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Interea glaciali figore rigenti insulae et velut longiore terrarum secessu soli visibili non proximae verus ille non de firmamento solum temporali sed de summa etiam caelorum arce tempora cuncta excedente universo orbi praefulgidum sui coruscum ostendens, tempore, ut scimus, summo Tiberii Caesaris, quo absque ullo impedimento delatoribus militum eiusdem, radios suos primum indulget, id est sua praecepta, Christus.

Gildas#3

HistoryAuthorityImperialismPoliticsReligion

About this quote

What does it mean?
An obscure passage linking Christ with imperial authority and radiance during the time of Tiberius.
In plain terms
Christ is presented as a radiant authority in imperial times.
What can you take from it?
Spiritual authority can transcend political power.

Where it applies

  • theological study
  • historical religion

Putting it to work

  • compare religious and secular leadership
  • analyze symbolism

Questions to consider

  • How do religious symbols influence political authority?
  • What does ‘radiance’ symbolize here?

Another view

The cryptic language makes the meaning hard to pin down.

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