Question about scripture

[patcain]

August 14, 2009
this question is not a question of faith or a church question.

Its just question that i wondered “about.”

i remember reading about jesus and the holy family. They took him
to the temple after he was born. I think i read the elders and theancients were there in the temple.

So, who are the ancients? I hears somewhere in the past that noah’s son was melchdizak. Is that true? Are there persons living here on earth today that lived back during the time of the flood, or during david’s time or moses’ time? Or is this just a literary hyperbole or
understatement to denote a very old person?

 

[patcain]

August 14, 2009
this question is not a question of faith or a church question.

Its just question that i wondered “about.”

I remember reading about jesus and the holy family. They took him
to the temple after he was born. I think I read the elders and theancients were there in the temple.

So, who are the ancients? I heard somewhere in the past that Noah’s son was Melchdiazak. Is that true? Are there persons living here on earth today that lived back during the time of the flood, or during David’s time or Moses’ time? Or is this just a literary hyperbole or
understatement to denote a very old person?

 

[Nita]

August 14, 2009
this question is not a question of faith or a church question.

Its just question that i wondered “about.”

i remember reading about jesus and the holy family. They took him
to the temple after he was born. I think i read the elders and theancients were there in the temple.

So, who are the ancients? I hears somewhere in the past that noah’s son was melchdizak. Is that true? Are there persons living here on earth today that lived back during the time of the flood, or during david’s time or moses’ time? Or is this just a literary hyperbole or
understatement to denote a very old person?Hi patcain, and welcome to the forum.

There is no reference to elders and ancients in the passages that speak of Our Lord being taken to the temple as a baby, and later at the age of 12. (These events are recorded in chapter 2 of Luke’s gospel, starting at Lk 2:22.)

The term “elder” is used in both the New Testament and in the OT. It refers to someone in a position of authority – most generally, religious authority.
The term “ancients” is used only twice that I could find; both times in the Old Testament.
1 Samuel 24:13 As the proverb of the ancients says, …
Sirach 39:1 On the other hand he who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be concerned with prophecies;

It seems to me that “elders” usually refers to leaders or teachers who are currently alive.
“Ancients” on the other hand, seems to refer to deceased leaders – leaders whose teachings have stood the test of time, so to speak. Their teachings became part of the oral and/or written tradition of the Jews. It would be similar to those the Catholic Church acknowledges as “early fathers” and “doctors” of the Church.

Interesting that both titles (elders and ancients) incorporate the aspect of “age”. No doubt because wisdom generally comes with age.

Regarding Melchizedek: there is a tradition that says he was Shem, Noah’s son. This is not an official teaching of the Church. It’s an interesting thought. We’ll have to wait until heaven to find out for sure.

There are no persons living here on earth today that were alive at the time of the flood.

Hope this helps answer your questions.
Nita

 

[Benadam]

Interesting that both titles (elders and ancients) incorporate the aspect of “age”. No doubt because wisdom generally comes with age.

Regarding Melchizedek: there is a tradition that says he was Shem, Noah’s son. This is not an official teaching of the Church. It’s an interesting thought. We’ll have to wait until heaven to find out for sure.

Nita

Old, ancient, and wise seem to be the description of Anna and Simeon in the Gospel.

 

[Nita]

Old, ancient, and wise seem to be the description of Anna and Simeon in the Gospel.

I’ve got “old” under my belt; closing in on “ancient”; but unfortunately “wise” is still a ways off!

 

[Benadam]

I’ve got “old” under my belt; closing in on “ancient”; but unfortunately “wise” is still a ways off!