
280, 16. Job vers. 1800, 17. Isaias propheta vers. 3800, 18. Jeremias
propheta vers. 4000, 19. Baruch vers. 700, 20. Ezechiel vers.
4000, 21. Daniel vers. 2000, 22. Duodecim prophetae vers. 3000.
Veteris Testamenti librorum summa 22.
Quae dubiantur Veteris testamenti. 1. Maccabaeorum libri tres
vers. 7300, 2. Sapientia Salomonis vers. 100, 3. Sapientia filii
Sirach vers. 2800, 4. Psalmi et Cantica Salomonis vers. 2100,
5. Esther (vers. 350), 6. Et Judith vers. 1700, 7. Sossana vers.
500, 8. Tobit qui et Tobias vers. 700 (S. Nicephori Patriarchae
CP, Chronographia Brevis, Quae Scripturae Canonicae I, II, PG
1057-1058).
106 What books it is fitting to read in churches
both the last canon of the apostles and the sixtieth of the synod
of Laodicena have established. Also, Athanasius the Great enumerates
all the books which were written as do Gregory Nazianzen and St.
Amphilochius (Commentary on the Council of Carthage, Canon XXVII.
Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University
of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Quos
libros legere in ecclesiis oporteat, et postremus apostolorum
canon et Laodicenae synodi indesexagesimus statuit: et magnus
Athanasius, qui libri legendi sint, omnes enumerat, et magnus
Gregorius Theologus, et sanctus Amphilochius (Commentary on the
Council of Carthage, Canon XXVII, PG 138:122).
107 How many books it is fitting to be read in church,
seek out canons 40 and 85 of the holy apostles, canon 60 of the
synod of Laodicena of St Gregory Nazianzen, and the canonical
writings of Sts. Athanasius and Amphilochius (Commentary on the
Council of Carthage, Canon XXVII. Translation by Benjamin Penciera,
University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference:
Quosnam libros legi in ecclesia
oporteat, quaere sanctorum apostolorum canones 40 et 85, Laod.
syn. can. 60, sancti Gregorii Theologi ea quae metro scripsit,
et sancti Athanasii canonica et sancti Amphilochii (Commentary
on the Council of Carthage, Canon XXVII, PG 138:122).
108 Chapter 12. The Division of Holy Scripture According
to Jerome. Holy authority according to Jerome is divided into
two testaments, that is, into the Old and the New; into the Law,
that is Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy;
into the Prophets, which are Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezechiel, Daniel, and the books of the twelve prophets;
into the Hagiography, which are Job, David, Solomon, Proverbs,
Ecclesiasticus, Song of Songs, Chronicles, that is Paralipomenon,
Ezra, and Esther; into the Gospels, which are Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John; after them follow the Epistles of the apostles, two
of Peter, fourteen of Paul, three of John, one of James, one of
Jude, one book of the Acts of the Apostles of Luke, and one book
of the Apocalypse of John.
It should be clearly know that St. Jerome read and corrected the
translation of various people for this reason, that he saw that
they in no way resounded with Hebrew authority. Whence it was
done that he translated with diligent care all the books of the
Old Testament from the Hebrew source into Latin idiom. And he
fittingly brought them to [us] in the same way that there are
twenty-two letters that the Hebrew use, through which all wisdom
is known and the written memory of things said in the past is
preserved. To this are added the twenty-seven books of the New
Testament, which are at once collected together into forty-nine.
To this number add the omnipotent and indivisible Trinity, through
which these things were done, and on account of which those things
were foretold, and it doubtlessly makes the number fifty, which,
in the likeness of the jubilee year, loosens debts out of the
great piety of the generous and releases absolutely the sins of
the penitent. We consider that this encyclopedia ought to have
been written in a rather small hand in fifty-three gatherings
of four sheets on account of the abundance of reading, so that
what the abundant reading should hold out, the united compactness
of writing might draw in. We ought also remember that the renowned
Jerome structured his entire translation in holy authority (as
he himself testifies) with punctuation and divisions on account
of the simplicity of the brothers, so that those who understand
very little of the ornamentation of secular literature, having
been propped up by this remedy, might read aloud without fault
these most sacred passages.
Chapter 13. The division of Scripture according to Augustine.
Holy Scripture according to the blessed Augustine is divided into
two Testaments, that is the Old and the New. In history there
are twenty-two books, that is the five books of Moses, one book
of Joshua, one book of Judges, on book of Ruth, four books of
Kings, two books of Chronicles, one book of Job, one book of Tobit,
one book of Esther, one book of Judith, two books of Ezra, and
two books of Maccabees. In the Prophets there are twenty-two books,
one book of the Psalms of David, four books of Solomon, one book
of Jesus son of Sirach, the four major prophets, that is Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezechiel, and Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets,
that is Osee, Joel, Amos, Abdias, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakuk,
Sophonias, Zachariah, Aggeus, and Malachi. In the Epistles of
the apostles there are twenty-one, that is one of the apostle
Paul to the Romans, two to the Corinthians, one to the Galatians,
one to the Ephesians, one to the Philippians, two to the Thessalonians,
one to the Colossians, two to Timothy, one to Titus, one to Philemon,
one to the Hebrews; two letters of Peter, three of John, one of
Jude, one of James. In the Gospels there are four books, according
to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In the Acts of the Apostles
there is one book. In the Apocalypse there is one book. And so
blessed Augustine in the second book of on Christian Doctrine
understands divine Scriptures by the reckoning of seventy-one
books according to the aforementioned nine volumes which the Church
studies. When you add to these the unity of the Holy Trinity a
fitting and glorious perfection of the entire book is made.
Chapter 14 The division of Scripture according to the old translation
and according to the Septuagint. Holy Scripture according to the
old translation is divided into two Testaments, that is into the
Old and the New: into Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy;
Joshua, Judges; Ruth; four books of Kings; two books of Chronicles;
the Psalter; five books of Solomon that is Proverbs, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus,
Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, the Prophets, that is Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezechiel, Daniel, Osee, Amos, Micah, Joel, Abdias, Jonah,
Nahm, Habakuk, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachariah, Malachi, who was
also an angel, Job, Tobit, Esther, Judith, two books of Ezra,
two books of Maccabees. After these follow the four Evangelists,
that is Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Acts of the Apostles,
the Letters of Peter to the Gentiles, of Jude, of James to the
twelve tribes, of John to the Parthians, the letters of Paul,
one to the Romans, two to the Corinthians, one to the Galatians,
one to the Philippians, one to the Colossians, one to the Hebrews,
two to the Thessalonians, two to Timothy, one to Titus, one to
Philemon, the Apocalypse of John (M. Aurelii Cassiodori, De Institutione
Divinarum Litterarum, Caput XII, XIII, XIV. PL 70:1122D-1125C.
Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University
of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference:
Caput XII. Divisio Scripturae
divinae secundum Hieronymum. Auctoritas divina secundum sanctum
Hieronymum in Testamenta duo ita dividitur, id est, in Vetus et
Novum. In Legem, id est, Genesim, Exodum, Leviticum, Numerorum,
Deuteronomium. In Prophetas, qui sunt Jesu Nave, Judicum, Ruth,
Samuel, Isaias, Jeremias, Ezechiel, Daniel, libri duodecim prophetarum.
In Hagiographos, qui sunt Job, David, Salomon, Proverbia, Ecclesiasticus,
Canticum canticorum. Verba dierum, id est, Paralipomenon, Esdras,
Esther. In Evangelistas, qui sunt Matthaeus, Marcus, Lucas, Joannes.
Post hos sequuntur Epistolae apostolorum, Petri duae, Pauli quatuordecim,
Joannis tres, Jacobi una, Judae una, Actuum apostolorum Lucae
liber unus, et Apocalypsis Joannis liber unus.
Sciendum est plane sanctum Hieronymum ideo diversorum translationes
legisse atque correxisse, eo quod auctoritati Hebraicae nequaquam
eas perspiceret consonare. Unde factum est ut omnes libros Veteris
Testamenti diligenti cura in Latinum sermonem de Hebraeo fonte
transfunderet, et ad viginti duarum litterarum modum, qui apud
Hebraeos manet, competenter adduceret; per quas omnis sapientia
discitur, et memoria dictorum in aevum scripta servatur. Huic
etiam adjecti sunt Novi Testamenti libri viginti septem, qui colliguntur
simul quadraginta novem. Cui numero adde omnipotentem et indivisibilem
Trinitatem, per quam haec facta, et propter quam ista praedicta
sunt, et quinquagenarius numerus indubitanter efficitur; qui ad
instar jubilaei anni magna pietate beneficii debita relaxat, et
pure poenitentium peccata dissolvit. Hunc autem pandecten propter
copiam lectionis minutiore manu in quaternionibus quinquaginta
tribus aestimavimus conscribendum, ut quod lectio copiosa tetendit,
scripturae densitas adunata contraheret. Meminisse autem debemus
memoratum Hieronymum omnem translationem suam in auctoritate divina
(sicut ipse testatur) propter simplicitatem fratrum colis et commatibus
ordinasse; ut qui distinctiones saecularium litterarum comprehendere
minime potuerunt, hoc remedio suffulti, inculpabiliter pronuntiarent
sacratissimas lectiones.
Caput XIII. Divisio Scripturae divinae secundum Augustinum. Scriptura
divina secundum beatum Augustinum in Testamenta duo ita dividitur,
id est in Vetus et Novum. In historia sunt libri viginti duo,
id est, Moysi libri quinque, Jesu Nave liber unus, Judicum liber
unus, Ruth liber unus, Regum libri quatuor, Paralipomenon libri
duo, Job liber unus, Tobiae liber unus, Esther liber unus, Judith
liber unus, Esdrae libri duo, Machabaeorum libri duo. In Prophetis
libri viginti duo, David Psalmorum [ms. Aud., Psalterium] liber
unus, Salomonis libri quatuor, Jesu filii Sirach liber unus. Prophetae
majores quatuor, id est, Isaias, Jeremias, Ezechiel, Daniel; et
minores duodecim, id est, Osee, Joel, Amos, Abdias, Jonas, Michaeas,
Nahum, Habacuc, Sophonias, Zacharias, Aggaeus, Malachias. In Epistolis
apostolorum viginti una, id est, Pauli apostoli ad Romanos una,
ad Corinthios duae, ad Galatas una, ad Ephesios una, ad Philippenses
una, ad Thessalonicenses duae, ad Colossenses una, ad Timotheum
duae, ad Titum una, ad Philemonem una, ad Hebraeos una; Petri
duae, Joannis tres, Judae una, Jacobi una. In Evangeliis quatuor,
id est, secundum Matthaeum, secundum Marcum, secundum Lucam, secundum
Joannem. In Actibus apostolorum liber unus. In Apocalypsi liber
unus. Beatus igitur Augustinus secundum praefatos novem codices,
quos sancta meditatur Ecclesia, secundo libro (Cap. 8) de Doctrina
Christiana, Scripturas divinas septuaginta unius librorum calculo
comprehendit: quibus cum sanctae Trinitatis addideris unitatem,
fit totius libri competens et gloriosa perfectio.
Caput XIV. Divisio Scripturae divinae secundum antiquam translationem
et secundum Septuaginta. Scriptura sancta secundum antiquam translationem
in Testamenta duo ita dividitur, id est, in Vetus et Novum. In
Genesim, Exodum, Leviticum, Numerorum, Deuteronomium, Jesu Nave,
Judicum, Ruth, Regum libros quatuor, Paralipomenon libros duos,
Psalterii librum unum, Salomonis libros quinque, id est, Proverbia,
Sapientiam, Ecclesiasticum, Ecclesiasten, Canticum canticorum,
Prophetas, id est, Isaiam, Jeremiam, Ezechielem, Danielem, Osee,
Amos, Michaeam, Joel, Abdiam, Jonam, Nahum, Habacuc, Sophoniam,
Aggaeum, Zachariam, Malachiam qui et Angelus, Job, Tobiam, Esther,
Judith, Esdrae duos, Machabaeorum duos. Post haec sequuntur Evangelistae
quatuor, id est, Matthaeus, Marcus, Lucas, Joannes, Actus apostolorum,
Epistolae Petri ad gentes, Judae, Jacobi ad duodecim tribus, Joannis
ad Parthos, Epistolae Pauli ad Romanos una, ad Corinthios duae,
ad Galatas una, ad Philippenses una, ad Colossenses una, ad Hebraeos
una, ad Thessalonicenses duae, ad Timotheum duae, ad Titum una,
ad Philemonem una, Apocalypsis Joannis (M. Aurelii Cassiodori,
De Institutione Divinarum Litterarum, Caput XII, XIII, XIV, PL
70:1122D-1125C).
109 Which books are accepted in the canon a brief
summary will show. These are the ones which you wish to be reminded
of by the voice you longed for: the five books of Moses, that
is, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; and Joshua,
one book of Judges, four books of Kings, also Ruth and sixteen
books of Prophets, five books of Solomon, the Psalter; likewise
of the histories, one book of Job, one book of Tobias, one of
Esther, one of Judith, two of Maccabees, two of Ezra, two books
of Chronicles (Epistola VI: Exsuperio: episcopo Tolosano salutem,
Cap. VII,13. Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute,
University of Notre Dame).
Qui vero libri recipiantur in canone, brevis annexus ostendit.
Haec sunt quae desiderata moneri voce voluisti: Moysi libri quinque,
id est, Genesis, Exodi, Levitici, Numeri, Deuteronomii, et Jesu
Nave, Judicum unus, Regnorum libri quatuor, simul et Ruth, Prophetarum
libri sexdecim, Salomonis libri quinque, Psalterium. Item historiarum,
Job liber unus, Tobi liber unus, Esther unus, Judith unus, Machabaeorum
duo, Esdrae duo, Paralipomenon libri duo (Epistola VI: Exsuperio:
episcopo Tolosano salutem, Cap. VII,13. PL 20:501-502).
110 The order of the books of the Old Testament
which the holy and catholic Roman Church accepts and honors, summarized
by blessed pope Gelasius I with seventy bishops: one book of Genesis,
one of Exodus, one of Leviticus, one of Numbers, one of Deuteronomy;
one book of Joshua, one of Judges, one of Ruth, four of Kings,
two of Chronicles, one books of 150 Psalms, three of Solomon:
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, likewise one book
of Wisdom, one of Ecclesiasticus. The order of the prophets: one
book of Isaiah, one of Jeremiah, Cinoth, that is his lamentations,
one of Ezechiel, one of Daniel, one of Osee, one of Amos, one
of Micah, one of Joel, one of Abdias, one of Jonah, one of Nahum,
one of Habakuk, one of Sophonias, one of Haggah, one of Zachariah,
one of Malachi. Likewise the order of the histories: one book
of Job, one book of Tobias omitted by others, one of Ezra, one
of Esther, one of Judith, one of Maccabees (Decretum Gelasianum:
De Libris Recipiendis et Non Recipiendis. Translation by Benjamin
Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference:
Ordo librorum Veteris Testamenti
quem sancta et catholica Romana suscipit et veneratur Ecclesia,
digestus a beato Gelasio papa I cum septuaginta episcopis: Genesis
liber unus. Exodi liber unus. Levitici liber unus. Numeri liber
unus. Deuteronomii liber unus. Jesu nave [Josue] liber unus. Judicum
liber unus. Ruth liber unus. Regnorum [Regum] libri quatuor. Paralipomenon
libri duo. Psalmorum 150 liber unus. Salomonis libri tres: Proverbia,
Ecclesiastes, et Cantica canticorum. Item Sapientiae liber unus.
Ecclesiasticus liber unus. Item ordo prophetarum: Isaiae liber
unus. Jeremiae liber unus. Cinoth, id est, de lamentationibus
suis. Ezechielis liber unus. Danielis liber unus. Oseae liber
unus. Amos liber unus. Michaeae liber unus. Joel liber unus. Abdiae
liber unus. Jonae liber unus. Nahum liber unus. Habacuc liber
unus. Sophoniae liber unus. Aggaei liber unus. Zachariae liber
unus. Malachiae liber unus. Item ordo historiarum: Job liber unus,
ab aliis omissus. Tobiae liber unus. Esdrae liber unus. Esther
[Hester] liber unus. Judith liber unus. Machabaeorum liber unus
(Decretum Gelasianum: De Libris Recipiendis et Non Recipiendis.
PL 59:157).
111 Ordo de Veteri Testamento, quem sancta et catholica
Romana suscipit, et honorat Ecclesia, iste est: Geneseos liber
I. Exodi liber I. Levitici liber I. Numeri liber I. Deuteronomii
liber I. Jesu Nave liber I. Judicum liber I. Ruth liber I. Regum
libri IV. Paralipomenon libri II. Psalmorum CL liber I. Salomonis
libri III. Proverbia, Ecclesiastes et Cantica Canticorum. Item
Sapientiae liber I. Ecclesiastici liber I. Item ordo prophetarum.
Isaiae liber I. Jeremiae liber I, cum Cinoth ac Lamentationibus
suis. Ezechielis liber I. Danielis liber I. Osee liber I. Amos
liber I. Michaeae liber I. Joel liber I. Abdiae liber I. Jonae
liber I. Naum liber I. Habacuc liber I. Sophoniae liber I. Aggaei
liber I. Zachariae liber I. Malachiae liber I. Item ordo historiarum.
Job liber I. Tobiae liber I. Esdrae libri II. Esther liber I.
Judith liber I. Machabaeorum libri II (Decretale, In Urbe Roma
ab Hormisda Papa. De Scripturis divinis quid universaliter catholica
recipiat Ecclesia, vel post haec quid vitare debeat. PL 62:540).
112 1. Vetus Testamentum ideo dicitur, quia veniente
Novo cessavit, de quo Apostolus meminit, dicens: Vetera transierunt
et ecce facta sunt omnia nova.
2. Testamentum autem Novum ideo nuncupatur, quia innovat. Non
enim illud discunt nisi homines renovati ex vetustate per gratiam,
et pertinentes jam ad Testamentum Novum, quod est regnum coelorum.
3. Hebraei autem Veteris Testamenti, Esdra auctore, juxta numerum
litterarum suarum, viginti duos libros accipiunt, dividentes eos
in tres ordines, Legis scilicet, et Prophetarum, et Hagiographorum.
4. Primus ordo Legis, in quinque libris accipitur, quorum primus
est Beresith, quod est Genesis; secundus Veelle Semoth, quod est
Exodus; tertius Vaicra, quod est Leviticus; quartus Vajedabber,
quod est Numeri; quintus Elleaddebarim, quod est Deuteronomium.
5. Hi sunt quinque lib. Moysi, quos Hebraei thora, Latini legem
appellant. Proprie autem Lex appellatur, quae per Moysen data
est.
6. Secundus ordo est Prophetarum, in quo continentur libri octo,
quorum primus Josue Ben-Nun, qui Latine Jesu Nave dicitur; secundus
Sophtin, quod est Judicum; tertius Samuel, qui est Regum primus;
quartus Melachim, qui est Regum secundus; quintus Isaias, sextus
Jeremias; septimus Ezechiel; octavus Thereazar, qui dicitur Duodecim
prophetarum; qui libri, quia sibi pro brevitate adjuncti sunt,
pro uno accipiuntur.
7. Tertius est ordo Hagiographorum, id est, sancta scribentium,
in quo sunt libri novem, quorum primus Job; secundus Psalterium;
tertius Misse, quod est Proverbia Salomonis; quartus Coheleth,
quod est Ecclesiastes; quintus Sir hassirim, quod est Cantica
canticorum; sextus Daniel; septimus Dibrehajamim, quod est Verba
dierum, hoc est Paralipomenon; octavus Esdras; nonus Esther, qui
simul omnes V, VIII et IX, fiunt XXII, sicut superius comprehensi
sunt.
8. Quidam autem Ruth et Cinoth, quod Latine dicitur Lamentatio
Jeremiae, hagiographis adjiciunt, et XXIV volumina Testamenti
Veteris faciunt, juxta viginti quatuor seniores, qui ante conspectum
Domini assistunt.
9. Quartus est apud nos ordo Veteris Testamenti eorum librorum
qui in canone Hebraico non sunt. Quorum primus Sapientiae liber
est; secundus Ecclesiasticus; tertius Thobias; quartus Judith;
quintus et sextus Machabaeorum, quos licet Judaei inter apocrypha
separent, Ecclesia tamen Christi inter divinos libros, et honorat
et praedicat (Sancti Isidori Hispalensis Episcopi Etymologiarum
Libri XX, Liber Sextus, De Libris Et Officiis Ecclesiasticus,
Caput Primum, De Veteri et Novo Testamento. PL 82:229. Translation
by Dr. Michael Woodward).
113 Tenebit igitur hunc modum in Scripturis canonicis,
ut eas quae ab omnibus accipiuntur Ecclesiis catholicis praeponat
eis quas quidam non accipiunt, in eis vero quae non accipiuntur
ab omnibus, praeponat eas quas plures gravioresque accipiunt,
eis quas paucioris minorisque auctoritatis Ecclesiae tenent. Si
autem alias invenerit a pluribus, alias a gravioribus haberi,
quanquam hoc invenire non possit, aequalis tamen auctoritatis
eas habendas puto. Totus autem canon Scripturarum, in quo istam
considerationem versandam dicimus his libris continetur (ut breviter
dicam) Veteris Testamenti XLV, Novi autem XXVII, qui sunt LXXII.
Quorum omnium nomina et seriem, et auctoritatem, quia in superiori
libro quantum potui descripsi, non necesse credimus iterare. Notandum
tamen quod Hebraei Vetus Testamentum, Esdra auctore juxta numerum
litterarum suarum in XXII libros accipiunt, dividentes eos in
tres ordines, legis scilicet, prophetarum et hagiographorum. Primus
ordo legis in quinque libris accipitur, quorum primus est Bresith,
qui est Genesis. Secundus Ellesmot, qui est Exodus. Tertius Vaiicra,
qui est Leviticus. Quartus Vaiedabbet, qui est Numerus. Quintus
Ellehadabarim, quod est Deuteronomium. Hi sunt quinque libri Moysi,
quos Hebraei Thorath, Latini legem appellant, proprie autem lex
appellatur, quae per Moysen data est. Secundus ordo prophetarum,
in quo continentur libri octo, quorum primus Josue bennun, qui
Latine Jesu Nave dicitur. Secundus Sophthim, qui est Judicum.
Tertius Samuel, qui est Regum primus. Quartus Malachim, qui est
Regum secundus. Quintus Isaias. Sextus Jeremias. Septimus Ezechiel.
Octavus Thereasar, qui dicitur duodecim prophetarum, qui libri
quia sibi pro parvitate adjuncti sunt, pro uno accipiuntur. Tertius
ordo Hagiographorum, id est, sancta scribentium, in quo sunt libri
novem, quorum primus Job; secundus Psalterium, qui in quinque
incisionibus dividitur; tertius Massoth, quod est Proverbia Salomonis;
quartus Coheleth, qui est Ecclesiastes; quintus Sirhasirim, quod
est Canticum canticorum; sextus Daniel; septimus Dibrehaiomim,
quod est Verba dierum, id est, Paralipomenon; octavus Esdras;
nonus est Esther. Qui simul omnes V, et VIII, et IX, fiunt XXII,
sicut superius sunt comprehensi. Quidam autem Ruth, et Cinoth,
quod Latine dicitur lamentatio Jeremiae, hagiographis adjiciunt,
et viginti quatuor volumina Veteris Testamenti faciunt, juxta
XXIV seniores, qui ante conspectum Dei assistunt. Isti sunt libri
qui apud Hebraeos canonicam auctoritatem habent. Quartus est apud
nos ordo Veteris Testamenti, eorum librorum qui in canone Hebraico
non sunt, quorum primus Sapientiae liber est, secundus Ecclesiasticus,
tertius Tobiae, quartus Judith, quintus et sextus Machabaeorum,
quos licet Judaei inter apocrypha separent, Ecclesia tamen Christi
inter divinos libros honorat et praedicat (De Clericorum Institutione,
Book II, Cap. 6-7. PL 107:383).
114 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). The Encyclopedia can also be found
on line at New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
115 The Old Testament is so called because with
the coming of the New, it ceased, which the Apostle also recalls,
saying, 'Certain things passed away, and behold! All things were
made new.' So the New Testament was so named because it makes
new. For those who made this statement were none other than men
called out of the Old [dispensation] by grace, and belonging now
to the New Testament, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. The Hebrews
accept the Old Testament as authorized by God in twenty-two books,
according to the number of their letters, dividing them into three
orders, that is, the Law, the Prophets and the Holy Writings
Five
and eight added to nine make twenty-two, as is understood from
the above. Some also add Ruth and Cinoth, which is called in Latin
the Lamentations of Jeremiah, to the Hagiographies. These make
twenty-four volumes of the Old Testament, just like the twenty-four
elders who sit before the Face of God. The fourth [order?] is
of those books accepted by us in the order of the Old Testament
which are not in the Canon of the Hebrews. The first of them is
the Book of Wisdom, the second Ecclesiasticus, the third Tobias,
the fourth Judith, the fifth and sixth the Books of the Maccabees.
The Church of Christ proclaims these and honors them as divine
books, even though the Jews separate them as Apocrypha
The
Book of Wisdom is found nowhere among the Hebrews, as a result
of which it is far more redolent of Greek style than of Hebrew
eloquence. The Jews affirm this to be Babylonian. Therefore they
call it Wisdom, for in it the coming of Christ, who is the Wisdom
of the Father, and His Passion, is evidently expressed. Now the
Book of Ecclesiasticus was definitely composed by Jesus, son of
Sirach and grandson of the great priest (high priest) Jesu, which
Zacharias also mentions. This book is mainly known among the Latins
by this title on account of its similarity to the sayings of Solomon.
Indeed the statement of Ecclesiasticus is to be studied with great
care, for it deals with the discipline of the whole Church and
of religious discourse. This book is found among the Hebrews,
but as Apocrypha. Judith, however, Tobias and the books of the
Maccabees which were written by their author are the least established.
They take their names from those whose deeds they describe
These
are the writers of the holy books, who speaking by the Holy Spirit,
have written in collaboration with him the rule to be believed
and the precepts to be lived by for our erudition. Beyond these,
other books are called Apocrypha, for 'apocrypha' are sayings,
that is, secret sayings, which are doubtful. For the origin of
them is hidden, nor does it appear to the Fathers, from whom the
authority of the truth of Scriptures comes down to us in most
clear and certain succession. Although some truth is found in
these apocrypha, a great deal is false, nothing in them has canonical
authority, and they are rightly judged by the wise not to be among
those things to be believed, for a great deal is put out by heretics
in the name of the Prophets, and more recently is the name of
the Apostles. All that is called apocrypha has been removed following
the diligent examination of canonical authority (Tractatus Quales
sunt. De Divisone Et Scriptoribus Sacrorum Librorum. PL 207:1051B-1056.
Translation by Catherine Kavanaugh, The Medieval Institute, University
of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference:
Vetus Testamentum ideo dicitur
quod, veniente Novo, cessavit; de quo et Apostolus meminit dicens:
Caetera transierunt, et ecce nova facta sunt. Testamentum autem
Novum ideo nuncupavit quia innovat. Non enim illud dicunt nisi
homines revocati ex vetustate per gratiam, et pertinentes jam
ad Testamentum Novum, quod est regnum coelorum. Hebraei autem
Vetus Testamentum a Deo auctore juxta litterarum suarum numerum
in XXII libros accipiunt, dividentes eos in tres ordines: legis
scilicet, prophetarum et hagiographorum
Qui simul omnes quinque
et octo novem fiunt viginti et duo, sicut superius comprehensi
sunt. Quidam autem Ruth et Cinoth, quod Latine dicitur tamentationes
Jeremiae, hagiographis adjiciunt. Viginti quatuor volumina Testamenti
Veteris faciunt juxta viginti quatuor seniores qui ante conspectum
Dei assistunt. Quartus est apud nos ordo Veteris Testamenti eorum
librorum qui in canone Hebraeorum non sunt. Quorum primus Sapientiae
liber est, secundus Ecclesiasticus, tertius Tobias, quartus Judith,
quintus et sextus Machabaeorum; quos, licet Judaei inter apocrypha
separent, Ecclesia tamen Christi inter divinos libros et honorat
et praedicat
Liber Sapientiae apud Hebraeos nusquam est:
unde et ipse stylus Graecam magis quam Hebraeam eloquentiam redolet.
Hunc Judaei Babylonis esse affirmant; qui proinde Sapientiae nominant,
quia in eo Christi adventus, qui est sapientia Patris, et passio
ejus evidenter exprimitur. Librum autem Ecclesiasticum certissime
Jesus filius Sirach, nepos Jesu sacerdotis magni, composuit; de
quo meminit et Zacharias, qui liber apud Latinos propter eloquii
similitudinem Salomonis titulo praenotatur. Dictus autem Ecclesiasticus,
eo quod de totius Ecclesiae disciplina religiosae conversationis
magna cura et ratione sit editus. Hic apud Hebraeos reperitur,
sed nunc apocryphus habetur. Judith vero, et Tobiae, sive Machabaeorum
libri, quibus auctoribus scripti sunt minime constat. Habent autem
vocabula ex eorum nominibus, quorum gesta scribunt
Hi sunt scriptores sacrorum librorum qui per Spiritum sanctum
loquentes, ad eruditionem nostram praecepta vivendi et credendi
regulam conscripserunt. Praeter haec alia volumina apocrypha nuncupantur.
Apocrypha autem dicta, id est secreta, quia in dubium veniunt.
Est enim eorum occulta origo; nec patet Patribus, e quibus usque
ad nos auctoritas veritatis Scripturarum certissima et notissima
successione pervenit. In his apocryphis etsi invenitur aliqua
veritas, tamen propter multa falsa nulla est in eis canonica auctoritas,
quae recte a prudentibus judicantur non esse eorum credenda quibus
ascribuntur. Nam multa et sub nominibus prophetarum, et recentiora
sub nominibus apostolorum ab haereticis proferuntur; quae omnia
sub nomine apocryphorum auctoritate canonica diligenti examinatione
remota sunt (Tractatus Quales sunt. De Divisone Et Scriptoribus
Sacrorum Librorum. PL 207:1051B-1056).
116 Ponit tamen hieronymus 'quartum librorum ordinem,
scilicet, apocryphos': et dicuntur apocryphi ab apo, quod est
valde et cyphon, quod est obscurum, quia de eorum sententiis vel
auctoribus dubitatur. ecclesia vero catholica quosdam libros recepit
in numero sanctarum scripturarum, de quorum sententiis non dubitatur,
sed de auctoribus (Thomas Aquinas, Principium Biblicum, Opera
Omnia (Index Thomisticus), vol. 3, p. 647. Translation by Dr.
Michael Woodward).
117 It (the Roman Church) professes that one and
the same God as the author of the old and the new Testament-that
is, the law and the prophets, and the gospel-since the saints
of both testaments spoke under the inspiration of the same Spirit.
It accepts and venerates their books, whose titles are as follows:
Five books of Moses, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy; Joshua, judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, two of
Paralipornen(n, Esdras, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Job,
Psalms of David, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom,
Ecclesiasticus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, Ezechiel, Daniel; the
twelve minor prophets, namely Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah,
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi;
two books of the Maccabees; the four gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John; fourteen letters of Paul, to the Romans, two to
the Corinthians, to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, to the Philippians,
two to the Thessalonians, to the Colossians, two to Timothy, to
Titus, to Philemon, to the Hebrews; two letters of Peter, three
of John, one of James, one of Jude; Acts of the Apostles; Apocalypse
of John (Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, Norman Tanner, Ed.
(Georgetown University: Sheed & Ward, 1990), Volume One, Council
of Basel-Ferrara-Florence-Rome, p. 573).
118 New Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: McGraw
Hill, 1967), Volume V, Florence, p. 973.
119 New Catholic Encyclopedia, Glossa Ordinaria;
Glosses, Biblical, pp. 515-516.
120 Karlfried Froehlich and Margaret Gibson, Biblia
Latina Cum Glossa Ordinaria, Introduction to the Facsimile Reprint
of the Editio Princeps Adolph Rusch of Strassborg 1480/81 (Brepols-Turnhout,
1992) Karlfried Froehlich, The Printed Gloss, p. XXVI.
121 Alister McGrath, The Intellectual Origins of
the Reformation (Oxford: Blackwell, 1987), p. 126.
122 Karlfried Froehlich and Margaret Gibson, Biblia
Latina Cum Glossa Ordinaria, Introduction to the Facsimile Reprint
of the Editio Princeps Adolph Rusch of Strassborg 1480/81 (Brepols-Turnhout,
1992), The Glossed Bible, pp. VIII.
123 Ibid., pp. VIII-IX.
124 Quoniam plerique eo quod non multam operam
dant sacrae Scripturae, existimant omnes libros qui in Bibliis
continentur, pari veneratione esse reverendos atque adorandos,
nescientes distinguere inter libros canonicos, et non canonicos,
quos Hebraei a canone separant, et Graeci inter apocrypha computant;
unde saepe coram doctis ridiculi videntur, et perturbantur, scandalizanturque
cum audiunt aliquem non pari cum caeteris omnibus veneratione
prosequi aliquid quod in Bibliis legatur: idcirco hic distinximus,
et distincte numeravimus primo libros canonicos, et postea non
canonicos, inter quos tantum distat quantum inter certum et dubium.
Nam canonici sunt confecti Spiritus sancto dictante non canonici
autem sive apocryphi, nescitur quo tempore quibusve auctoribus
autoribus sint editi; quia tamen valde boni et utiles sunt, nihilque
in eis quod canonicis obviet, invenitur, ideo Ecclesia eos legit,
et permittit, ut ad devotionem, et ad morum informationem a fidelibus
legantur. Eorum tamen auctoritas ad probandum ea quae veniunt
in dubium, aut in contentionem, et ad confirmandam ecclesiasticorum
dogmatum auctoritatem, non reputatur idonea, ut ait beatus Hieronymus
in prologis super Judith et super libris Salomonis. At libri canonici
tantae sunt auctoritatis, ut quidquid ibi continetur, verum teneat
firmiter et indiscusse: et per consequens illud quod ex hoc concluditur
manifeste; nam sicut in philosophia veritas cognoscitur per reductionem
ad prima principia per se nota: ita et in Scripturis a sanctis
doctoribus traditis veritas cognoscitur, quantum ad ea quae sunt
fide tenenda, per reductionem ad Scripturas canonicas, quae sunt
habita divina revelatione cui nullo modo potest falsum subesse.
Unde de his dicit Augustinus ad Hieronymum: Ego solis eis scriptoribus
qui canonici appellantur, didici hunc timorem honoremque deferre,
ut nullum eorum scribendo errasse firmissime teneam; ac si aliquid
in eis offendero quod videatur contrarium veritati, nihil aliud
existimem quam mendosum esse codicem, vel non esse assecutum interpretem
quod dictum est, vel me minime intellexisse, non ambigam. Alios
autem ita lego, ut quantalibet sanctitate doctrinave polleant,
non ideo verum putem quia ipsi ita senserunt, sed quia mihi per
illos auctores canonicos vel probabiles rationes, quod a vero
non abhorreat, persuadere potuerunt (Biblia cum glosa ordinaria
et expositione Lyre litterali et morali (Basel: Petri & Froben,
1498), British Museum IB.37895, Vol. 1, On the canonical and non-canonical
books of the Bible. Translation by Dr. Michael Woodward).
125 There are, then, twenty-two canonical books
of the old testament, corresponding to the twenty-two letters
of the Hebrew alphabet, as Eusebius reports, in book six of Ecclesiastical
History, that Origen writes on the first Psalm; and Jerome says
the same thing more fully and distinctly in his Helmeted Prologue
to the books of Kings: All the books are divided into three parts
by the Jews: into the law, which contains the five books of Moses;
into the eight prophets; and into the nine hagiographa. This will
be more clearly seen shortly. Some, however, separate the book
of Ruth from the book of Judges, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah
from Jeremiah, and count them among the hagiographa in order to
make twenty-four books, corresponding to the twenty-four elders
whom the Apocalypse presents as adoring the lamb. These are the
books that are in the canon, as blessed Jerome writes at greater
length in the Helmeted Prologue to the books of Kings.
In the first place are the five books of Moses, which are called
the law, first of which is Genesis, second Exodus, third Leviticus,
fourth Numbers, fifth Deuteronomy. Secondly follow the eight prophetic
books, first of which is Joshua, second the book of Judges together
with Ruth, third Samuel, i.e. first and second Kings, fourth Malachim,
i.e. third and fourth Kings, fifth Isaiah, sixth Jeremiah with
Lamentations, seventh Ezekiel, eighth the book of twelve prophets,
first of which is Hosea, second Joel, third Amos, fourth Obadiah,
fifth Jonah, sixth Micah, seventh Nahum, eighth Habakkuk, ninth
Zephaniah, tenth Haggai, eleventh Zechariah, twelfth Malachi.
Thirdly follow the nine hagiographa, first of which is Job, second
Psalms, third Solomon's Proverbs, fourth his Ecclesiastes, fifth
his Song of Songs, sixth Daniel, seventh Paralipomenon, which
is one book, not two, among the Jews, eighth Ezra with Nehemiah
(for it is all one book), ninth Esther. And whatever is outside
of these (I speak of the Old Testament), as Jerome says, should
be placed in the apocrypha (Biblia cum glosa ordinaria et expositione
Lyre litterali et morali. Basel: Petri & Froben, 1498. British
Museum IB.37895, vol. 1. Translation by Dr. Michael Woodward.
See also Walafrid Strabo, Glossa ordinaria, De Canonicis et Non
Canonicis Libris. PL 113:19-24).
Latin Reference:
Sunt igitur libri canonici Veteris
Testamenti viginti duo, ad numerum viginti duarum litterarum Hebraeorum,
ut scribere Origenem super primum psalmum refert Eusebius libro
sexto Ecclesiasticae Historiae, et copiosius distinctiusque dicit
beatus Hieronymus in prologo galeato super librum Regum, quod
omnes in tres partes ab Hebraeis dividuntur: In Legem, id est
quinque libros Moysi; in prophetas octo, et hagiographa novem;
ut statim clarius patebit, quamvis nonnulli librum Ruth separent
a libro Judicum, et Lamentationes Jeremiae a Jeremia, et inter
Hagiographa computent, ut sint viginti quatuor libri. Hanc divisionem
probant Hebraei qui Biblia sua ob id appellant , id est, viginti
quatuor.] ad numerum viginti quatuor seniorum quos Apocalypsis
inducit adorantes Agnum.
Isti sunt libri qui sunt in canone, ut latius scribit beatus Hieronymus
in prologo galeato qui est super libros Regum. Et primo quinque
libri Moysi, qui appellantur lex, quorum primus est Genesis, secundus
Exodus, tertius Leviticus, quartus Numeri, quintus Deuteronomium.
Secundo sequuntur octo libri prophetales, quorum primus est Josue,
secundus liber Judicum cum Ruth, tertius Samuel, id est, primus
et secundus Regum, quartus Malachim, id est, tertius et quartus
Regum; quintus Isaias, sextus Jeremias cum Lamentationibus, septimus
Ezechiel, octavus liber duodecim prophetarum: quorum primus est
Osee, secundus Joel, tertius Amos, quartus Abdias, quintus Jonas,
sextus Michaeas, septimus Nahum, octavus Habacuc, nonus Sophonias,
decimus Aggaeus, undecimus Zacharias, duodecimus Malachias. Tertio
sequuntur Hagiographa novem, quorum primus est Job, secundus Psalterium,
tertius Salomonis Proverbia, quartus ejusdem Ecclesiastes, quintus
ejusdem Canticorum, sextus Daniel, septimus Paralipomenon, qui
apud Hebraeos est unus liber, non duo; octavus Esdras cum Nehemia
(est enim totus unus liber), nonus Esther. Quidquid autem extra
hos est (de Veteri Testamento loquor) ut dicit Hieronymus, inter
apocrypha est ponendum (Biblia cum glosa ordinaria et expositione
Lyre litterali et morali. Basel: Petri & Froben, 1498. British
Museum IB.37895, vol. 1. See also Walafrid Strabo, Glossa ordinaria,
De Canonicis et Non Canonicis Libris. PL 113:19-24).
126 These are the books that are not in the canon,
which the church includes as good and useful books, but not canonical.
Among them are some of more, some of less authority. For Tobit,
Judith, and the books of Maccabees, also the book of Wisdom and
Ecclesiasticus, are strongly approved by all. Thus Augustine,
in book two of De Doctrina Christiana, counts the first three
among canonical books; concerning Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus, he
says they deserved to be received as authoritative and should
be numbered among the prophetic books; concerning the books of
Maccabees, in book 18 of the City of God, speaking of the books
of Ezra, he says that, although the Jews do not consider them
canonical, the church considers them canonical because of the
passions of certain martyrs and powerful miracles. Of less authority
are Baruch and Third and Fourth Ezra. For Augustine makes no mention
of them in the place cited above, while he included (as I have
said) other apocryphal works among the canonical. Rufinus as well,
in his exposition of the creed, and Isidore, in book 6 of the
Etymologies, where they repeat this division of Jerome, mentioned
nothing of these other books.
And that we might enumerate the apocryphal books in the order
in which they appear in this Bible, even though they have been
produced in a different order, first come the third and fourth
books of Ezra. They are called Third and Fourth Ezra because,
before Jerome, Greeks and Latins used to divide the book of Ezra
into two books, calling the words of Nehemiah the second book
of Ezra. These Third and Fourth Ezra are, as I have said, of less
authority among all non-canonical books. Hence Jerome, in his
prologue to the books of Ezra, calls them dreams. They are found
in very few Bible manuscripts; and in many printed Bibles only
Third Ezra is found. Second is Tobit, a very devout and useful
book. Third is Judith, which Jerome says in his prologue had been
counted by the Nicene Council in the number of holy scriptures.
Fourth is the book of Wisdom, which almost all hold that Philo
of Alexandria, a most learned Jew, wrote. Fifth is the book of
Jesus son of Sirach, which is called Ecclesiasticus. Sixth is
Baruch, as Jerome says in his prologue to Jeremiah. Seventh is
the book of Maccabees, divided into first and second books
Further,
it should be known that in the book of Esther, only those words
are in the canon up to that place where we have inserted: the
end of the book of Esther, as far as it is in Hebrew. What follows
afterward is not in the canon. Likewise in Daniel, only those
words are in the canon up to that place where we have inserted:
The prophet Daniel ends. What follows afterward is not in the
canon (Biblia cum glosa ordinaria et expositione Lyre litterali
et morali (Basel: Petri & Froben, 1498), British Museum IB.37895,
Vol. 1. Translation by Dr. Michael Woodward. See also Walafrid
Strabo, Glossa ordinaria, De Canonicis et Non Canonicis Libris.
PL 113:19-24).
Latin Reference:
Isti sunt libri qui non sunt
in canone, quos tamen Ecclesia ut bonos et utiles libros admittit,
non ut canonicos, inter quos sunt aliqui majoris auctoritatis,
aliqui minoris. Nam Tobias, Judith, et Machabaeorum libri, Sapientiae
quoque liber atque Ecclesiasticus, valde ab omnibus probantur;
ita quod Augustinus libro de doctrina Christiana tres superiores
numerat inter canonicos, et de Sapientia atque Ecclesiastico dicit,
meruisse illos recipi in auctoritatem, et inter propheticos debere
numerari. Et de libris Machabaeorum libro decimo octavo de Civitate
Dei loquens, et de Esdrae libris dicit quod quamvis Hebraei non
habeant eos pro canonicis, tamen Ecclesia habet illos pro canonicis
propter quorumdam martyrum passiones vehementes atque mirabiles.
Minoris autem auctoritatis sunt Baruch, et tertius et quartus
Esdrae: nam Augustinus in loco supradicto nullam de his facit
mentionem, cum tamen, ut dixi, alios apocryphos canonicis annumerat.
Rufinus quoque in expositione Symboli, et Isidorus in libro sexto
Etymologiarum, ubi hanc Hieronymi divisionem referunt, horum nihil
meminerunt. Et ut numeres eos eo ordine quo sunt in Bibliis, quamvis
alio ordine fuerint editi, primo sunt tertius et quartus libri
Esdrae, qui dicuntur tertius et quartus; quia ante Hieronymum
Graeci et Latini librum Esdrae canonicum secabant in duos libros,
sermones Nehemiae, secundum librum appellantes. Isti autem tertius
et quartus inter omnes, non canonicos minoris, ut dixi, sunt auctoritatis.
Unde Hieronymus in prologo Esdrae eos appellat somnia, et in paucissimis
Bibliis manuscriptis inveniuntur, et in multis impressis invenitur
solum tertius. Secundus est Tobias, liber valde devotus et utilis.
Tertius est Judith, quem dicit Hieronymus in prologo fuisse a
Nicaena synodo computatum in numero sanctarum Scripturarum. Quartus
liber Sapientiae, quem scripsisse Philonem Alexandrinum Judaeum
doctissimum, fere omnes tenent. Quintus est liber Jesu filii Sirach,
qui Ecclesiasticus dicitur: Sextus est Baruch, ut dicit Hieronymus
in prologo Jeremiae. Septimus est Machabaeorum liber, in primum
et secundum divisus.
Neque aliquem moveat quod in Judith et Tobiae prologis dicitur
quod apud Hebraeos inter hagiographa leguntur, quia manifestus
error est, et apocrypha, non hagiographa, est legendum: qui error
in omnibus quos viderim codicibus invenitur: et inolevit, ut puto,
ex pietate et devotione scribentium, qui devotissimas historias
horrebant annumerare inter apocrypha. Nam quod hic error multis
retro annis codices occupaverit, ostendit magister in historia
Judith, ubi dicit: Hic liber apud Chaldaeos inter historias computatur,
et apud Hebraeos inter apocrypha, quod dicit Hieronymus in prologo,
qui sic incipit: Viginti et duas litteras. Si ergo alicubi in
prologo super Judith legitur inter hagiographa, vitium scriptoris
est, quod in ipso titulo deprehendi potest. Ex quo miror quod
dictus magister non adverterit eumdem esse errorem in prologo
Tobiae, ubi ipse dicit: Hanc historiam Hebraei ponunt inter apocrypha.
Hieronymus tamen in prologo suo dicit inter hagiographa: Glossa
quoque super dicto prologo Tobiae dicit potius et verius dixisset
inter apocrypha: vel large accipit hagiographa, quasi sanctorum
scripta, et ita non est de numero illorum novem quae proprie dicuntur
hagiographa, quae sunt de catalogo, id est, de numero viginti
duorum librorum Biblicorum. Nam cum Hieronymus in prologo Galeato,
post enumerationem canonicorum librorum, dicat: Hic prologus Scripturarum
quasi galeatum principium, omnibus libris quos de Hebraeo vertimus
in Latinum convenire potest, ut scire valeamus quidquid extra
hos est, inter apocrypha esse ponendum. Igitur Sapientia, quae
vulgo Salomonis inscribitur, et Jesu filii Sirach liber, et Judith,
et Tobias, et Pastor, non sunt in canone:" quomodo credendum
est, illum postea in illis prologis scripsisse eos inter hagiographa,
et sibi ipsi contradicere? Si quis praeterea liberatiori examine
Hieronymi verba in dictis prologis perpenderit, animadvertet illum
scripsisse apocrypha, non hagiographa. Dicit enim in prologo Tobiae:
"Exigitis ut librum Chaldaeo sermone conscriptum ad Latinum
stylum traham, librum utique Tobiae, quem Hebraei de catalogo
divinarum Scripturarum secantes, his quae apocrypha memorant,
manciparunt." In Judith autem ait: Apud Hebraeos liber Judith
inter apocrypha legitur, cujus auctoritas ad roboranda illa quae
in contentionem veniunt, minus idonea judicatur. Cum itaque dicat
Hebraeos secare Tobiam de catalogo divinarum Scripturarum, et
Judith auctoritatem minus idoneam judicari, si inter Hagiographa
numeraret, et non inter apocrypha, contraria videretur in eodem
loco scripsisse. Sed, ut dixi, scriptores hoc nomen apocrypha
horrentes, devotione ac pietate quadam rejecto apocrypha, hagiographa
scripserunt. Rufinus vero ubi supra, enumeratis libris canonicis,
in quibus cum Hieronymo concordat, infert: Haec sunt quae patres
intra canonem concluserunt, ex quibus fidei nostrae assertiones
constare voluerunt. Sciendum tamen est quod et alii libri sunt
qui non canonici, sed ecclesiastici a majoribus appellati sunt,
ut Sapientia quae dicitur Salomonis, et alia Sapientia quae dicitur
filii Sirach. Et infra: ejusdem ordinis est libellus Tobiae, et
Judith, et Machabaeorum libri: quae omnia legi quidem in ecclesiis
voluerunt, non tamen proferri ad auctoritatem ex his confirmandam.
Caeteras vero scripturas apocryphas nominaverunt, quas in ecclesiis
legi noluerunt. Praeterea est sciendum quod in libro Esther illa
duntaxat sunt in canone quae scribuntur usque ad eum locum ubi
posuimus: Finit liber Esther, prout est in Hebraeo, quae postea
sequuntur non sunt in canone. Similiter in Daniele, illa tantum
sunt in canone quae sunt usque ad eum locum ubi posuimus: Finit
Daniel propheta: quae post ea sequuntur non sunt in canone.
Quamvis autem David, id est, Psalterium apud Hebraeos non ponatur
inter prophetas, sed inter hagiographa, tamen ere omnes Latini
eum non solum prophetam sed summum prophetarum, vel secundum vocant.
Danielem quoque inter prophetas numerant.
Aliter quoque aliqui Latini diviserunt Vetus et Novum Testamentum,
scilicet in libros legales, historiales, sapientiales et prophetales.
Legales appellant quinque libros Moysi in Veteri Testamento: quibus
in Novo faciunt respondere quatuor Evangelia. Historiales, Josue,
Judicum, libros Regum, Paralipomenon, Esdra, Esther et Job: quibus
in Novo correspondent Acta apostolorum. Sapientiales tres libros
Salomonis, scilicet: Proverbia, Ecclesiasten, et Canticum canticorum:
quibus in Novo correspondent Epistolae Pauli, et quae canonicae
dicuntur. Prophetales faciunt David, id est, Psalterium, Isaiam,
Jeremiam, Ezechielem, et duodecim prophetas et Danielem: quibus
in Novo respondet liber Apocalypsis (Biblia cum glosa ordinaria
et expositione Lyre litterali et morali (Basel: Petri & Froben,
1498), British Museum IB.37895, Vol. 1. See also Walafrid Strabo,
Glossa ordinaria, De Canonicis et Non Canonicis Libris. PL 113:19-24).
127 Bruce Metzger, An Introduction to the Apocrypha
(New York: Oxford, 1957), p. 180.
128 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
129 Cardinal Caietan (Jacob Thomas de Vio), Commentary
on all the Authentic Historical Books of the Old Tesdtament, In
ult. Cap., Esther. Taken from A Disputation on Holy Scripture
by William Whitaker (Cambridge: University, 1849), p. 48. See
also B.F. Westcott's A General Survey of the History of the Canon
of the New Testament (Cambridge: MacMillan, 1889), p. 475.
130 In one way, fore and aft, because the Church
everywhere bearing fruit is broadened; it walks in the light of
the face of God, and, his face revealed, gazes on the glory of
God. In another way, fore and aft, he implies that the six-fold
wings, which number twenty-four, are the books of the Old Testament,
which we take up on canonical authority of the same number, just
as there are twenty-four elders sitting above the thrones (Primasius,
Commentary on the Apocalypse of John, Book I, Chapter IV. Translation
by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University of Notre
Dame).
Latin Reference:
Aliter, ante et retro, quod ubicunque
fructificans dilatetur Ecclesia, in lumine vultus Dei ambulat,
et revelata facie gloriam Dei speculatur. Aliter, ante et retro
alas senas, quae viginti quatuor subsumantur, Veteris Testamenti
libros insinuat, quos ejusdem numeri canonica auctoritate suscipimus,
tanquam viginti quatuor seniores tribunalia praesidentes. (Primasius,
Commentariorum Super Apocalypsim B. Joannis, Book I, Cap. IV.
PL 68:818).
131Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic
Church (Oxford: Parker, 1845), Gregory the Great, Morals on the
Book of Job, Volume II, Parts III and IV, Book XIX.34, p.424.
Latin Reference: De qua re
non inordinate agimus, si ex libris, licet non canonicis, sed
tamen ad aedificationem Ecclesiae editis, testimonium proferamus.
Eleazar namque in praelio elephantem feriens stravit, sed sub
ipso quem exstinxit occubuit (I Mach. VI, 46) (PL 76.119).
132 William Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers
(Collegeville: Liturgical, 1979), Volume III, p. 313.
133 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
134 Each of them has six wings. They raise the
Church to the heights by the perfection of their teaching. For
the number six is called perfect for this reason, that it is the
first number completed by its own parts. Indeed one, which is
a sixth part of six, and two which is a third, and three, which
is half, make up six itself. In another way, six wings of four
animals, which makes twenty-four, suggest the books of the entire
Old Testament, by which the authority of the evangelists is supported
and their truth is proven (The Venerable Bede, Commentary on Revelation.
PL 93:144).
Latin Reference:
Singula eorum habebant alas senas.
Perfectione suae doctrinae Ecclesiam ad alta sublevant. Senarius
enim numerus ideo perfectus dicitur, quia primus suis partibus
impletur. Unum quippe, quod est sexta senarii pars, et duo, quod
est tertia, et tria, quod est dimidium, eumdem senarium faciunt.
Aliter. Alae senae quatuor animalium, quae sunt viginti quatuor,
totidem veteris instrumenti libros insinuant, quibus evangelistarum
et fulcitur auctoritas, et veritas comprobatur (The Venerable
Bede, Commentary on Revelation. PL 93:144).
135 It is a wondrous thing and exceedingly astounding!
All of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to
the instruction of the Lord through their families on the male
side at one table and beyond, were twenty-two thousand (just as
the Hebrews had twenty-two letters and there are twenty-two books
of divine authority in the Old Testament). That it is this same
thing that is written in Deuteronomy: Then Moses wrote down this
law, and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried
the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of
Israel (Agobard of Lyons, To Bishop Bernard, concerning the privileges
and rights of the priesthood VI).
Latin Reference:
Et res mira, et vehementer stupenda!
Omnes Levitae quos numeraverunt Moyses et Aaron juxta praeceptum
Domini per familias suas in genere masculino a mense uno et supra,
fuerunt viginti duo millia, sicut viginti duae litterae apud Hebraeos,
et viginti duo libri divinae auctoritatis in Veteri Testamento.
Ut id ipsum sit quod in Deuteronomio dicitur: Scripsit itaque
Moyses hanc legem et tradidit eam sacerdotibus filiis Levi, qui
portabant arcam foederis Domini, et cunctis senioribus Israelis.
(Agobard of Lyons, Ad Bernardum Episcopum, De Privilegio et Jure
Sacerdotii VI. PL 107:133C).
136 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
137 XVIII. While the testimony fitting to your
error has failed your perversity in the prophets of God, you have
established for yourself to speak of a certain new prophet: Have
mercy, Lord, on the people called by your name, and on Israel
whom your have named your firstborn! You have also added to this
opinion such an interpretation: Equality itself, you say, is not
in the divinity, but in the humanity alone and in the taken-on
flesh, which he received from the Virgin. Behold the fraud in
the name of a prophet! Behold the perversity in the interpretation
of this idea. And not in vain is it fitting that the new scholar
find for himself a new prophet. Just as King Jeroboam departing
from the true worship of God established for himself new gods,
that he, lost, might lead astray the people subject to him; concerning
this it was forecast much earlier in Deuteronomy: He abandoned
God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation; so
you, departing from the true God and the proper Son of God, have
established a nominative God and an adopted redeemer Son for yourself,
whom our fathers did not know. But you have left the God who freed
you and forgotten the God your redeemer. In the book of Jesus
son of Sirach this aforementioned idea is read, which blessed
Jerome and Isidore judged, without doubt, to be among the apocrypha,
i.e. doubtful scriptures (Alcuin, Adversus Elipandum Toletanum,
Liber Primus XVIII. Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval
Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference:
Dum tuae perversitati defecerunt
in prophetis Dei testimonia errori tuo convenientia, finxisti
tibi novum quemdam prophetam dixisse: Miserere, Domine, plebi
tuae, super quam invocatum est nomen tuum, et Israel, quem coaequasti
primogenito tuo. Addidisti quoque huic sententiae talem interpretationem:
Aequalitas, inquis, ista non est in divinitate, sed in sola humanitate,
et in carne adoptiva, quam accepit de Virgine. Ecce falsitas in
nomine prophetae! Ecce perversitas in interpretatione sententiae!
Et non frustra oportebat novum doctorem, novum sibi invenire prophetam.
Sicut Jeroboam rex a veri Dei cultu recedens novos sibi finxit
deos, ut perditus subjectum sibi perderet populum; de quo multo
ante praedictum est in Cantico Deuteronomii: Dereliquit Deum factorem
suum, et recessit a Deo salutari suo; sic tu a vero Deo et proprio
Filio Dei recedens, nuncupativum Deum et adoptivum filium redemptorem
tibi fingis, quem non noverunt patres nostri. Tu vero Deum qui
te liberavit, dereliquisti, et oblitus es Dei Redemptoris tui.
In libro Jesu filii Sirac haec praefata sententia legitur, quem
librum beatus Hieronymus atque Isidorus inter apocryphas, id est,
dubias Scripturas, deputatum esse absque dubitatione testantur
(Alcuin, Adversus Elipandum Toletanum, Liber Primus XVIII. PL
101:253C-254A).
138Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York: Encyclopedia Press,
1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
139 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
140 The same Church could also, according to another
interpretation, be figured in the twenty-four elders. For this
number is composed of the number six and the number four, because
four sixes make twenty-four. The number six refers to works, because
Almighty God completed His work in six days, and on the sixth
day, at the sixth hour, redeemed man. The number four, however,
refers to the four books of the Gospels. Because, however, the
Holy Church, whether in the Old Testament or in the New, recalls
and venerates the works of God, and preserves the books of the
Holy Gospels, it [i.e. the Church] is also rightly understood
in the twenty-four elders, or certainly according to the twenty-four
books of the Old Testament, which are used according to canonical
authority, in which the New Testament, and those things that are
brought to fulfillment in it are acknowledged to be foretold.
Whence also the Evangelist says of the two thieves who were crucified
with Christ: this was done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
which says, 'And he was classed among the wicked
'
And each of the four animals had six wings. The wings of the animals
signify the two Testaments, by which the Church is carried up
to the Heavens. However, while there are two Testaments, the
spiritual wings of the same Church, on account of this twin testament,
which is found in the twelve tribes of Israel, or in the twelve
apostles, these wings are multiplied, two by twelve, and they
give twenty-four wings. For two twelves are twenty-four. In another
way, the number twelve consists of the parts of the number seven,
that is, of the number three and the number four. We can say either
four threes or three fours make twelve, which is a sacred number,
the number of the twelve Apostles. In the number three, faith
in the Holy Trinity is understood, and in the number four, the
four parts of the world. Twelve is thus multiplied by two, and
we get twenty-four. The number of the elect is expressed in terms
of this number, by whose preaching the faith of the Holy Trinity
is spread to the four corners of the world, and the whole world
is raised to Heaven. We can also understand these wings in another
way. The natural law is understood in the first wing, the Law
of Moses in the second wing, in the third the prophets, in the
fourth the Gospels, in the fifth the Epistles of the Apostles,
in the sixth Canonical authority, or the doctrine of Catholic
men such as Jerome, Augustine and other holy Fathers (Haymo of
Halberstadt, Exposition of the Apocalypse of S. John, Book 7,
Book I, Chapter IV. PL 117:1007, 1010. Translation by Catherine
Kavanaugh, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference:
Potest et sub alio intellectu
eadem Ecclesia figurari in viginti quatuor senioribus. Constat
enim hic numerus ex senario et quaternario, quia quater seni viginti
quatuor sunt. Senarius refertur ad operationem, quia sex diebus
Deus omnipotens omnia opera sua perfecit, et sexto die atque sexta
hora hominem redemit. Quaternarius vero ad quatuor libros sancti
Evangelii pertinet. Quia ergo sancta Ecclesia sive in Veteri Testamento
sive in Novo, Dei operationem recolit, et veneratur, et libros
sancti Evangelii custodit, et recte in viginti quatuor senioribus
comprehenditur, vel certe propter viginti quatuor libros Veteris
Testamenti, quibus utitur secundum canonicam auctoritatem, in
quibus Novum Testamentum, et ea quae in eo completa sunt praenuntiata
cognoscit. Unde et Evangelista dicit (Marc. XV) de duobus latronibus
qui cum Domino sunt crucifixi: ideo hoc factum, ut impleretur
Scriptura, quae dicit: Et cum iniquis deputatus est (Isa. LIII).
(Haymo of Halberstadt, Expositionis In Apocalypsin B. Joannis,
Libri Septem, Book I, Chapter IV. PL 117:1007)
Et quatuor animalia singula eorum habebant alas senas. Alae animalium
significant duo Testamenta, quibus Ecclesia ad coelestia supportatur:
sed cum duo sint Testamenta, ejusdem Ecclesiae spirituales alae,
propter geminum testamentum, quod in duodecim tribubus Israel,
vel in duodecim apostolis invenitur, ipsae alae per binarium duodecies
multiplicantur, et viginti quatuor alas reddunt. Bis enim duodeni
viginti quatuor sunt. Aliter duodenarius numerus constat ex partibus
septenarii, id est ex tribus et quatuor. Sive etiam dicamus, ter
quaterni, sive quater terni duodecim fiunt, qui numerus sacratus
est numero duodecim apostolorum. In ternario autem fides sanctae
Trinitatis intelligitur. In quaternario autem quatuor mundi partes.
Ducatur ergo duodenarius per binarium, et efficiuntur viginti
et quatuor. Quo numero summa electorum exprimitur, quibus fidem
sanctae Trinitatis per quadripartitum orbem praedicantibus, totus
mundus ad coelestia sustollitur. Possumus et has alas senas aliter
intelligere. Prima ala intelligitur lex naturalis, secunda lex
Moysi, tertia prophetae, quarta Evangelium, quinta Epistolae apostolorum,
sexta canonica auctoritas, sive doctrina catholicorum virorum,
Hieronymi, Augustini, caeterorumque sanctorum Patrum (Haymo of
Halberstadt, Expositionis In Apocalypsin B. Joannis, Libri Septem,
Book I, Chapter IV. PL 117:1010).
141 The Church can be signified in the twenty-four
elders under a different interpretation on account of the perfection
of six which is completed in the four books of the holy Gospel.
For the number six is held as perfect, for this reason that in
six days God is thought to have completed all his works and in
the sixth age of the world it is told that he reformed man. And
so since the Church fulfills the works of the Fathers of the Old
and New Testaments completed in the six ages of the world, just
as in six days, and the four books of the holy Gospel, it is all
correctly described in twenty-four elders. For four times six
makes twenty-four. Or certainly, since it uses twenty-four books
of the older Testament which it accepts with canonical authority
in which it also recognizes that the New Testament was revealed,
the Church is therefore figured in twenty-four elders. For this
reason, the preaching of the New Testament is fruitful since strengthened
from the Old, just as the Church takes the number from these same
[books], by which it is perfected in sanctity. (Ambrose Autpert,
Expositionis in Apocalypsin, Libri III (4, 4). Translation by
Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University of Notre
Dame).
Latin Reference:
Potest autem sub alio intellectu
in uigintiquattuor senioribus Ecclesia figurari, propter senariam
scilicet perfectionem, quae per quattuor sancti Euangelii libros
consummatur. Senarius etenim numerus ideo perfectus habetur, quia
in sex diebus cuncta opera sua Deus fecisse perhibetur, atque
in sexta mundi aetate hominem reformasse narratur. Quia itaque
siue Veteris, siue Noui Testamenti Patrum opera, in sex mundi
aetatibus tamquam sex diebus peracta, quattuor sancti Euangelii
libros adimplet Ecclesia, recte in uigintiquattuor senioribus
tota describitur. Quater enim seni, uigintiquattuor faciunt. Vel
certe, quia prioris Testamenti uigintiquattuor libris utitur,
quos et auctoritate canonica suscepit, in quibus etiam Nouum Testamentum
reuelatum agnoscit, idcirco uigintiquattuor senioribus Ecclesia
figuratur. Ideo enim est Noui Testamenti praedicatio fructuosa,
quia ex Veteri roborata, tamquam scililicet ab eisdem trahat numerum
Ecclesia, quibus in sanctitate perficitur (Ambrosii Autperti,
Expositionis in Apocalypsin, Libri III (4, 4), Cura et Studio,
Roberti Weber O.S.B., Turnholti, Typographi Brepols Editores Pontifici,
MCMLXXV).
142 In Holy Scripture, there are four kinds of
speech: historical, prophetic, proverbial and simple. History
is the telling of past events, as in the five books of Moses.
In this, although the matters concerning which it is written,
are full of figures, nevertheless, the lawgiver declares those
things either ordered by the Lord, or fulfilled by himself or
his734 people. Likewise, the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Kings,
Chronicles, Ezra, Esther, the four Gospels, and the Acts of the
Apostles pertain to sacred history. For Tobit, Judith, and Maccabees,
although they are read for the instruction of the Church, nevertheless
do not have complete authority. Speech is prophetic when future
things are predicted. That is found in the Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel,
Daniel, and the twelve prophets. This speech calls out in plain
language, as is that of Isaiah Behold, a young woman shall conceive.
In which it makes use of many proverbial things as that same author
on the same matter: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump
of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The proverbial
kind is figured speech, sometimes resounding, sometimes feeling,
and treating of morals. For also the prophets, as we have said,
often take this up for themselves, but nevertheless it is especially
ascribed to moral teaching. This is received in the proverbs of
Solomon, in the Song of Songs, in Wisdom, in Ecclesiasticus. Job
too is judged partly historical, partly prophetic and partly proverbial.
Ecclesiastes is also proverbial in part, but for the most part
pursues doctrine in a simple manner. Doctrine is simple which
teaches simply concerning faith and morals (Radulphus Falvicencius,
Commentary on Leviticus, Preface to Book XIV. Translation by Benjamin
Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: In sacra
Scriptura species dictionis quatuor sunt: historica, prophetica,
prouerbialis, & simpliciter docens. Historia est praeteritarum
rerum narratio, ut in quinque libris Moysi. In quibus licet res
de quibus agitur, plenae sint figuris: historialiter tamen lagislator
ea vel à Domino iussa , vel à se & à
populo illo completa esse pronunciat. Item Iesu Naue liber, Iudicum,
Ruth, Regum , Paralipomenon, Ezras, Esther, quatuor Euangelica
, Actus Apostolorum, ad diuinam historiam pertinent. Nam Thobias,
Iudith & Machabaeorum, quamuis ad instructionem Ecclesiae
legantur, perfectam tamen non habent autoritatem. Prophetica locutio
est, cum futura praedicuntur. Ista in Psalmis reperitur; Isaia,
Ieremia, Iezechiele, Daniele, duodecim Prophetis. Haec plano sermone
nonnulla pronunciat, ut est illud Isaiae: Ecce virgo concipiet,
& pariet filium. In quam plurimis prouerbiali utitur, ut idem
de eadem re: Exiet virga de radice esse,& flos de radice eius
ascendet. Prouerbialis species est figurata locutio, aliud sonans
& aliud sentiens, & dt moribus tractans. Nam & prophetiae
(ut diximus) hanc sibi saepe assumunt: sed tamen praecipuae morali
doctrinae, asscribitur. Haec in prouerbiis Salomonis accipitur,
in Canticis Canticorum, in Sapientia, in Ecclesiastico , Iob autem
pàrtim hisoricus, partim propheticus, partim vero prouerbialis
inuenitur. Ecclesiastes quoq; prouerbialis in parte; sed in maiori
simplicê doctrinam prosequitur. Simplex doctrina est, quae
de fide ac moribus simpliciter docet (Radulphus Falvicencius,
Leuiticum Moysi, Liber Decimusquartus, Praefatio.).
143George Tavard, Holy Writ or Holy Church (London: Burns &
Oates, 1959), p. 16.
144 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
145 After that we showed what the matter of the
divine Scriptures is and how the matter treats of its subject
in a triple sense, historical, allegorical and tropological.
Now it is appropriate to show in which books that which is reckoned
in the name of divine judgement to be Scripture. There are two
Testaments which include all the divine Scriptures in one body:
the Old and the New. Both are divided into three orders. The Old
Testament contains the Law, the Prophets and the Hagiographies,
which interpreted, means either the holy writers or the holy things
written. There are five volumes in the Law: that is Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Genesis is so called from
generation, Exodus from 'exit' - going out - Leviticus from the
Levites, the book of Numbers, because in it the children of Israel
are numbered, Deuteronomy on account of the Law, and in Hebrew,
'bresith', 'hellesmoth', 'vagetra', 'vegedaber', 'adabarim'.
There are eight volumes in the order of the Prophets. The first
in the book of Joshua, who is also Jesu Nave and Josue Bennun,
that is son of Nun; the second the book of Judges, which is called
Sophthim, the third the book of Samuel, which is the first and
second book of Kings, the fourth is Malachi, which is understood
as of the Kings, which is third and fourth Kings; the fifth Isaiah,
the sixth Jeremiah; the seventh Ezechiel; the eighth the book
of the twelve prophets, which is called 'thareasra'. They are
called prophetic because they are 'of the prophets', however,
not all are prophecies. A prophet is so called on account of three
things: the office, the grace and the mission. The word is also
frequently found in common use to indicate prophets who are prophets
either on account of the office of prophet or on account of having
clearly been sent as prophets, as is the case here. According
to this definition, David and Daniel and several others are not
said to be prophets, but hagiographers. There are nine volumes
in the order of the Hagiographers: first Job, second the book
of Psalms, third the Proverbs of Solomon, which is called 'Parabolae'
in Greek and 'Masloth' in Hebrew, the fourth Ecclesiastes which
is translated as 'coeleth' in Hebrew and 'concionator' [lit.:
the lecturer of the people, speechmaker] in Latin; the fifth,
'syra syrim', that is the Canticle of Canticles; the sixth Daniel,
the seventh Paralipomenon, which in Latin is called the Words
of Days and in Hebrew is called 'dabreniamin'; the eighth Esdras
and the ninth Esther. These are all, that is five and eight and
nine, making twenty-two, just as do the number of letters in the
Hebrew alphabet, so that the life of the just may be instructed
in the way of salvation by as many books as letters educate the
tongues of the knowledgeable in eloquence. There are some other
books besides these in the Old Testament, which are sometimes
read, but they are not written in the body of the text or in the
authoritative canon, such as the books of Tobias, Judith, and
the Maccabees, and the one called the Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus.
The New Testament contains Gospels, Apostles and Fathers. There
are four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Likewise there
are four volumes of Apostolic writings: the Acts of the Apostles,
the Epistles of St. Paul, the Canonical Epistles and the Apocalypse,
which added to the twenty-two books of the Old Testament mentioned
above make thirty, and Holy Scripture is completed in this corpus.
The writings of the Fathers are not counted in the body of this
text, because they do not add anything to it, but they explain
what it is that is in the above mentioned, and they extend it
more broadly and make it clearer. (Hugh of St. Victor, De sacramentis.
Prologue, Cap. VII. PL 176:185D-186D. Translation by Catherine
Kavanaugh, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Postquam
demonstravimus quae sit materia divinarum Scripturarum et qualiter
de subjecta sibi materia tractent in triplici sensu, historiae,
allegoriae, tropologiae, nunc ostendere convenit in quibus libris
ea quae jure divinitatis nomine censetur, scriptura consistat.
Duo sunt Testamenta quae omne divinarum Scripturarum corpus concludunt:
Vetus scilicet et Novum. Utrumque tribus ordinibus distinguitur.
Vetus Testamentum continet legem, prophetas, hagiographos, quod
interpretatum sonat sanctos scriptores vel sancta scribentes.
In lege continentur quinque volumina; scilicet Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numeri, Deuteronomium. Genesis autem a generatione
dicitur; Exodus ab exitu; Leviticus a levitis. Liber numeri, quia
in eo numerantur filii Israel. Deuteronomium secunda lex, Hebraice
autem, bresith, hellesmoth, vagetra, vegedaber, adabarim: In ordine
prophetarum octo sunt volumina. Primus liber Josue, qui et Jesu
Nave, et Josue Bennun, id est filius Nun; secundus liber Judicum,
qui dicitur Sopthim; tertius liber Samuelis, qui est primus et
secundus Regum; quartus Malachim quod interpretatur regum, qui
est tertius et quartus Regum; quintus Isaias; sextus Jeremias;
septimus Ezechiel; octavus liber duodecim prophetarum qui dicitur,
thareasra. Hi prophetici dicuntur eo quod prophetarum sunt, etiamsi
non omnes prophetiae sint. Propheta autem tribus modis dicitur:
officio, gratia, missione. Vulgo autem usitato vocabulo magis
prophetae vocantur, qui vel officio vel aperta missione prophetae
sunt; sicut in hoc loco. Secundum quam acceptionem David et Daniel
et caeteri complures, prophetae non dicuntur, sed hagiographi.
In ordine hagiographorum novem volumina continentur. Primum Job;
secundum liber Psalmorum; tertium Proverbia Salomonis quae Graece
parabolae, Hebraice, masloth, dicuntur; quartum Ecclesiastes,
qui Hebraice, coeleth, Latine concionator interpretatur; quintum,
syra syrim, id est Cantica canticorum; sextum Daniel; septimum
Paralipomenon, quod Latine sonat verba dierum, Hebraice, dabreniamin,
dicitur; octavum Esdras; nonum Esther. Qui omnes, id est quinque
octo novem: similiter faciunt viginti duos quot litteras etiam
alphabetum continet Hebraicum, ut totidem libris erudiatur vita
justorum ad salutem, quot litteris lingua discentium ad eloquentiam
instruitur. Sunt praeterea in Veteri Testamento alii quidam libri
qui leguntur quidem, sed in corpore textus vel in canone auctoritatis
non scribuntur. Ut est liber Tobiae et Judith, et Machabaeorum
et qui inscribitur liber Sapientiae Salomonis et Ecclesiasticus.
Novum Testamentum continet Evangelia, apostolos, Patres. Evangelia
quatuor sunt: Matthaei, Marci, Lucae, Joannis. Apostolica volumina
similiter quatuor: Actus apostolorum; Epistolae Pauli; Canonicae
Epistolae, Apocalypsis: qui juncti cum superioribus viginti duobus
Veteris Testamenti, triginta complent, in quibus corpus divinae
paginae consummatur. Scriptura Patrum in corpore textus non computantur;
quia non aliud adjiciunt, sed idipsum quod in supradictis continetur
explanando et latius manifestiusque tractando extendunt (Hugh
of St. Victor, De Sacramentis, Prologue, Cap. VII. PL 176:185D-186D.
Holy Scripture is contained in two testaments, namely the Old
and the New. Each testament is divided into three subsections:
the Old Testament contains the law, the prophets, and the hagiography.
The New contains the Gospel, the apostles, and the fathers. The
first subsection of the Old Testament is the law, which the Hebrews
call thorath holds the Pentateuch, that is the five books of Moses.
In this subsection the first is Beresith, which is Genesis; second
Hellesmoth, which is Exodus; third is Vagethra, which is Leviticus;
fourth Vagedaber, which is Numbers; fifth Elleaddaberim, which
is Deuteronomy. The second subsection is of prophets and contains
eight texts. The first is Bennum, that is, Son of Nun, who is
called Joshua and Jesus and Jesus Nave. The second is Sathim,
which is Judges; third Samuel, which is first and second Kings;
fourth Malachi, which is third and fourth Kings; fifth Isaiah;
sixth Jeremiah; seventh Ezekiel; eighth Thereasra, which is the
twelve prophets. The third subsection has nine books. First is
Job, second David, third Masloth, which in Greek is Parabolae
but in Latin is Proverbs, i.e. of Solomon; fourth Coeleth, which
is Ecclesiastes; fifth Sirasirim, which is the Song of Songs;
sixth Daniel, seventh Dabreiamin, which is Chronicles; eighth
Ezra; ninth Esther. They all add up to the number twenty-two.
Moreover, there are certain other books, such as the Wisdom of
Solomon, the book of Jesus son of Sirach, and the book of Judith,
and Tobias, and the books of the Maccabees which are read but
are not considered in the canon. To these twenty-two books of
the Old Testament...Then the writings of the holy fathers, that
is Jerome, Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory, Isidore, Origen, Bede
and the other doctors, which are countless. These patristic writings
are not counted in the text of Holy Scripture, just as in the
Old Testament, as we have said, there are certain writings which
are not written in the canon and yet are read, like the Wisdom
of Solomon, etc. And so the text of Holy Scripture, like an entire
corpus, is principally contained in thirty books, twenty-two of
these are gathered in the Old and eight in the New Testament (Hugh
of St. Victor, De Scripturis et Scriptoribus Sacris Praenotatiunculae,
Cap. VI, De ordine, numero et auctoritate librorum sacrae Scripturae.
PL 175:15D-16. Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval
Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Omnis
divina Scriptura in duobus Testamentis continetur Veteri videlicet
et Novo. Utrumque Testamentum tribus ordinibus distinguitur: Vetus
Testamentum continet legem, prophetas, agiographos. Novum autem
Evangelium, apostolos, patres. Primus ordo Veteris Testamenti,
id est lex, quam Hebraei thorath nominant, pentateuchon habet,
id est quinque libros Moysi. In hoc ordine primus est Beresith,
qui est Genesis. Secundus Hellesmoth, qui est Exodus. Tertius
Vagethra, qui est Leviticus. Quartus Vagedaber, qui est Numeri.
Quintus Elleaddaberim, qui est Deuteronomius. Secundus ordo est
prophetarum, hic continet octo volumina. Primum est Bennum, id
est filius Nun, qui et Josue et Jesus, et Jesus Nave nuncupatur.
Secundum est Sothim, qui est liber Judicum. Tertium est Samuel,
qui est primus et secundus Regum. Quartum Malachim, qui est tertius
et quartus Regum. Quintum est Esaias. Sextum Jeremias, Septimum
Ezechiel. Octavum Thereasra qui est duodecim prophetarum. Deinde
tertius ordo novem habet libros. Primus est Job. Secundus David.
Tertius Masloth, quod graece Parabolae, latine Proverbia sonat,
videlicet Salomonis. Quartus Coeleth, qui est Ecclesiastes. Quintus
Sirasirim, id est Cantica canticorum. Sextus Daniel. Septimus
Dabreiamin, qui est Paralipomenon. Octavus Esdras. Nonus Esther.
Omnes ergo fiunt numero viginti duo. Sunt praeterea alii quidam
libri, ut Sapientia Salomonis, liber Jesu filii Sirach, et liber
Judith, et Tobias, et libri Machabaeorum, qui leguntur quidem,
sed non scribuntur in canone. His viginti duobus libris Veteris
Testamenti (Hugh of St. Victor, De Scripturis et Scriptoribus
Sacris Praenotatiunculae, Cap. VI, De ordine, numero et auctoritate
librorum sacrae Scripturae. PL 175:15D-16).
146 F.F. Bruce, Tha Canon of Scripture (Downers
Grove: Intervarsity, 1988), pp. 99-100.
147 Holy Scripture is contained in two testaments,
namely the Old and the New. Each testament is divided into three
subsections: the Old Testament contains the law, the prophets,
and the hagiography. The New contains the Gospel, the apostles,
and the fathers. The first subsection of the Old Testament is
the law, which the Hebrews call thorath holds the Pentateuch,
that is the five books of Moses. In this subsection the first
is Beresith, which is Genesis; second Hellesmoth, which is Exodus;
third is Vagethra, which is Leviticus; fourth Vagedaber, which
is Numbers; fifth Elleaddaberim, which is Deuteronomy. The second
subsection is of prophets and contains eight texts. The first
is Bennum, that is, Son of Nun, who is called Joshua and Jesus
and Jesus Nave. The second is Sathim, which is Judges; third Samuel,
which is first and second Kings; fourth Malachi, which is third
and fourth Kings; fifth Isaiah; sixth Jeremiah; seventh Ezekiel;
eighth Thereasra, which is the twelve prophets. The third subsection
has nine books. First is Job, second David, third Masloth, which
in Greek is Parabolae but in Latin is Proverbs, i.e. of Solomon;
fourth Coeleth, which is Ecclesiastes; fifth Sirasirim, which
is the Song of Songs; sixth Daniel, seventh Dabreiamin, which
is Chronicles; eighth Ezra; ninth Esther. However, they are twenty-four
in number in all. There are other books also besides these, such
as the Wisdom of Solomon, the Book of Jesu, son of Sirach, the
Book of Judith also, Tobias and the book of the Maccabees, which
are read, in fact, but are not written in the Canon (Richard of
St. Victor, Tractatus Exceptionum: Qui continet originem et discretionem
artium, situmque terrarum, et summam historiarum; distinctus in
quatuor libros. Book II, Cap. IX. De duobus Testamentis. P.L.
177:193. Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute,
University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Omnis divina Scriptura in duobus Testamentis
continetur, Veteri videlicet et Novo. Utrumque Testamentum tribus
ordinibus distinguitur, Vetus Testamentum continet legem, et prophetas
et agiographos. Novum autem: Evangelia, Apostolos, Patres. Primus
ordo Veteris Testamenti, id est, lex quam Hebraei Torath nominant,
Pentateuchum, id est quinque libros Moysi continet hoc ordine:
Primus est Bresith, id est Genesis; secundus Hessesmot, id est
Exodus; tertius Vagethra, qui est Leviticus; quartus Vagedaber,
qui est Numeri; quintus Adabarim, qui est Deuteronomion. Secundus
ordo est Prophetarum. Hic continet octo volumina: Primum, Josue
Hennum, id est filium, Num, qui et Josue, et Jesus Nave, et Jesus
nuncupatur; secundum, Soptim, qui est liber Judicum; tertium,
Samuel, qui est primus et secundus Regum; quartum, Malachim, qui
est tertius et quartus Regum; quintum, Isaiam; sextum, Jeremiam;
septimum, Ezechielem; octavum, Thareastra, qui est liber duodecim
prophetarum. Tertius ordo est agiographorum. Hic continet novem
libros. Primus est Job; secundus Psalterium; tertius Maslot, qui
Graece Parabolae, Latine Proverbia sonat; quartus Celeth, qui
est Ecclesiastes; quintus Sira sirim, id est Cantica canticorum;
sextus Daniel; septimus Dabreniamin, qui est Paralipomenon; octavus
Esdras; nonus Esther. Omnes vero numero viginti quatuor. Sunt
praeterea et alii libri, ut Sapientia Salomonis, liber Jesu filii
Sirach, et liber Judith, et Tobias, liber Machabaeorum, qui leguntur
quidem, sed non scribuntur in Canone (Richard of St. Victor, Tractatus
Exceptionum: Qui continet originem et discretionem artium, situmque
terrarum, et summam historiarum; distinctus in quatuor libros.
Book II, CAP. IX. De duobus Testamentis. P.L. 177:193).
148 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
149
And so I was glad to take up for your sake the questions propounded,
and reply to them, with allowance made for my present opportunities
and urgent affairs, not as I would, but as best I can for the
while. The questions were: what do I believe to be the number
of books in the Old and New Testament, and who were their authors
On
the number of the books I find in my reading diverse and numerous
opinions given by the fathers; and so I follow Jerome, teacher
of the Catholic Church, whom I hold to be the surest witness in
establishing the basis of the literal interpretation. Just as
it is accepted that there are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew
alphabet, so I believe without doubt that there are twenty?two
books in the Old Testament, divided into three categories. The
first contains the Pentateuch, that is the five books of Moses,
which are divided into this number to represent the different
sacraments,' though the historical subject?matter is admittedly
continuous. These are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy. The second contains prophecies and is completed in
eight books. The reason why they rather than the others should
be called prophecies, although some of them seem to narrate straightforward
history, while others, like Daniel and the Book of Psalms, while
describing prophecy, are not reckoned among the prophetic books,
was not among the questions put to me; nor does my limitation
in time or parchment permit me to expound it now, nor yet the
impatience of the bearer. Among these, then, are numbered Joshua,
and Judges, to which Ruth is also attached, since the story told
in it was set in the days of the judges; also Samuel, whose story
is completed in the first two Books of Kings, and Malachim, in
the two following. These are followed by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel-reckoned
one book each-and the book of the Twelve Prophets. The third category
consists of the Hagiographa, containing Job, the Psalter, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, Daniel, Chronicles, Esdras and
Esther. And thus the total of the twenty-two books of the Old
Testamen is made up, though some reckon that Ruth and the Lamentations
of Jeremiah should be added to the number of the Hagiographa,
and thus the total increased to twenty-four. All this is to be
found in the prologue to the Books of Kings, which St. Jerome
calls the armour-plated front of all the scriptures he himself
made flow from the Hebrew source for the understanding of those
of Latin speech. The book of Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Judith, Tobit,
and the Shepherd are not reckoned in the canon, as St. Jerome
also asserts, nor the Book of Maccabees either, which is divided
into two, of which the first has the savour of Hebrew eloquence,
the second of Greek, as its style proves. Whether the book called
the Shepherd anywhere survives I do not know; but it is certain
that Jerome and Bede bear witness that they saw and read it.
To these are added eight books of the New Testament; they start
with the Gospels of Matthew, of Mark, of Luke and of John, and
the fifteen Epistles of Paul gathered in one book. Although it
is the common, indeed almost universal, opinion that there are
only fourteen Epistles of Paul, ten to churches, four to individuals,
if indeed the Epistle to the Hebrews is to be reckoned among them-and
Jerome, the teacher of teachers, seems to impute it to him in
his preface to it, when he demolishes the arguments of those who
maintained that it is not Paul's. But the fifteenth is that which
is written to the church of the Laodiceans, and although it is
rejected by all authorities, as Jerome says, yet it was written
by the Apostle; nor is this conclusion based on other men's opinions,
but on the sure foundation of the Apostle's own testimony. He
recalls it in the Epistle to the Colossians in these words: 'And
when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in
the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you have read to you
also the letter of the Laodiceans.' There follow seven canonical
Epistles in one book, then the Acts of the Apostles in another,
and finally the Apocalypse.
It is the well-known and undoubted tradition of the Church that
this is the number of the books which are accepted into the canon
of the Holy Scriptures; which enjoy such great authority among
all men, that no place is left in sane minds for doubt or contradiction,
but that they were written by the finger of God. A lawful and
just warning, and condemnation as a sinner, falls on him who in
the mart of manners and speech, especially in the forum of the
faithful, does not accept, openly and publicly, the silver currency
of this divine utterance, tried by the fire of the Holy Spirit,
purged from all earthly dross and stain by a sevenfold purgation.
Let faith find a sure resting place in these facts and in those
things which find their proved and just support in them; since
he is an infidel or a heretic who dares to reject them (John of
Salisbury, The Letters of John of Salisbury, W.J. Millor S.J.
and C.N.L. Brooke, editors (Oxford: Clarendon, 1979), Letter 209,
pp. 317, 319, 321, 323, 325).
Latin Reference: Mihi
itaque pro vobis complacuit, ut propositas exciperem quaestiones,
et eis, habita ratione temporis et inevitabilium necessitatum,
responderem, etsi non pro voto, certe pro tempore. Quaesitum vero
est quem credam numerum esse librorum Veteris et Novi Testamenti,
et quos auctores eorum,.. Quia ergo de numero librorum diversas
et multiplices Patrum lego sententias, catholicae Ecclesiae doctorem
Hieronymum sequens, quem in construendo litterae fundamento probatissimum
habeo, sicut constat esse XXII litteras Hebraeorum, sic XXII libros
Veteris Testamenti in tribus distinctos ordinibus indubitanter
credo. Et primus quidem ordo Pentateuchum continet, quinque scilicet
libros Moysi sic pro sacramentorum varietate divisos, et si continuam
de historia constet esse materiam. Hi sunt Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
liber Numerorum, Deuteronomium. Secundus ordo continet prophetias,
et octo libris expletur, qui quare prae caeteris dicantur prophetiae,
cum aliqui eorum nudam referre videantur historiam, et alii prophetiam
texentes, sicut Daniel, liberque Psalmorum, in propheticis non
censeantur operibus, nec in quaestione propositum est, nec temporis,
aut schedae angustia nunc patitur explicare, sed nec instantia
portitoris. In his ergo numerantur, Josue, liber Judicum, cui
compingitur et Ruth, quoniam in diebus Judicum, facta narratur
historia, itemque Samuel, qui in duobus primis Regum voluminibus,
et Malachim, qui in duobus sequentibus expletur, quos sequuntur
voluminibus singulis, Isaias, Jeremias, Ezechiel, liber XII prophetarum
in hagiographis consistit. Tertius ordo continens Job, Psalterium,
Eccles. Cantica canticorum, Danielem, Paralipomenon, Esdram et
Esther.
Et sic colliguntur in summa XXII libri Veteris Testamenti, licet
nonnulli librum Ruth et Lamentationes Jeremiae, in hagiographorum
numero censeant supputandos, ut in XXIV summa omnium dilatetur.
Et haec quidem inveniuntur in prologo libri Regum, quem beatus
Hieronymus vocat galeatum principem omnium Scripturarum, quae
ab ipso de fonte Hebraeorum manaverunt ad intelligentiam Latinorum.
Liber vero Sapientiae, et Ecclesiasticus, Judith, Tobias et Pastor,
ut idem Pater asserit, non reputantur in Canone, sed neque Machabaeorum
liber, qui in duo volumina scinditur, quorum primum Hebraeam redolet
eloquentiam, alterum Graecam, quod stylus ipse convincit, ille
autem qui Pastor inscribitur, an alicubi sit nescio, sed certum
est quod Hieronymus et Beda illum se vidisse et legisse testantur.
His adduntur Novi Testamenti octo volumina, scilicet Evangelium
Matthaei, Marci, Lucae, Joannis, Epistolae Pauli XV uno volumine
comprehensae, licet sit vulgata, et fere omnium communis opinio
non esse nisi XIV, decem ad Ecclesias, quatuor ad personas: si
tamen illa quae ad Hebraeos est, connumeranda est Epistolis Pauli,
quod in praefatione ejus astruere videtur doctorum doctor Hieronymus,
illorum dissolvens argutias, qui eam Pauli non esse contendebant.
Caeterum, quinta decima est illa quae Ecclesiae Laodicensium scribitur,
et licet, ut ait Hieronymus, ab omnibus explodatur, tamen ab Apostolo
scripta est: neque sententia haec de aliorum praesumitur opinione,
sed ipsius Apostoli testimonio roboratur. Meminit enim ipsius
in Epistola ad Colossenses his verbis: Cum lecta fuerit apud vos
haec epistola, facite ut in Laodicensium Ecclesia legatur, et
ea quae Laodicensium est legatur vobis. Sequuntur Epistolae Canonicae
VII in uno volumine, deinde Actus apostolorum in alio, et tandem
Apocalypsis.
Et hunc quidem numerum esse librorum, qui in sacrarum Scripturarum
canonem admittuntur, celebris apud Ecclesiam et indubitata traditio
est, quae tanta apud omnes vigent auctoritate, ut contradictionis
aut dubietatis locum sanis mentibus non relinquant, quia conscriptae
sunt digito Dei. Jure ergo et merito cavetur, et condemnatur ut
reprobus, qui in morum verborumque commercio, praesertim in foro
fidelium, hujus divini eloquii passim et publico non admittit
argentum, quod igne Spiritus sancti examinatum est, purgatum ab
omni faece terrena et macula purgatur septuplum. Istis ergo secure
fides incumbat et illis, quae hinc probatum et debitum accipiunt
firmamentum, quoniam infidelis aut haereticus est qui eis ausus
fuerit refragari (John of Salisbury, Epistle 143: Ad Henricum
Comitem Campaniae (A. D. 1165-66.). PL 199:124-127).
150 And so, concerning the field of the belly of
Jesus, in which all storehouses of wisdom and knowledge have been
hidden, just as from a mound of wheat surrounded by lilies, twenty?four
loaves (according to the number of twenty?four elders standing
in the sight of the Lamb) in order to curb all hunger, cleanse
all disease, and remove all weakness, with however much care I
have been able to gather in this little book by breaking asunder
the battle lines of overflowing cares. For this number both of
the sons of Jacob and of the apostles of Christ signifies twice
the number twelve. And so under this number are contained the
books of the Old Testament. And so the complete instruction of
souls is offered from this number of books and no less full refreshment
is taken from this number of loaves. And so running from the east
and west and north and south to the sign of Abraham that they
not fail on the way, they refresh themselves from the loaves of
the compassion of the Lord and they show the perpetual refreshment
to their flaws (Peter Cellensis, De Panibus. Cap 2, PL 202:935-936).
Latin Reference: De agro
igitur ventris Jesu, in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiae et
scientiae absconditi, tanquam de acervo tritici vallato liliis,
viginti quatuor panes (juxta numerum viginti quatuor seniorum,
in conspectu Agni astantium) ad compescendam omnem famem, ad sanandam
omnem pestem, et ad removendum omnem languorem; quanta potui sedulitate,
interrumpendo curarum exundantium acies, in hoc opusculo collegi.
Hic enim numerus, tam filiorum Jacob quam apostolorum Christi,
duodenarium numerum duplicatum significat. Sub hoc etiam numero
libri continentur Veteris Testamenti. Plenaria igitur instructio
animarum praelibatur ex hoc numero librorum, et nihilominus plena
refectio apprehenditur ex hoc panum numero. Ab oriente itaque
et occidente, a septentrione et meridie ad signum Abrahae concurrentes;
ne deficiant in via, de panibus miserationum Domini sese reficiunt,
et defectibus suis perpetuam refectionem exhibent (Peter Cellensis,
De Panibus, Cap 2. PL 202:935-936).
151 Concerning this (thing) whether sometimes by
Christ he means mercy, through which we are saved and set free
and today some assert on behalf of this since clearly canonical
scripture never shows that he underwent punishment. Only in this
the Book of Wisdom is written concerning that it is written thus:
Wisdom protected the first-formed father of the world, when he
alone had been created; she delivered him from his transgression,
and gave him strength to rule all things. But this scripture is
not from the canon nor has this idea been taken from canonical
scripture, as the other things which are remembered from the fathers
in this same book in praise of wisdom; for example, she did not
abandon the just man who was sold (understand Joseph) and the
rest...(Rupert of Deutz, Commentary on Genesis, Book III, Cap.
31).
Latin Reference: De quo
utrum aliquando per Christum misericordiam consecutus sit, per
quam salvati et liberati sumus, hodieque nonnulli dissertant,
pro eo quia videlicet nusquam canonica Scriptura testatur illum
egisse poenitentiam. In eo duntaxat qui inscribitur liber Sapientiae,
de illo sic scriptum est: Haec (subauditur sapientia) illum, qui
primus formatus est a Deo, pater orbis terrarum: cum solus esset
creatus, custodivit, eduxit illum a delicto suo, et dedit illi
virtutem continendi omnia. Verum haec Scriptura neque de canone
est; neque de canonica Scriptura sumpta est sententia haec, quomodo
caetera quae de patribus in eodem libro cum laude sapientiae commemorantur;
verbi gratia, haec venditum justum, subaudis Joseph, non dereliquit,
et reliqua (Rupert of Deutz, Commentariorum In Genesim, Book III,
Cap. 31. PL 167:318A-318B).
152 Around the throne are twenty-four thrones and
seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders dressed in robes
with golden crowns on their heads. Just as on the seat the kingdom
of God, so on these seats we understand the judicial power of
the saints, about which is has been written, the saints will judge
the nations. But why are the elders sitting on the seats shown
to be twenty-four in number? On this matter the explanations of
the Fathers diverge. For some (of whom St. Jerome is one and the
most notable) wish the elders displayed throughout here to be
understood as the twenty-four books of the old law. Some others
understand in these same elders the Church born through the twin
testaments of the patriarchs and the apostles, or certainly those
who brought about the work's perfection, which is commended to
six-fold number, by clear preaching of the Gospel. For four times
six makes twenty-four. But we judging neither interpretation to
be useless, nevertheless dare to bring forth something certain
from the majesty of the scriptures (Commentary of Rupert, Abbot
of Deutz, On the Apocalypse of John, Book III, Chapter IV. Translation
by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval Institute, University of Notre
Dame).
Latin Reference: Et in
circuitu sedis sedilia viginti quatuor, et super thronos viginti
quatuor seniores sedentes circumamicti vestimentis albis, et in
capitibus eorum coronae aureae. Sicut in sede regnum Dei, sic
in sedilibus judiciariam sanctorum intelligimus potestatem, qua
scriptum est: Judicabunt sancti nationes. Quare autem numero
viginti quatuor ostenduntur seniores in sedilibus sedentes? Super
hoc diversa Patrum expositio est. Nam alii (quorum beatus Hieronymus
unus et notissimus) libros priscae legis viginti quatuor hic per
totidem seniores figuratos intelligi volunt. Alii nonnulli Ecclesiam
per geminum Testamentum de patriarchis et apostolis generatam
in eisdem senioribus intelligunt, aut certe illos qui perfectionem
operis, quae senario numero commendatur, clara Evangelii praedicatione
consummant. Nam quater seni viginti quatuor faciunt. Nos autem
et hunc et illum sensum non inutilem approbantes, nihilominus
tamen de majestate Scripturarum certum aliquid proferre conemur
(Commentary of Rupert, Abbot of Deutz, Apocalypsim Joannis Apostoli
Commentariorum, Book III, Cap. IV. PL 169:907C-908A).
153 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
154 The scripture of the Old Testament is written
with the Holy Spirit as author and is divided into three parts:
history, prophecy, and hagiography. History gives an account of
things past, prophecy announces future things, hagiography proclaims
the joys of the eternal life. This book (Psalms) takes its place
in hagiography since it shines more fully with the joys of the
eternal homeland (Honorius of Autun, Expositio In Psalmos: De
mysterio psalmorum. PL 172.273B. Translation by Benjamin Panciera,
The Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Scriptura
Veteris Testamenti Spiritu sancto auctore scribitur, et in tria,
id est in historiam, in prophetiam, in hagiographiam dividitur.
Historia est, quae praeterita narrat; prophetia, quae futura nuntiat;
hagiographia, quae aeternae vitae gaudia jubilat. Hic liber in
hagiographia locum possidet, quia laudibus aeternae patriae plenius
refulgent (Honorius of Autun, Expositio In Psalmos: De mysterio
psalmorum. PL 172.273B).
In September infirmity is often
accustomed to fall upon men on account of the new produce: and
as at this time, when there is accustomed to be a greater abundance
of things we also recollect when we also shall die in such an
abundance of things and we patiently bear the infirmities of that
time. Responsorials from Job and Tobit are sung, who both endured
sorrows. They were not kings, for this reason they do not have
their own months, but are read together in one month, through
which the kingdom of the Assyrians is understood. On Sundays,
on which the responsorials from the stories of Judith, Ezra and
Esther are sung, and these same stories are read, the kingdom
of the Persians and the Medes is designated. The Books of Tobit
and Judith are not in the canon among the Hebrews, but since they
accept them among their Hagiography, we sing and read from them
(Honorius of Autun, Operum Pars Tertia.â Liturgica. Sacramentarium,
Seu De Causis Et Significatu Mystico Rituum Divini In Ecclesia
Officii Liber. Cap. C.â ? De lectionibus in matutinis post
Pentecosten. PL 172.800D. Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The
Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: In Septembri
solet saepe infirmitas accidere hominibus propter novos fructus:
et ut eo tempore, quo major abundantia rerum esse solet, nos quandoque
etiam in tanta rerum abundantia morituros esse recolamus, et infirmitates
temporis illius patienter toleremus, canuntur responsoria de Job
et de Tobia, qui ambo dolores pertulerunt. Hi non fuerunt reges,
ideo non habent singulos menses, sed in uno mense leguntur, per
quod regnum Assyriorum intelligitur. Dominicae, in quibus responsoria
de historiis Judith, Esdrae et Esther canuntur, et ipsae historiae
leguntur, regnum Persarum et Medorum designatur. Liber Tobiae
et Judith non sunt in canone apud Hebraeos, sed quia eos in numero
Agiographiae [hort. Agiographia, seu Hagiographia] recepit, cantamus
et legimus ex eis (Operum Pars Tertia.â 'Liturgica. Sacramentarium,
Seu De Causis Et Significatu Mystico Rituum Divini In Ecclesia
Officii Liber. Cap. C.â' ? De lectionibus in matutinis post
Pentecosten. PL 172.800D).
Seven deacons are in service to the bishop in the place of the
prophets since Scripture is divided seven ways into the New and
Old Testament, which minister to the Gospel. The bishop and those
joined to him are in the middle after the Gospel, since he is
a vicar of Christ, he follows the Gospel. The New Testament is
divided into four parts, that is the Acts of the Apostles, the
seven canonical Epistles, the fourteen Pauline Epistles, and the
Apocalypse; the Old Testament into three parts: law, prophets,
and psalms. If there should be five deacons, they would show that
five ministers of the books minister to the Gospel. The bishop
in the middle, just as the Gospel holds in the New Testament the
first order of the preachers of history, the second of the Epistle,
the third of prophecy, as is of the Apocalypse. In the Old Testament,
one of the law, the other of prophecy. If there should be three,
three ministrations of three books, the Gospel, the fountain of
all wisdom in the middle, in the New Testament two of the Epistle
and of prophecy; in the Old one, that is the law; for among the
ancients all Scripture is called law in the New Testament. If
there would be one, he would show the one precept of love, as
it is said: For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, 'You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.' The ministry of the prophet is
to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel from the remembered books,
and that he might have before him the wisdom of the subdeacons
that they might prophesy at a fitting time and the light of the
acolytes, the work of doctors, might finish by expounding books
(Honorius of Autun, Operum Pars Tertia.â Liturgica. Sacramentarium,
Seu De Causis Et Significatu Mystico Rituum Divini In Ecclesia
Officii Liber, cap. xxxiv.â ? De caeremoniis in missa episcopi.
PL 172.765A?765B. Translation by Benjamin Panciera, The Medieval
Institute, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Septem
diaconi sunt in ministerio episcopi in loco prophetarum, quia
Scriptura septempliciter dividitur inter Novum et Vetus Testamentum:
quae in Evangelio ministrant. Episcopus et sibi juncti post Evangelium
in medio; quia vicarius est Christi, sequitur Evangelium. In Novo
Testamento in quatuor, id est actus apostolorum, canonicae Epistolae
septem, Epistolae Pauli quatuordecim, Apocalypsis: in Veteri in
tria; in legem, in prophetas, in psalmos. Si quinque diaconi fuerint,
quinque ministros librorum demonstrant Evangelio ministrare. Episcopus
in medio quasi Evangelium habet in Novo Testamento primum ordinem
praedicatorum historiae, secundum Epistolae, tertium prophetiae,
ut est Apocalypsis: in Veteri unum legis, et alterum prophetiae.
Si tres fuerint, tres ministrationes trium librorum; fons omnis
sapientiae Evangelium in medio, in Novo Testamento duo Epistolae
et prophetiae; in Veteri unum, id est legem; Novo Testamento enim
omnis Scriptura apud veteres lex vocatur. Si unus fuerit, unum
dilectionis praeceptum ostendit, ut dicitur: Omnis lex in uno
sermone impletur, diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum. Ministerium
prophetae est ex memoratis libris evangelicam veritatem approbare,
et habeant ante se subdiaconorum sapientiam, ut congruo tempore
prophetent: et acolythorum lux doctorum opus expleat exponendo
libros (Honorius of Autun, Operum Pars Tertia.â Liturgica.
Sacramentarium, Seu De Causis Et Significatu Mystico Rituum Divini
In Ecclesia Officii Liber, cap. xxxiv.â ? De caeremoniis
in missa episcopi. PL 172.765A-765B).
155 Catholic Encyclopedia, 16 Volumes (New York:
Encyclopedia Press, 1913). See also New Advent at www.newadvent.org.
156 The Book of Joshua is so called from the name
of the author, who is also called Jesus, for Joshua and Jesus
are the same name. He is also surnamed from his father Jesus Nave,
or Josue Bennum, that is son of Nave or Nun, which are the same.
He is also surnamed thus to distinguish him from Jesu the son
of Sirach, the great-grandson of Jesu the great priest, who wrote
Ecclesiasticus. Note also that according to the Hebrews the second
order of the Old Testament begins here. They distinguish the Old
Testament into three orders: the first they call the Law, the
second, the Prophets and the third the Hagiographies. They place
the five books of Moses in the Law, eight in the Prophets, Joshua,
Judges, Samuel, Malachi, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezechiel, and the twelve
prophets. In the Hagiographies they put nine books of the Old
Testament, which are above. They are called Hagiographies, that
is, the writings of holy men, and this name is common to all of
the books of Sacred Scripture, and because these nine are no more
important than any others they are listed under the common name
as their name, just as the word 'confessor' is the general word
for all the saints, and yet some of them, according to some special
distinction which they have, are listed under other names: some
are called 'apostles', others 'martyrs' and so forth (Peter Comestor,
Historia Scholastica, Historia Libri Josue. Incipit praefatio
in historiam libri Josue. PL 198:1259. Translation by Catherine
Kavanaugh, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Liber
Josue a nomine auctoris censetur, qui et Jesus dictus est. Nam
Josue et Jesus idem est nomen. Cognominatus est autem a patre
Jesus Nave, vel Josue Bennum, id est filius Nave, vel Nun; quod
idem est. Cognominatus est autem sic, ad differentiam Jesu fili
Sirach pronepotis Jesu magni sacerdotis, qui scripsit Ecclesiasticum.
Et nota quod secundum Hebraeos hic incipit secundus ordo Veteris
Testamenti. Qui distinguunt Vetus Testamentum in tres ordines.
Primum vocant legem, secundum prophetas, tertium agiographa. In
lege ponunt quinque libros Moysi; in prophetis octo Josue, Judicum,
Samuel, Malachim, Isaiam, Jeremiam, Ezechielem, duodecim prophetas.
In agiographis ponunt novem libros Veteris Testamenti, qui supersunt.
Hi dicuntur agiographia, id est sanctorum scripta; quod nomen
commune est omnibus sacrae Scripturae libris. Et quia hi novem
non habuerunt eminentiam prae caeteris, secundum quam agnominarentur,
communi nominecontenti sunt, sicut hoc nomen, confessor, generale
est omnium sanctorum: et tamen quidam illorum, secundum eminentiam
aliquam quam habent, aliis nominibus censentur, dicuntur alii
apostoli, alii martyres, et hujusmodi (Peter Comestor, Historia
Scholastica, Historia Libri Josue. Incipit praefatio in historiam
libri Josue. PL 198:1259).
The Jews relegate this story (Tobit) to the Apocrypha, but Jerome
says in his Prologue that it should be in the Hagiographies, and
at any rate, if it were there it would be in the third order of
the Canon of the Old Testament, but because it is not in any order,
we would say that that is because Jerome accepts many things as
hagiographies, to the point that he also includes Apocrypha, and
that is because Hebrew words are close to the language of the
Chaldaeans. Jerome was fluent in both languages, so whatever
somebody would say in Hebrew words, he would explain in Latin,
making short work of it, almost [the work of] a day (Peter Mauritius
(Venerabilis), Historia Scholastica, Historia Libri Tobiae. Incipit
praefatio in historiam libri Josue. PL 198:1432. Translation by
Catherine Kavanaugh, University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Hanc
historiam Judaei inter apocrypha ponunt Hieronymus tamen in Prologo
suo dicit inter agiographa, quod si esset, tamen esset in tertio
ordine canonis Veteris Testamenti; sed, quia de nullo ordine est,
dicemus quia Hieronymus diffusius accepit agiographa, ut includeret
etiam apocrypha, et quia vicina est lingua Chaldaeorum Hebraico
sermoni, utriusque linguae peritum loquacem habens Hieronymus,
quidquid ille Hebraeis verbis expressit, Latino sermone exposuit,
sub brevi et quasi unius diei labore (Peter Mauritius (Venerabilis),
Historia Scholastica, Historia Libri Tobiae. PL 198:1432).
Daniel prophesied in Chaldaea, who was of the line of the Kings
of Judah, according to Josephus and Epiphanius. According to
the Seventy [Septuagint], however, he was of the Tribe of Levi,
who put this in the title of the fable of Bel: 'There was a man,
a priest, named Daniel, the son of Abdo, the companion of the
King of Babylon; he was born in Upper Beteroth. And he was so
chaste that it seemed to his fellow tribesmen that it was because
of a sword.' Jerome translated this book with great difficulty
at the request of Paula and Eustochium. It was written in the
Chaldaean language, but in Hebrew letters, nor was it read by
the Church according to the Septuagint, whose edition is very
inaccurate, but according to [the edition of] Theodotius. Among
the Hebrews, it does not have the story of Susannah, nor the Hymn
of the three boys, nor the story of Bel the dragon (Peter Mauritius
(Venerabilis), Historia Scholastica, Historia Libri Danielis.
Cap. I. PL 198:1447-1448. Translation by Catherine Kavanaugh,
University of Notre Dame).
Latin Reference: Prophetavit
etiam in Cha