Voices and influences
Hippolytus of Rome
Rome's fiercest scholar, who set himself up as a rival bishop and died a prisoner in the mines.
Summary
This site quotes Hippolytus of Rome 60 times across 12 books, and lists 0 works.
- Lived died 235.
- Quoted here most in Daniel: 20 of 60.
Hippolytus of Rome
- Lived
- died 235
- Tradition
- Early Church
5 of 60 quotations
Own words
Quoted in full, because Hippolytus of Rome died in 235 and these works are out of copyright. Each citation below names its edition and its year. A citation naming a modernised text means that edition makes its own editorial changes, and that edition's terms are not in this site's record.
On the first day God made what He made out of nothing. But on the other days He did not make out of nothing, but out of what He had made on the first day, by moulding it according to His pleasure.
Genesis 1:6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” BSB
What had actually occurred from the action of Jacob was a mystery of the [divine] economy in view of the Christ prefigured [by Jacob], [of the Christ] who, blessed by the Father, has been blessed forever after his [temporal] birth.The words of Scripture, "Besides himself…
ON THE BLESSINGS OF THE ISAAC AND JACOB 8, 235
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Isaac was seized with great amazement," have the same meaning as "Isaac was filled with admiration" for what had happened, because he foresaw that the Gentiles, according to the will of God, had to be blessed and take part in the covenant of the promise made to the fathers through the younger son.
Genesis 27:33 Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!” BSB
The fact that he says to him, "Your brother came by trickery and took away your blessing" means, in a way that implies a mystery, that the Word of God, after his incarnation, had to take the form of a slave.
ON THE BLESSINGS OF ISAAC AND JACOB 8, 235
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[Thus] thanks to him who was unknown in his generation, he might receive the blessing of the Father and transmit it to us, who believe in him.
Genesis 27:35 But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” BSB
Proverbs are words of exhortation that serve the whole path of life. They serve as guides and signs for those who are seeking their way to God by reviving them when they become tired by the length of the road.
FRAGMENT ON PROVERBS, 235
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These, moreover, are the proverbs of "Solomon," that is to say, the "peacemaker," who, in truth, is Christ the Savior.
1 Kings 3:12 behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you. BSB
The mercy of God is not so "marvellous" when it is shown in humbler cities as when it is shown in "a strong city," and for this reason "God is to be blessed."
Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture - On Psalm XXXI. 22, 235
Psalms 31:21 Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His loving devotion in a city under siege. BSB
Influence, on the record
This site quotes Hippolytus of Rome 60 times across 12 books.
This site’s own count of what it does with the voice
The life, in order
The life told as one accountfrom this site's record
Hippolytus was the most learned man in the Roman church of his generation, and one of the most difficult. He was born around 170. Photius reports that he had heard Irenaeus, which would place him in the chain running back through Polycarp to the apostle John, and his theology reads like a man who was proud of that line. He wrote in Greek at a time when Rome was going over to Latin, which is one reason so much of his work was later lost in the West. His output was enormous. His Refutation of All Heresies traced thirty-three heretical systems back to Greek philosophy and pagan mystery cults, on the argument that the heretics had not received revelation but recycled Plato and the astrologers; it quotes gnostic sources so extensively that it remains a primary text for the study of gnosticism. His Commentary on Daniel is the oldest surviving Christian commentary on any book of the Bible. His On Christ and Antichrist set out an end-times scheme the church argued about for centuries. The Apostolic Tradition, a church order describing baptism, ordination, and the eucharist in detail, is generally associated with him, though scholars now debate how much of it is his. Then he fought his own church and lost. He accused bishop Zephyrinus of ignorance and of a confused doctrine of Christ, and accused the deacon Callistus of forgiving sins no bishop had the right to forgive. When Callistus was elected bishop in 217, Hippolytus refused to accept it, and a group in Rome elected him instead. He was the first antipope. The split ran through the terms of Callistus, Urban, and Pontian — nearly twenty years. In 235 the emperor Maximinus Thrax went after the Roman clergy and did not distinguish between them. Hippolytus and Pontian, the two rival bishops of Rome, were arrested together and deported to the lead mines of Sardinia, which the Romans called the unhealthy island because sentences there were death sentences with extra steps. Both men died there. And somewhere in that place, the record indicates, the schism ended: Pontian resigned his office so Rome could elect a working bishop, and the followers of Hippolytus were reconciled. In 236 or 237 the new bishop, Fabian, had both bodies brought back to Rome and buried with honor on the same day. The fourth-century Roman calendar of martyrs lists them together under 13 August. A damaged marble statue found in Rome in 1551, inscribed with a paschal table and a list of titles, has long been connected with him. Sources: Eusebius, Church History VI.20, VI.22; Jerome, On Illustrious Men 61; the works of Hippolytus (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5); the Depositio Martyrum of the Chronographer of 354; the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, article St. Hippolytus of Rome.
60 quotations across 12 books
Where this voice is quoted
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
“They will not simply obtain, but inherit. The wicked, again, even though they are exalted, are exalted only so as to have greater dishonour.”
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
“It must be noted, that he names the law a good gift, on account of the man who takes gifts into his bosom unrighteously. And he forsakes the law who transgresses it; the law, namely, of which he speaks, or which he has kept.”
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
“The heterodox are the "wicked," and the transgressors of the law are "evil men," whose "ways"-that is to say, their deeds-he bids us not enter.”
A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
“He shows also, by the mention of the creature (the hind), the purity of that pleasure; and by the roe he intimates the quick responsive affection of the wife.”
Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
“That thou mayest not say, What harm is there in the eyes, when there is no necessity that he should be perverted who looks? he shows thee that desire is a fire, and the flesh is like a garment.”
until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.
“The "cemphus" is a kind of wild sea-bird, which has so immoderate an impulse to sexual enjoyment, that its eyes seem to fill with blood in coition; and it often blindly falls into snares, or into the hands of men.”
If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
“Observe that the wise man must be useful to many; so that he who is useful only to himself cannot be wise. For great is the condemnation of wisdom if she reserves her power simply for the one possessing her.”
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
“The fruit of righteousness and the tree of life is Christ. He alone, as man, fulfilled all righteousness.”
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
“He asks of wisdom, who seeks to know what is the will of God. And he will show himself prudent who is sparing of his words on that which he has come to learn.”
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
“And where is all this rich knowledge? and where are these mysteries? and where are the books? For the only ones extant are Proverbs, and Wisdom, and Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. What then? Does the Scripture speak falsely? God forbid.”
Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
“The shaking (of the earth) signifies the change of things upon earth.-Sin, then, which in its own nature is a slave, has reigned in the mortal body of men: once, indeed, at the time of the flood; and again in the time of the Sodomites…”
a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
“"When a servant reigneth: "Israel was a slave in Egypt, and in the land of promise became a ruler.”
The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
“"The ants have no strength, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." And in like manner, the Gentiles by faith in Christ prepare for themselves eternal life through good works.”
the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
“"And the conies, a feeble folk, have made their houses in the rocks." The Gentiles, that is to say, are built upon Christ, the spiritual rock, which is become the head of the corner.”
There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk: a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
“"There be three things which go well, and the fourth which is comely in going; "that is, the angels in heaven, the saints upon earth, and the souls of the righteous under the earth. And the fourth, viz.”