The Presbyters Project

X.13

His autem diebus extitit quidam de presbiteris nostris Sadduceae malignitatis infectus veneno, dicens, non esse futuram resurrectionem.

A dispute arose. Gregory of Tours and the presbyter quote the Bible extensively to prove their points. Eventually, the presbyter is convinced of the bodily resurrection.

Ad haec contristatus presbiter, a conspectu nostro discedens, pollicitus est credere resurrectionem iuxta seriem Scripturarum sanctarum, quam supra memoravimus.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 496 and 500; summarised by J. Szafranowski)

X.13

In those days, one of our presbyters was infected with the poisonous malice of the Sadducees, saying that in the future there would be no [bodily] resurrection.

A dispute arose. Gregory of Tours and the presbyter quote the Bible extensively to prove their points. Eventually, the presbyter is convinced of the bodily resurrection.

Saddened by the things [Gregory said], the presbyter left our sight, promising to believe in the resurrection, according to the Holy Scriptures which we have quoted above.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 560 and 566, altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Judging by the place of this passus in Gregory's narrative, this dispute took place in 590.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours

About the source:

Author: Gregory of Tours
Title: The History of the Franks, Gregorii episcopi Turonensis historiarum libri X, Histories
Origin: Tours (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Gregory of Tours (Gaul) wrote his ten books of Histories (known commonly in English as the History of the Franks) during his episcopal reign in Tours between 573 and 594. The books vary in scope and length. The first book covers 5,596 years from the creation of the world to AD 397, that is the death of Saint Martin of Tours, Gregory`s predecessor in bishopric. The second book deals with the history of Gaul between 397 and 511, the latter being the year of death of King Clovis I. The third and fourth books cover the next 64 years till the death of Austrasian King Sigibert II in 575. Finally, the following six books describe exclusively the sixteen years from 575 to 591. Probably in 594, Gregory added the list of bishops of Tours in the end of the Histories, with brief accounts of their actions.

Edition:

B. Krusch ed., Gregorii Episcopi Turonensis Historiarum Libri X [in:] Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores rerum Merovingiciarum 1.1, Hannover 1884 (repr. 1951): 1-537.

Translation:

Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks, trans. L. Thorpe, London 1974.

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR876.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR876.

Religious grouping (other than Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian) - Unspecified 'heretic'

PR876.

Education - Theological interest

PR876.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1937, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1937