Sophia Scriptura

On the Various Titles of the Lord (complete)

Nicetas, bishop of Remesiana · On the Various Titles of the Lord · ca. 380–414 · Remesiana · 2 passages

Authorship disputed: Printed with Nicetas's works; Burn (1905) accepts it, but the authorship is less secure than that of the treatises on faith and the Spirit.

Latin text: Migne, PL 52 (Latin text: Migne, Patrologia Latina 52, digitized by Open Greek and Latin (patrologia_latina-dev, University of Leipzig), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Chapter 1

1PL 52:863c–865 b

Multa nomina multaeque appellationes in Scripturis sanctis inveniuntur, quae Domino Jesu et Salvatori nostro conveniunt. Dicitur verbum, dicitur sapientia, lux, virtus, dextera, brachium, angelus, appellatur homo; dicitur agnus, ovis, sacerdos, via, veritas, vita; dicitur vitis, justitia, redemptio: panis, lapis, medicus, fons aquæ vivae, pax, judex, janua appellatur. Hæc omnia dicitur et alia multa vocabula in Scripturis sanctis de Christo invenies; cum unus atque idem sit Dei Filius Deus noster, ut virtutis ejus ac dispensationis ratio cognoscatur. Audisti appellationes ; quaere nunc appellationum significationes. Verbum dicitur, vel quod impassibiliter genitus sit a Deo Patre, vel quod sine diminutione paternæ substantiæ ejus exstiterit generatio. Nam nec homo diminutionem aliquam pati videtur cum verbum emittit. Vel certe verbum dicitur, quod per ipsum sit Deus Pater semper et angelis locutus et hominibus. Sapientia dicitur, quia per ipsum sunt in principio sapienter cuncta disposita. Lux dicitur, quia et primas mundi tenebras ipse illuminavit, et noctes mentium humanarum suo adventu fugavit. Virtus dicitur, quia nulla eum potest superare creatura. Dextera et brachium dicitur, quia per ipsum universa creata sunt, et ab ipso omnia continentur. Angelus magni consilii appellatur, quia ipse est nuntius paternæ voluntatis. Dicitur hominis Filius, quia propter nos homines homo nasci dignatus est. Dicitur agnus propter innocentiam singularem. Ovis dicitur, ut ejus passio demonstretur. Sacerdos dicitur, vel quia suum corpus oblationem et hostiam obtulit Deo Patri pro nobis; vel quod per nos dies singulos offerri dignatur. Dicitur via, quia per ipsum pergimus ad salutem. Vitis appellatur, quia brachiorum palmites extendens in cruce, magnum sæculo praestitit dulcedinis fructum. Justitia dicitur, quia per sui nominis fidem justificat peccatores. Redemptio dicitur, quia olim perditos sanguinis sui pretio nos redemit. Panis dicitur, quia famem gentium per suum refecit Evangelium. Lapis dicitur, quia nec serpens fecit in eo vestigium, et nobis ipse præstitit munimentum. Medicus dicitur, quia infirmitates nostras et vulnera sua visitatione curavit. Fons aquæ vivæ dicitur, quia per lavacrum regenerationis et abluit et vivificat peccatores. Pax dicitur, quia dissidentes in unum colligit, et Deo Patri reconciliavit. Resurrectio dicitur, quia ipse omnia de sepulcris corpora suscitabit. Judex dicitur quia ipse est et vivos judicaturus et mortuos. Janua dicitur, quia per ipsum cœlorum regni fidelibus aperitur introitus.

Many names and many titles are found in the holy Scriptures which belong to our Lord and Saviour Jesus. He is called Word, he is called Wisdom, Light, Power, Right Hand, Arm, Angel; he is called Man; he is called Lamb, Sheep, Priest, Way, Truth, Life; he is called Vine, Righteousness, Redemption; he is called Bread, Stone, Physician, Spring of living water, Peace, Judge, Door. All these he is called, and many other names you will find in the holy Scriptures about Christ, though the Son of God, our God, is one and the same, so that the reason of his power and of his dispensation may be known. You have heard the titles; now seek the meanings of the titles. He is called Word, either because he was begotten impassibly by God the Father, or because his generation took place without diminution of the Father’s substance. For not even a man is seen to suffer any diminution when he utters a word. Or certainly he is called Word because through him God the Father has always spoken both to angels and to men. He is called Wisdom, because through him all things were wisely ordered in the beginning. He is called Light, because he both illumined the first darkness of the world and by his coming put to flight the nights of human minds. He is called Power, because no creature can overcome him. He is called Right Hand and Arm, because through him all things were created, and by him all things are held together. He is called Angel of great counsel, because he is the messenger of the Father’s will. He is called Son of Man, because for us men he deigned to be born a man. He is called Lamb for his singular innocence. He is called Sheep, to show his passion. He is called Priest, either because he offered his own body as an oblation and sacrifice to God the Father for us, or because he deigns to be offered through us every day. He is called Way, because through him we go on to salvation. He is called Vine, because, stretching out the branches of his arms on the cross, he gave the world a great fruit of sweetness. He is called Righteousness, because through faith in his name he justifies sinners. He is called Redemption, because he redeemed us, once lost, at the price of his blood. He is called Bread, because by his gospel he refreshed the hunger of the nations. He is called Stone, because neither did the serpent make a track on him, and he himself has given us a defence. He is called Physician, because by his visitation he healed our weaknesses and wounds. He is called Spring of living water, because through the washing of regeneration he both cleanses and gives life to sinners. He is called Peace, because he gathers into one those at variance and has reconciled them to God the Father. He is called Resurrection, because he himself will raise all bodies from the tombs. He is called Judge, because he himself is to judge the living and the dead. He is called Door, because through him the entrance into the kingdom of heaven is opened to the faithful.

John 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Cor 1:24 (allusion, high confidence) · John 8:12 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 9:6 (allusion, high confidence) · John 1:29 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 53:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Heb 5:6 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 14:6 (allusion, high confidence) · John 15:1 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Cor 1:30 (allusion, high confidence) · John 6:35 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Pet 2:6–8 (allusion, medium confidence) · Prov 30:19 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 9:12 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 4:10 (allusion, high confidence) · Titus 3:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Eph 2:14 (allusion, high confidence) · John 11:25 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 Tim 4:1 (allusion, high confidence) · John 10:9 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Nicetas lists the scriptural titles of Christ (Word, Wisdom, Light, Lamb, Priest, Vine, Bread, Stone, Door and others) and explains what each means.

  • Allusions: John 1:1; 1 Cor 1:24; John 8:12; Isa 9:6 (LXX “angel of great counsel”); John 1:29; Isa 53:7; Heb 5:6; John 14:6; John 15:1; 1 Cor 1:30; John 6:35; 1 Pet 2:6–8; Prov 30:19 (no track of a serpent on a rock); Matt 9:12; John 4:10; Titus 3:5; Eph 2:14; John 11:25; 2 Tim 4:1; John 10:9. “Per nos … offerri” refers to the daily Eucharist. Many OCR slips were corrected, some from Burn’s edition (1905).

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR slip; joined words; OCR slip; stray mark; OCR slip; stray note letter; OCR slips; OCR slips (reading from Burn 1905); OCR slips; joined words; split word; OCR slips; joined words; split words; joined words; joined words; OCR slip; joined words; OCR slips; joined words; split word; split word; stray letter; stray note letter; joined words; stray space; OCR slip): in Scripturis sanclis inveniuntur, quae Domino Jesu et Salvatorinostroconveniunt. Dicitur verbum,dicitursapientia → in Scripturis sanctis inveniuntur, quae Domino Jesu et Salvatori nostro conveniunt. Dicitur verbum, dicitur sapientia; dicituragnus → dicitur agnus; dicitur vitis,justitia, redemptio: panis, lapis, medious, fons aquæ vivae, pax. judex → dicitur vitis, justitia, redemptio: panis, lapis, medicus, fons aquæ vivae, pax, judex; in Seripturis sanctis b de Christo → in Scripturis sanctis de Christo; ac dis pensationis → ac dispensationis; Audisti appellationes ; quare nunc → Audisti appellationes ; quaere nunc; impas- sibiliter → impassibiliter; ejus exstiteritgeneratio. Nam nec homodiminutionemaliquam → ejus exstiterit generatio. Nam nec homo diminutionem aliquam; Velcerte verbum → Vel certe verbum; et angeiis locutus et hominibus.Sapientia dicitur,quia → et angelis locutus et hominibus. Sapientia dicitur, quia; cuncta disposita.Lux dicitur → cuncta disposita. Lux dicitur; quianulla eum potest superarecrea. tura → quia nulla eum potest superare creatura; universa creatasunt,etab ipso → universa creata sunt, et ab ipso; consilii appellatur ,quia ipse est nuntius paternæ voluntatis, Dicitur → consilii appellatur, quia ipse est nuntius paternæ voluntatis. Dicitur; quia A propter nos → quia propter nos; Dioitun agnis propter innocentiam singularem Ovis → Dicitur agnus propter innocentiam singularem. Ovis; oblationem et hostiamobtulit → oblationem et hostiam obtulit; vel quod pec nos a dies singulos → vel quod per nos dies singulos; Dicitur via,quia → Dicitur via, quia; Vitis apellatur → Vitis appellatur; dulcedinis fruot um Justitia dicitur, qui persui nominisfidem j ustificatpeccatores. Redemptiodicitur, quia olim perditossanguinis → dulcedinis fructum. Justitia dicitur, quia per sui nominis fidem justificat peccatores. Redemptio dicitur, quia olim perditos sanguinis; quia h famem gentium per suum refecit Evangelium Lapis dicitur, quianec serpens → quia famem gentium per suum refecit Evangelium. Lapis dicitur, quia nec serpens; munimen- tum → munimentum; infirmitates nostras etvulnera sua visitatione ouravit → infirmitates nostras et vulnera sua visitatione curavit; vivificat peceatores.. Pax → vivificat peccatores. Pax; Resurrectio dioitur → Resurrectio dicitur; Judex dicitur quia ipse eet et vivos → Judex dicitur quia ipse est et vivos; quia perips cum cœlorum regnifidelibas aperitur in - troitus → quia per ipsum cœlorum regni fidelibus aperitur introitus.

Topics: Christology, Eucharist, Baptism, Atonement

Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Appell. 1 (PL 52:863c–865 b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-diversis-appellationibus/1). (abbreviation not yet checked)

Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-diversis-appellationibus/1

BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-nicetas-diversis-appellationibus-1) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.

Chapter 2

2PL 52:865b–865 c

Ergo quia tantis et nominibus et titulis Dominus communis appellatur, habe fiduciam, fidelis, et spem tuam in ipso tota virtute constitue. Nam ut Patrem scias, ipse tibi verbum est. Si vis recte sapere, ipsum quære, quia sapientia est. Si tenebras aliquas sensus tuus patitur, Christum require; quia lumen est. Infirmus es? habes refugium, quia et medicus est et virtus. Vis scire per quem sit mundus creatus, et a quo omnia contineantur? ipsum crede, quia brachium et dextera perhibetur. Pavorem sustines aliquem ? in omnibus tibi velut angelus aderit. Si tibi difficile fuerit visum accedere ad tantam unigeniti majestatem, ne desperes, quia et homo factus est, ut ad eum facilem accessum haberet humanitas. Si innocens fueris, tibi ipsi se sociabit velut agnus. Si te persecutio aliqua gentilis contristat, sume fiduciam, quia et ipse tamquam ovis immolatus est; et te tamquam sacerdos Patri suscipiet offerendum. Si viam salutis ignoras, require Christum, quia ipse est iter animarum. Si vis scire veritatem, ipsum audi, quia veritas est. Mortem omnino ne timeas, quia Christus vita credentium est. Dulcedo te saeculi delectat? magis ad crucem Christi convertere, ut ejus vitis, quæ in cruce pependit, dulcedine recreeris. Peccator es perditus ? justitiam debes esurire, redemptorem sitire, quod Christus est: satiat enim quia panis est. Si nutas in aliquo, firma gressus in ipso, quia lapis est, et te munitum praestabit ut murus. Infirmus et debilis es? ab ipso quære remedium, quia medicus est. Ardorem pateris peccatorum, vel maxime quicumque es catechumenus? curre ad vitæ fontem, ut ardor tuus exstinguatur, et æternitatem tua anima consequatur. Si ira discruciat et exagitat dissensio, accede ad Christum, quia pax est, ut et Patri reconcilieris, et omnem diligas hominem tamquam te esse diligendum judicas. Si occasum corporis times, et mortem vitæ istius perhorrescis, memento quia resurrectio est; potest resuscitare quod cecidit. Si te peccati voluptas sollicitat, et vitia carnis irritant, praescius cogita quia justus judex est, severus examinator est, æterni ignis præparator est; et numquam te peccare delectabit. Ad postremum, frater, si te desperatio aliqua invaserit de remuneratione justitiæ, de cœlestis gloriae expectatione; credibili mente januam illum esse præsume; quia et per ipsum resuscitatus a mortuis, et cœlorum secreta penetrabis et angelorum consortium consequeris : et audies illam desiderabilem vocem ; Euge, serve bone et fidelis, quia fuisti fidelis, intra in gaudium Domini tui ; posside regnum quod tibi praeparatum est a mundi constitutione : ipso praestante, qui cum Patre et Spiritu sancto vivit et regnat per omnia sœcula sæculorum (Matth. xxv, 33). Amen.

Since, then, our common Lord is called by so many names and titles, have confidence, believer, and set your hope in him with all your strength. For that you may know the Father, he is the Word for you. If you wish to be rightly wise, seek him, for he is Wisdom. If your mind suffers any darkness, seek Christ, for he is Light. Are you weak? You have a refuge, for he is both Physician and Power. Do you wish to know through whom the world was created, and by whom all things are held together? Believe in him, for he is called Arm and Right Hand. Do you suffer any fear? He will be with you in everything as an Angel. If it seems hard to you to approach the majesty of the Only-begotten, do not despair, for he also became man, so that humanity might have easy access to him. If you are innocent, he will join himself to you as a Lamb. If some persecution by pagans saddens you, take confidence, for he too was sacrificed like a Sheep; and as Priest he will receive you to be offered to the Father. If you do not know the way of salvation, seek Christ, for he is the road of souls. If you wish to know the truth, hear him, for he is the Truth. Do not fear death at all, for Christ is the Life of believers. Does the sweetness of the world delight you? Turn rather to the cross of Christ, that you may be refreshed by the sweetness of his Vine, which hung on the cross. Are you a lost sinner? You must hunger for righteousness, thirst for the Redeemer, which Christ is: for he satisfies, since he is Bread. If you waver in anything, make your steps firm in him, for he is the Stone; and he will make you defended as by a wall. Are you weak and feeble? Seek a remedy from him, for he is the Physician. Do you suffer the burning of sins, especially whoever you are, a catechumen? Run to the spring of life, so that your burning may be quenched and your soul may obtain eternity. If anger torments and dissension agitates you, come to Christ, for he is Peace, so that you may be reconciled to the Father and love every man as you judge you should be loved. If you fear the setting of the body and dread the death of this life, remember that he is the Resurrection; he can raise up what has fallen. If the pleasure of sin entices you and the vices of the flesh provoke you, think, foreknowing, that he is a just Judge, a severe examiner, the preparer of eternal fire; and it will never please you to sin. Finally, brother, if any despair invades you about the reward of righteousness, about the expectation of heavenly glory, with a believing mind take him for the Door; because, raised through him from the dead, you will both penetrate the secrets of heaven and obtain the fellowship of the angels: and you will hear that desirable voice: “Well done, good and faithful servant, because you were faithful, enter into the joy of your Lord; possess the kingdom that has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world”: he granting it, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for all ages of ages. Amen.

Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.

John 14:6 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 5:6 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 25:21 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 25:34 (quotation, high confidence) · Col 1:17 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 11:25 (allusion, high confidence) · John 10:9 (allusion, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Nicetas applies each title of Christ to the believer’s need, from ignorance and fear to sin, death and despair, ending with the promise of the kingdom.

  • Quotations and allusions as in section 1; also Matt 5:6; Matt 25:21, 23, 34 (Migne cites 25:33). The closing doxology (“he granting it … ages of ages”) is in only one of Burn’s manuscripts (B). Many OCR slips were corrected, some from Burn’s edition (1905); “credibili mente” is the reading of one manuscript (Burn has “fideli mente”).

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR damage (reading from Burn 1905); OCR slip; OCR slip; stray mark; OCR slip; stray marks; OCR slips (reading from Burn 1905); OCR slips; doubled letter; joined words; OCR slips; joined words; OCR slips; joined words; stray note letter (reading from Burn 1905); OCR slips; stray note letter; OCR slips; stray note letter; split word (reading partly from Burn 1905, manuscript B); joined words; joined words; OCR slip; joined words; OCR slips (reading from Burn 1905); joined words; split words; OCR slip (reading from Burn 1905); stray mark; split word; OCR slip; split word; OCR slip; joined words; stray note letter; stray note letter; OCR slip): Nam ut Patrem sciat → Nam ut Patrem scias; aliquas sen sus tuus patitur, Ohristum require;quia lumenest → aliquas sensus tuus patitur, Christum require; quia lumen est; Vis scire per, quem sit mundus creatas, et aqao omnia contineaatur? ipsum crede, quia brachium. et dettera perhibetur → Vis scire per quem sit mundus creatus, et a quo omnia contineantur? ipsum crede, quia brachium et dextera perhibetur; Si tibidifficile fuerit visu accedere ad tantamunigeniti majestatem, ne desperes, 'quia et homo factos est, ut ad eum faeile accessum → Si tibi difficile fuerit visum accedere ad tantam unigeniti majestatem, ne desperes, quia et homo factus est, ut ad eum facilem accessum; tibi ipsi se a sociabit → tibi ipsi se sociabit; gentilis oontristat, sume fidueiam, quia et ipse tamquamovis immolatus est; et te tamquam sacerdos Patri suscipietofferendum. Si Mam salutis → gentilis contristat, sume fiduciam, quia et ipse tamquam ovis immolatus est; et te tamquam sacerdos Patri suscipiet offerendum. Si viam salutis; Sivis sdire veritatem, ipsumaudi → Si vis scire veritatem, ipsum audi; Dulcedo te saecuii delectat ?; magis → Dulcedo te saeculi delectat? magis; utejus vitis → ut ejus vitis; jusatitiam debes < esurire,1 redemptorem → justitiam debes esurire, redemptorem; Sinutas in, aliquo, firma gressam in ipso, quia lapis eat, at! te maunitum prastabit ut morusdnfirmus et dehilis ea? ab ipso quære remedium, quia medicus esLArdorem Pateris peccatorum, vel maxime qui cumque est cate chumenus? → Si nutas in aliquo, firma gressus in ipso, quia lapis est, et te munitum praestabit ut murus. Infirmus et debilis es? ab ipso quære remedium, quia medicus est. Ardorem pateris peccatorum, vel maxime quicumque es catechumenus?; Siira discruciat → Si ira discruciat; quia pax est, at et Batri reconcilieris, et omnem diligashominem tamquam te esse diligendum d judioas. Siocca sum corporis times, et mortem vitæ iatius perhorresois, memento quia re surrectio est ;.potest resuscitare quod cecdit → quia pax est, ut et Patri reconcilieris, et omnem diligas hominem tamquam te esse diligendum judicas. Si occasum corporis times, et mortem vitæ istius perhorrescis, memento quia resurrectio est; potest resuscitare quod cecidit; Si te peceati voluptas sollicitat, et vitia carnis f irritant, prascius cogita → Si te peccati voluptas sollicitat, et vitia carnis irritant, praescius cogita; et num quam te peccare deiectabit → et numquam te peccare delectabit; site desperatio aliqua in vaserit de remuneratione justitiæ, de cœlestis gratiæ expectatio- ne; « credibili mente → si te desperatio aliqua invaserit de remuneratione justitiæ, de cœlestis gloriae expectatione; credibili mente; quialet per ipsum resuscitatus a a mortuis, et cœlorum secreta penetrahis etangelorum → quia et per ipsum resuscitatus a mortuis, et cœlorum secreta penetrabis et angelorum; et audiesi illam desiderabilem voeem → et audies illam desiderabilem vocem; et fidelis, h quia fuisti fidelis → et fidelis, quia fuisti fidelis; postice regnum quod tibi i prcepa. ratum, est a mundi constitutione : ipso, gratante, .qui cum Patre et Spiritu suncto vitii et regnet per omnia sœcula sæcutorum → posside regnum quod tibi praeparatum est a mundi constitutione : ipso praestante, qui cum Patre et Spiritu sancto vivit et regnat per omnia sœcula sæculorum.

Topics: Christology, Eschatology, Baptism, The last judgment

Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Appell. 2 (PL 52:865b–865 c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-diversis-appellationibus/2). (abbreviation not yet checked)

Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-diversis-appellationibus/2

BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-nicetas-diversis-appellationibus-2) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.