The Presbyters Project

IV.13

Gregory comments on the verse Song 2:10-12.

Hiemem itaque duplicem habere significationem nulla est dubitatio, uel quod inest ei asperitas hiemis et rigoris aut quia cum opportunitate pluuiarum tempus est seminandi; ac per hoc cum hiemem nominat, mundi istius tempus inducit, quod et uerbum dei quasi quoddam semen iustitiae a prophetis et apostolis uel sacerdotibus in hoc saeculo seminatur et adsidua praedicatione uelut quodam caelesti imbre rigatur, ut centesimum, sexagesimum et tricesimum fructum possit afferre; asperitas autem hiemis et rigoris ad persecutionis iniuriam pertinet, quam in mundo omnes sancti saepenumero patiuntur, sicut saluator in euangelio dicit: oportet nos per multas tribulationes introire in regnum dei.

(ed. Bulhart 1977: 201-202)

IV.13

Gregory comments on the verse Song 2:10-12.

The winter has also, without doubt, a double meaning, because the winter is severe and cold, but it is also a time good for sowing thanks to rain. Therefore, when he speaks about winter, he evokes the time of this world because the word of God is sown in these times as a seed of justice by the prophets, apostles and priests, and the world is bedewed with incessant preaching as with heavenly rain so that it could bring forth fruit hundredfold, sixtyfold and thirtyfold [cf. Matt 13:8]. The severity and coldness of winter represent the harm of persecutions which are suffered by many saints in this world, just like the Saviour said in the Gospel: "through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" [Acts 14:21].

(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

About the source:

Author: Gregory of Elvira
Title: On the Song of Songs, In Canticum canticorum, Tractatus V de epithalamio, De epithalamio
Origin: Elvira (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Gregory was a bishop of Elvira in the fourth century and he was a staunch opponent of Arianism. We do not know the year of his consecration, but he was already a bishop in 357 (he opposed the "blasphemy" of Sirmium according to Libellus precum from 383/384). The year of his death is also unknown, but Jerome mentioned that Gregory was still alive in 392/393 (for a detailed discussion on the chronology of the episcopacy of Gregory see: Shuve 2014). The bishop of Elvira wrote a commentary to the Song of Songs, probably after 383, as he seems to already know Jerome`s translation of Origen, and no later than AD 410, when Rufinus issued his translation, seemingly unknown to Gregory (Elliot 2011: 23-24).

Edition:

V. Bulhart ed., Gregorii Iliberritani episcopi quae supersunt, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 69, Turnhout 1977, 169-215

Bibliography:

M.W. Elliott, The Song of Songs and Christology in the early church, 381-451, Eugene 2011.

K. Shuve, "The Episcopal Career of Gregory of Elvira”, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 65 (2014), 247-262.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Theoretical considerations - On priesthood

Pastoral activity - Preaching

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER788, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=788