roman titles?

[angell1]

why are the pagan titles of rome sitll user for clergy?

ex. pontifex, currea, etC…

 

[1ke]

They are not “pagan titles”. They are simply Latin words.

 

[angell1]

They are not “pagan titles”. They are simply Latin words.

weren’t they used in pagan rome though for the government?

 

[tdgesq]

Some may have been. For instance, Pontifex Maximus was used by the high priest of the early pagan Roman religion. It was later used by Popes, although it is no longer an approved title of the Holy See.

The word pontifex itself is just a Latin term that primarily had meaning to the early Christians as referring to the Jewish high priest. The title Summus Pontifex is still used today.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Of note, “pontifex” literally translates as “bridge-builder,” and “Pontifex Maximus” as “Supreme Bridge-Builder,” and it was a title of the Roman Emperor in his role as the chief high priest of the Roman Empire. It is still possible to see Roman ruins with the name of an emperor followed by “Pont Max.” It is equally possible to see monuments and fountains in Rome with the name of a past pope, also followed by “Pont Max.” The idea of the Holy Father being the “Supreme Bridge-Builder” is an interesting one.

 

[1ke]

weren’t they used in pagan rome though for the government?

Many Latin words are still used today in government, medicine, science, the Church, and derivative words are used in languages that have Latin origins.

 

[angell1]

Of note, “pontifex” literally translates as “bridge-builder,” and “Pontifex Maximus” as “Supreme Bridge-Builder,” and it was a title of the Roman Emperor in his role as the chief high priest of the Roman Empire. It is still possible to see Roman ruins with the name of an emperor followed by “Pont Max.” It is equally possible to see monuments and fountains in Rome with the name of a past pope, also followed by “Pont Max.” The idea of the Holy Father being the “Supreme Bridge-Builder” is an interesting one.

guess it sort of makes sense in a way. Jesus is the bridge between us and the father, the pope is the temporary vicar so the bridge builder? i don’t know, just supposing here

 

[didymus]

A new group would naturally use the words/titles available to them, e.g., a humanist/ atheist organisation seeking recognition would probably describe its local meeting groups as “congregations” and seek military leaders official approval as “chaplains”.