The ''Prologus Galaetus'' or ''Galeatum principium'' ( lit. and traditionally translated as "helmeted prologue"; or sometimes translated as "helmeted preface") is a

preface __NOTOC__ A preface () or proem () is an introduction to a book or other literary work written by the work's author. An introductory essay written by a different person is a '' foreword'' and precedes an author's preface. The preface often close ...

Jerome Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian priest, confessor, theologian, and historian; he is co ...

, 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). In this text, Jerome affirms his opposition to the books of the Old Testament which are outside the Hebrew canon. 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 Apocrypha are works, usually written, of unknown authorship or of doubtful origin. The word ''apocryphal'' (ἀπόκρυφος) was first applied to writings which were kept secret because they were the vehicles of esoteric knowledge considered ...

. Therefore,

Wisdom Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to contemplate and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowle ...

, which is commonly ascribed to Solomon, and the book of Jesus son of Sirach, and Judith and

Tobias Tobias is the transliteration of the Greek which is a translation of the Hebrew biblical name he, טוֹבִיה, Toviyah, JahGod is good, label=none. With the biblical Book of Tobias being present in the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha of the Bible ...

, 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."

About the Hebrew canon

In this prologue Jerome mentioned the grouping, number, and order of the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
'' *

Law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

consists five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy *

Prophets In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...

consists eight books: Joshua, Judges (includes Ruth), Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah (includes Lamentations), Ezekiel, Twelve Prophets *

Hagiographa The Ketuvim (; hbo, , Modern: ''Kəṯūvīm'', Tiberian: ''Kăṯūḇīm'' "writings") is the third and final section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), after Torah (instruction) and Nevi'im (prophets). In English translations of the Hebrew Bi ...

consists nine books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Daniel, Chronicles,

Ezra Ezra (; he, עֶזְרָא, '; fl. 480–440 BCE), also called Ezra the Scribe (, ') and Ezra the Priest in the Book of Ezra, was a Jewish scribe ('' sofer'') and priest (''kohen''). In Greco-Latin Ezra is called Esdras ( grc-gre, Ἔσδρα ...

, 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."

References

External links

In English
''Prologus Galaetus'' in English
* In Latin * ''Patrologia Latinae'', v. 28, "Praefatio Hieronymi in libros Samuel et Malachim", pp. 547–558 in Latin
PDF
* ttp://www.thelatinlibrary.com/bible/prologi.shtml On ''The Latin Library'' website* Jerome Bible versions and translations Vulgate {{Bible-stub

About the Hebrew canon

See also

References

Further reading

External links