Introduction
In Anglo-Saxon England, January 6th was named the Epiphany, referring to the showing forth of Christ’s divinity. On this day, Abbot Elfric tells us, the English Church celebrated chiefly the Baptism of Christ, but also the Wedding at Cana, and the visit of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem.
THESE three astrologers came and offered him symbolic gifts. Gold symbolised that he is true King; frankincense that he is true God; and myrrh that, though he now lives immortal evermore, he was mortal then.*
Some heretics believed he was God, but not that he reigned anywhere: spiritually, they offered frankincense to Christ but would not offer gold.*
Other heretics believed he was true King, but denied he was God: these no doubt offered him gold, but would not offer him frankincense.*
Still other heretics acknowledged that he was true God and true King, but denied that he assumed mortal flesh: they brought him gold and frankincense, but not the myrrh of mortality assumed.*
My brothers, let us offer our Lord gold: the acknowledgement that he is true King, and rules everywhere. Let us offer him frankincense: the belief that he who appeared then as man is God everlastingly. Let us bring him myrrh: the belief that he who suffers nothing in his divine nature was then mortal in our flesh.
Based on a translation by Benjamin Thorpe
Myrrh was traditionally used in burial. It can reasonably be assumed that Mary kept the gift, and that the holy Myrrhbearers used it for Jesus’s burial some thirty years later. See Matthew 27:55-61, false, and false.
Elfric may be thinking of Pelagius, a British monk in Rome and later on in Jerusalem early in the fifth century. Pelagius believed that Jesus was God, but also that mankind could reform and be saved by his own efforts, without the need for divine grace. In that sense, it could be said, Pelagius (or at any rate Pelagianism – Pelagius himself may have been seriously misrepresented by his followers and opponents alike) did not acknowledge God’s earthly rule.
The fourth-century Alexandrian priest Arius stated that the Word of God was no more than the first and best of God’s creatures, a claim disproved from Scripture at the Council of Nicaea in 325. Elfric may also be thinking of Patriarch Nestorius in the fifth century, who believed that while the man Christ suffered death on the Cross, the Son of God in him suffered only as a king suffers when his statue is dishonoured. That was also disproved from Scripture, at the Councils of Ephesus in 431 and Chalcedon in 451.
Elfric probably has in mind the fifth-century Greek monk Eutyches, who reacted so strongly to Patriarch Nestorius that he described Christ’s humanity as being dissolved in his divinity like a drop of honey in the whole salt sea. His theories were disproved, along with those of Patriarch Nestorius, at the Councils of Ephesus in 431 and Chalcedon in 451.
Précis
Tenth-century abbot Elfric saw the gifts of the Magi to Christ as symbolic, with gold for a king, frankincense for a God, and myrrh for mortal man. Some people, he said, readily offer him one or two of these gifts, but too many of us withhold one, not recognising him as God perhaps, or as King, or as incarnate. (59 / 60 words)
Tenth-century abbot Elfric saw the gifts of the Magi to Christ as symbolic, with gold for a king, frankincense for a God, and myrrh for mortal man. Some people, he said, readily offer him one or two of these gifts, but too many of us withhold one, not recognising him as God perhaps, or as King, or as incarnate.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, besides, may, otherwise, ought, since, unless.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Astrologer. Offer. We.
2 Deny. Heretic. Symbolize.
3 But. Evermore. True.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Spiritual. 2. Let. 3. Life. 4. Brother. 5. Gift. 6. God. 7. Offer. 8. King. 9. Gold.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Still. 2 Offer. 3 Let. 4 Man. 5 Rule. 6 Doubt.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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