Prologus Galeatus
The Prologus Galaetus or Galeatum principium (lit. and traditionally translated as "helmeted prologue"[1] or "helmeted preface"[2]) is a preface by Jerome, dated 391-392, to his translation of the Liber Regum (the book of Kings composed of four parts: the first and second books of Kings and of first and second books of Samuel).[3]
In this text, Jerome affirms his opposition to the books of the Old Testament which are outside the Hebrew canon.[4] Jerome writes: "This prologue to the Scriptures may be appropriate as a helmeted introduction [galeatum principium] to all the books which we turn from Hebrew into Latin, so we may be able to know whatever is outside of these is set aside among the apocrypha. Therefore, Wisdom, which is commonly ascribed to Solomon, and the book of Jesus son of Sirach, and Judith and Tobias, and The Shepherd are not in the canon. I have found the First Book of the Maccabees (is) Hebrew, the Second is Greek, which may also be proven by their styles."[5]
See also
References
- Canellis, Aline (2017). "Préfaces : Préface de saint Jérôme sur le livre des Rois". Jérôme : Préfaces aux livres de la Bible. Sources Chrétiennes (in French). Abbeville: Éditions du Cerf. p. 332-333. ISBN 978-2-204-12618-2.
- Gallagher, Edmon (2013). Vinzent, Markus (ed.). "Jerome's Prologus Galeatus and the OT Canon of North Africa". Studia Patristica. 69: 99–106 – via Academia.edu.
- Canellis, Aline (2017). "Préfaces : Préface de saint Jérôme sur le livre des Rois". Jérôme : Préfaces aux livres de la Bible. Sources Chrétiennes (in French). Abbeville: Éditions du Cerf. p. 322, 332-333. ISBN 978-2-204-12618-2.
- "Jerome on the Canon of Scripture". www.bible-researcher.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- "Jerome's "Helmeted Introduction" to Kings". biblicalia. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
External links
- Prologus Galaetus in English
- Patrologia Latinae, v. 28, "Praefatio Hieronymi in libros Samuel et Malachim", pp. 547-558 in Latin (PDF; HTML)
- In Latin here
- Weber, Robert; Gryson, Roger, eds. (2007). "INCIPIT PROLOGUS SANCTI HIERONYMI IN LIBRO REGUM" (PDF). Biblia sacra : iuxta Vulgatam versionem (5th ed.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. pp. 364–366. ISBN 978-3-438-05303-9 – via Society of Biblical Litterature.
Further reading
- Gallagher, Edmon L. (June 2012). "The Old Testament "Apocrypha" in Jerome's Canonical Theory". Journal of Early Christian Studies. 20 (2): 213–233. doi:10.1353/earl.2012.0016. ISSN 1086-3184 – via Academia.edu.
- Gallagher, Edmon (2013). Vinzent, Markus (ed.). "Jerome's Prologus Galeatus and the OT Canon of North Africa". Studia Patristica. 69: 99–106 – via Academia.edu.