Prologus Galeatus

The Prologus Galaetus or Galeatum principium (lit. and traditionally translated as "helmeted prologue";^[1] or sometimes translated as "helmeted preface"^[2][3]) 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 Samuel the first and second books of Kings).^[4]

Extract from the preface, with the passage which gave it its nickname underlined in red, in the Patrologia Latina, v. 28.

In this text, Jerome affirms his opposition to the books of the Old Testament which are outside the Hebrew canon.^[3][5] 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."^[6]

About the Hebrew canon

See also: Ketuvim § Order of the books

In this prologue Jerome mentioned the grouping, number, and order of the Hebrew Bible:^[5]

• Law consists five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
• Prophets consists eight books: Joshua, Judges (includes Ruth), Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah (includes Lamentations), Ezekiel, Twelve Prophets
• Hagiographa consists nine books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Daniel, Chronicles, Ezra, Esther

When he counted, the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles were not divided in two. Ezra and Nehemiah were not separated at the time. Also, he mentioned "some include Ruth and Lamentations amongst the Hagiographa."^[5]

See also

• Bible portal

• Vulgate

References

1. 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. pp. 332–333. ISBN 978-2-204-12618-2.
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.
3. Gallagher, Edmon L. (July 2015). "Why did Jerome Translate Tobit and Judith?". Harvard Theological Review. 108 (3): 356–375. doi:10.1017/S0017816015000231. ISSN 0017-8160. S2CID 164400348.
4. 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. pp. 322, 332–333. ISBN 978-2-204-12618-2.
5. "Jerome on the Canon of Scripture". www.bible-researcher.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
6. "Jerome's "Helmeted Introduction" to Kings". biblicalia. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-20.

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. S2CID 170365747 – 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.

External links

In English

• Prologus Galaetus in English
• Schaff, Philip (ed.). "Prefaces to the Books of the Vulgate Version of the Old Testament. - The Books of Samuel and Kings.". Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. II. Vol. VI. Translated by Wace, Henry. Retrieved 2021-02-14 – via Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

In Latin

• Patrologia Latinae, v. 28, "Praefatio Hieronymi in libros Samuel et Malachim", pp. 547–558 in Latin (PDF; HTML)
• On The Latin Library website
• 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.