A pontiff (from Latinpontifex) was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs.[1][2] The term "pontiff" was later applied to any high or chief priest and, in Roman Catholic ecclesiastical usage, to bishops, especially the Pope, who is sometimes referred to as the Roman Pontiff or the Supreme Pontiff.[3]
Look up pontiff in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
The English term derives through Old Frenchpontif[3][4] from Latin pontifex, a word commonly held to come from the Latin root words pons, pont- (bridge) + facere (to do, to make), and so to have the literal meaning of "bridge-builder", presumably between mankind and the deity/deities. The role of bridges in ancient religions, associated with resurrection, redemption and the Judgement Day is already well known.[according to whom?] Uncertainty prevailing, this may be only a folk etymology,[1] but it may also recall ancient tasks and magic rites associated with bridges.[5] The term may also be an allusion to Ancient Roman Religious rituals for placating the gods and spirits associated with the Tiber River, for instance.[6] Also, Varro cites this position as meaning "able to do".[7]
There were four chief colleges of priests in ancient Rome, the most illustrious of which was that of the pontifices.[2] The others were those of the augures, the quindecimviri sacris faciundis, and the epulones.[5] The same person could be a member of more than one of these groups.[2] Including the pontifex maximus, who was president of the college, there were originally three[5] or five[2]pontifices, but the number increased over the centuries, finally becoming 16 under Julius Caesar.[2][5] By the third century BC the pontiffs had assumed control of the state religious system.[5]
Biblical usage
Inspiration for the Christian (Catholic) use of the name "pontiff" for a bishop comes from the use of the same word (in Latin, pontifex, not "pontifex maximus") for the Jewish High Priest in the original Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate, where it appears 59 times. For example at Mark 15:11, "pontifices" (plural) is the Latin term used for "The Chief Priests".[8] And in the Vulgate version of Paul's Letter to the Hebrews, "pontifex" (singular) is repeatedly used with reference to the then still extant High Priesthood in Judaism, and analogously suggesting Jesus as the ultimate high priest.
Catholicism
The word "pontiff", though now most often used in relation to a pope, technically refers to any Catholic bishop. The phrase "Roman Pontiff" is therefore not tautological, but means "Bishop of Rome".[1] In the same way, a Pontifical Mass is a mass celebrated by a bishop, not necessarily a pope. Note also "the Pontifical" (the liturgical book containing the prayers and ceremonies for rites used by a bishop)[9] and "pontificals", the insignia of his order that a bishop uses when celebrating Pontifical Mass.[10] While the pontificals primarily belong to bishops, they have also been granted by papal favour or legally established Church custom to certain presbyters (e.g., abbots).
^The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN978-0-19-280290-3), article Pontifical
^The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN978-0-19-280290-3), article pontificals
January 14, 2023
pontiff, pontifex, redirects, here, other, uses, pontifex, disambiguation, pontiff, from, latin, pontifex, roman, antiquity, member, most, illustrious, colleges, priests, roman, religion, college, term, pontiff, later, applied, high, chief, priest, roman, cath. Pontifex redirects here For other uses see Pontifex disambiguation A pontiff from Latin pontifex was in Roman antiquity a member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion the College of Pontiffs 1 2 The term pontiff was later applied to any high or chief priest and in Roman Catholic ecclesiastical usage to bishops especially the Pope who is sometimes referred to as the Roman Pontiff or the Supreme Pontiff 3 Look up pontiff in Wiktionary the free dictionary Contents 1 Etymology 2 Ancient Rome 3 Biblical usage 4 Catholicism 5 Other religions 6 See also 7 ReferencesEtymology EditThe English term derives through Old French pontif 3 4 from Latin pontifex a word commonly held to come from the Latin root words pons pont bridge facere to do to make and so to have the literal meaning of bridge builder presumably between mankind and the deity deities The role of bridges in ancient religions associated with resurrection redemption and the Judgement Day is already well known according to whom Uncertainty prevailing this may be only a folk etymology 1 but it may also recall ancient tasks and magic rites associated with bridges 5 The term may also be an allusion to Ancient Roman Religious rituals for placating the gods and spirits associated with the Tiber River for instance 6 Also Varro cites this position as meaning able to do 7 Ancient Rome EditMain article College of Pontiffs There were four chief colleges of priests in ancient Rome the most illustrious of which was that of the pontifices 2 The others were those of the augures the quindecimviri sacris faciundis and the epulones 5 The same person could be a member of more than one of these groups 2 Including the pontifex maximus who was president of the college there were originally three 5 or five 2 pontifices but the number increased over the centuries finally becoming 16 under Julius Caesar 2 5 By the third century BC the pontiffs had assumed control of the state religious system 5 Biblical usage EditInspiration for the Christian Catholic use of the name pontiff for a bishop comes from the use of the same word in Latin pontifex not pontifex maximus for the Jewish High Priest in the original Latin translation of the Bible the Vulgate where it appears 59 times For example at Mark 15 11 pontifices plural is the Latin term used for The Chief Priests 8 And in the Vulgate version of Paul s Letter to the Hebrews pontifex singular is repeatedly used with reference to the then still extant High Priesthood in Judaism and analogously suggesting Jesus as the ultimate high priest Catholicism EditThe word pontiff though now most often used in relation to a pope technically refers to any Catholic bishop The phrase Roman Pontiff is therefore not tautological but means Bishop of Rome 1 In the same way a Pontifical Mass is a mass celebrated by a bishop not necessarily a pope Note also the Pontifical the liturgical book containing the prayers and ceremonies for rites used by a bishop 9 and pontificals the insignia of his order that a bishop uses when celebrating Pontifical Mass 10 While the pontificals primarily belong to bishops they have also been granted by papal favour or legally established Church custom to certain presbyters e g abbots Other religions EditThe word has been employed in English also for caliphs Islam and swamis and jagadgurus Hinduism 1 See also EditPapal titles ShamanReferences Edit a b c d Pontifex Oxford English Dictionary March 2007 a b c d e William Smith A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities article Pontifex pp 939 942 a b Pontiff The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language In modern French the corresponding term is pontife a b c d e Encyclopaedia Britannica article Roman religion Internet History Sourcebooks fordham edu Beard Mary North John Price Simon June 28 1998 Religions of Rome Volume 2 A Sourcebook Cambridge University Press via Google Books Marcus 15 11 The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978 0 19 280290 3 article Pontifical The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978 0 19 280290 3 article pontificals Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pontiff amp oldid 1131970359, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
