Song of Solomon and Christ in Early Christianity

Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness

...s been filled with the pure and clear light of truth. Solomon refers to these things in the Song of Songs and begins like this: "My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feeds among the lilies until the day breaks and the shadows flee away," Song of Songs 2:16-17. Since then, the God of gods has appeared in Sion, and the splendor of His beauty has appeared in Jerusalem; and a light has sprung up for the righteous, and joy for those who are true of heart. According to the blessed David, the Perfecter and Lord of the perfected has, by the Holy Spirit, called the teacher and minister of the law to minister and testify to those things that were done.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background

...ere are the books? For the only ones still in existence are Proverbs, Wisdom, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. What then? Does Scripture speak falsely? God forbid. But the subject of his writings was varied, as is shown by the title Song of Songs. For that indicates that in this one book he brought together the contents of the 5,000 songs. Moreover, in the days of Hezekiah, some of the books were selected for use, and others were set aside. Therefore Scripture says, "These are the mixed Proverbs of Solomon, which the friends of Hezekiah the king copied out." And from where did they take them, except from the books containing the 3,000 parables and the 5,000 songs? Out of these, then, the wise friends of Hezekiah took those portions that related to the building up of the Church. And Hezekiah did away with Solomon's books on the Parables and Songs, in which he wrote about the nature of plants, and all kinds of animals belonging to the dry land, and the air, and the sea, and about cures for disease. He did this because the people looked to these for remedies for their diseases, and neglected to seek their healing from God.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

...o revive them when they are wearied by the length of the road. These, moreover, are the proverbs of Solomon, that is, the peacemaker, who in truth is Christ the Savior. And since we understand the words of the Lord without offense, as being the words of the Lord, so that no one may mislead us by a likeness of name, he tells us who wrote these things, and of what people he was king. He does this so that the credit of the speaker may make the discourse acceptable and the hearers attentive. For these are the words of that Solomon to whom the Lord said, "I will give you a wise and an understanding heart, so that there has been none like you upon the earth, and after you there shall not arise any like you," 1 Kings 3:12, and as follows in what is written of him. Now he was the wise son of a wise father. Therefore the name of David is added, by whom Solomon was begotten. From childhood he was instructed in the sacred Scriptures, and he obtained his dominion not by lot, nor by force, but by the judgment of the Spirit and the decree of God.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

However, will not those portions of the Psalm which apply to Christ alone, be enough to teach us that all the rest, too, relates to Christ, and not to Solomon?

Hippolytus, Against the Jews Supporting witness

9. I produce now the prophecy of Solomon, which speaks of Christ, and announces clearly and perspicuously things concerning the Jews;

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness

5. What are we to say, moreover, regarding those prophecies of Christ contained in the Psalms, espe­cially the one with the superscription, A song for the Beloved;

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

This Psalm, though addressed to Solomon, is evidently a prophecy of Christ, and it is worth while to ask to what king the prophecy desires judgment to be given by God, and to what king's Son, and what king's righteousness is spoken of.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

... mouth as a sword, as a sharp sword. Can anyone see so many wounded by divine love, like her in the Song of Songs, who complained that she was wounded, "Song of Songs 2:5 I am wounded with love," and find the dart that wounded so many souls for the love of God in anyone but Him who said, "He has made Me as a chosen shaft"?

Methodius, Connection to Genesis 2:24 Supporting witness

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This mystery I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.

Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness

To which things Solomon alludes in the Book of Canticles, and begins thus: My beloved is mine, and I am his;

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background

"Arise, O north wind, and come, you south; blow on my garden, so that its spices may flow out," Canticles 4:16. Since Joseph delighted in these spices, he is called the King's son by God. Since the Virgin Mary was anointed with them, she conceived the Word. Then new secrets, new truth, and a new kingdom, as well as great and inexplicable mysteries, are made known.

Song of Solomon 1:4 Background

Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

But the Holy Spirit declares in the Song of Songs that the Church is one. He says, speaking in the person of Christ, “My dove, my undefiled, is one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her who bore her.” Song of Songs 6:9 About this He also says again, “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring sealed up, a well of living water.” Song of Songs 4:12 But if the spouse of Christ, which is the Church, is a garden enclosed, then something that is closed cannot lie open to strangers and profane persons. And if it is a fountain sealed, then one who is outside and has no access to the spring can neither drink from there nor be sealed. And if the well of living water is also one and the same within, then he who is outside cannot be made alive and sanctified by that water, since only those who are within are allowed to use it or drink it. Peter also showed this. He taught that the Church is one, and that only those who are in the Church can be baptized. He said, “In the ark of Noah, few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water; the like figure to which even baptism shall save you.” 1 Peter 3:20-21 In this way he proves and testifies that the one ark of Noa

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...children of God. For the second birth, which takes place in baptism, begets sons of God. But if the bride of Christ is one, and that is the Catholic Church, then she alone bears sons of God. For there are not many brides of Christ, since the apostle says, "I have espoused you, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ," in 2 Corinthians 11:2. And again: "Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, for the King has greatly desired your beauty." And: "Come with me, my spouse, from Lebanon; you shall come, and shall pass over from the source of your faith," in Song of Songs 4:8. And: "I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse," in Song of Songs 5:1. We see that one person is presented everywhere, because the bride also is one. But the synagogue of heretics is not one with us, because the bride is not an adulteress or a harlot. Therefore she also cannot bear children of God; unless, as seems to appear to Stephen, heresy does indeed bring them forth and cast them out, while the Church takes them up when they have been cast out, and nourishes as her own those whom she did not bear, although she cannot be the mother of strangers'

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... But we must not pass over what you have necessarily pointed out: that the Church, according to the Song of Songs, is "a garden enclosed," and "a fountain sealed," "a paradise with the fruit of apples" (Song of Songs 4:12-13). Those who have never entered into this garden, and have not seen the paradise planted by God the Creator, how will they be able to offer to another the bring water of the saving lava from the fountain which is enclosed within, and sealed with a divine seal? And since Noah's ark was nothing else than the sacrament of the Church of Christ, which at that time, when all outside were perishing, kept safe only those who were within the ark, we are plainly taught to look to the unity of the Church. As the Apostle Peter also laid down, saying, "Thus also shall baptism in like manner make you safe" (1 Peter 3:21). This shows that those who were not in the ark with Noah not only were not cleansed and saved by water, but at once perished in that deluge. So now also, whoever are not in the Church with Christ will perish outside, unless they are converted by penitence to the only and saving lava of the Church.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

2. But that the Church is one, the Holy Spirit declares in the Song of Songs, saying, in the person of Christ, My dove, my undefiled, is one;

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...wer; but the beginning proceeds from unity. The Holy Spirit also pointed out this one Church in the Song of Songs, speaking in the person of our Lord, and says, "My dove, my spotless one, is but one. She is the only one of her mother, chosen of her who bore her." Song of Songs 6:9 Does the one who does not hold this unity of the Church think that he holds the faith? Does the one who strives against and resists the Church trust that he is in the Church, when the blessed Apostle Paul also teaches the same thing and sets forth the sacrament of unity, saying, "There is one body and one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God"? Ephesians 4:4

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

Song of Songs 4:12-13 But if His Church is a garden enclosed, and a fountain sealed, how can he who is not in the Church enter into the same garden, or drink from its fountain?

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

Song of Songs 6:9 Concerning which also He says again, A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse;

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

Song of Songs 4:8 and, I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse.

2 Corinthians 11:2 Background

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:27 Background

that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...rd of the Sabbath. And the law's relation to the Sabbath was like the servant who has charge of the bridegroom's chamber. He prepares it carefully and does not allow it to be disturbed or touched by any stranger, but keeps it whole until the bridegroom arrives. Then, when he has come, it may be used as he pleases, or as it is granted to those whom he has invited to enter with him. And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself testified to what we say when He said with His heavenly voice, "Can you make the children of the bride-chamber fast so long as the bridegroom is with them?" Again, He did not actually reject circumcision. Rather, we should say that He took into Himself, and in our place, the reason for circumcision. He relieved us by what He Himself endured, and did not allow us to suffer pain for no purpose. For what profit can there be for a man in circumcising himself if he still holds the worst thoughts against his neighbor? Accordingly, He desired instead to open to us the ways of the fullest life by a short path. He did this lest perhaps, after we had traveled long roads of our own, we should find our day cut short by night, and lest, while outwardly we might appear splendid in t

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

... of these substantial natures into one harmony of the birth of Christ? For He is the one who, "as a bridegroom goes forth from his bride-chamber, exulted as a giant to run his way. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and His return to the ends of it." Because, even to the highest, no one has ascended into heaven except He who came down from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven, as John 3:13 says. Repeating this same thing, He says, "Father, glorify me with that glory with which I was with You before the world was." And if this Word came down from heaven as a bridegroom to the flesh, so that by the taking of flesh He might ascend there as the Son of man, from where the Son of God had descended as the Word, then reasonably, by the mutual connection, the flesh wears the Word of God, and the Son of God assumes the frailty of the flesh. And when the flesh, being espoused, ascends there from where without the flesh it had descended, it at last receives that glory which, since it is shown to have had it before the foundation of the world, most clearly proves that He is God. And nevertheless, while the world itself is said to have been founded after Him, it is found to have be

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

...substantial natures into one harmony of the birth of Christ? For He is the one who “goes forth as a bridegroom from his bride-chamber.” “He exulted as a giant to run his course. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and His return to the ends of it.” For no one has ascended into heaven, even to the highest, except He who came down from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven, as John 3:13 says. Repeating this same thing, He says, “Father, glorify me with that glory with which I was with You before the world was.” And if this Word came down from heaven as a bridegroom to the flesh, so that by the taking up of flesh He might ascend there as the Son of man, from where the Son of God had descended as the Word, then reasonably, by the mutual joining, the flesh wears the Word of God, and the Son of God assumes the frailty of the flesh. Then, when the flesh that had been espoused ascends there, from where without the flesh it had descended, it at last receives that glory which, since it is shown to have had it before the foundation of the world, is most plainly proved to be God. And nevertheless, while the world itself is said to have been founded after Him, it is found to have be

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

And yet the heretic still shrinks from insisting that Christ is God, even though he sees that Christ is proved to be God by so many words and facts. If Christ is only man, then when He came into this world, how did He come to His own, since a man could not have made the world? If Christ was only man, how is the world said to have been made by Him, when the world was not made by man, but man was appointed after the world? If Christ was only man, how was it that Christ was not only from the seed of David, but was also the Word made flesh and dwelt among us? For although the first-formed man was not born from seed, yet the first-formed man was not made by the joining together of the Word and flesh. For he is not the Word made flesh, nor did he dwell among us. If Christ was only man, how does He who comes from heaven testify to what He has seen and heard, John 3:31, when it is clear that man cannot come from heaven, because he cannot be born there? If Christ is only man, how are visible and invisible things, thrones, powers, and dominions, said to be created by Him and in Him, when the heavenly powers could not have been made by man, since they had to exist before man? If Christ is onl

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

And yet the heretic still shrinks from insisting that Christ is God, even though he sees that Christ is proved to be God by so many words and facts. If Christ is only man, then when He came into this world, how did He come to His own, since a man could not have made the world? If Christ was only man, how is the world said to have been made by Him, when the world was not made by man, but man was appointed after the world? If Christ was only man, how was Christ not only from the seed of David, but also the Word made flesh who dwelt among us? For although the first man was not born from seed, neither was the first man formed from the union of the Word and the flesh. For he is not the Word made flesh, nor did he dwell among us. If Christ was only man, how does He who comes from heaven testify to what He has seen and heard, John 3:31, when it is clear that man cannot come from heaven, because he cannot be born there? If Christ is only man, how are visible and invisible things, thrones, powers, and dominions, said to have been created by Him and in Him, when the heavenly powers could not have been made by man, since they had to exist before man? If Christ is only man, how is He present w

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

I hold also that it is my Christ who is meant by the bridegroom, of whom the psalm says: He is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;

Matthew 9:15 Background

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Matthew 25:1 Background

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Psalms 19:5 Background

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Matthew 25:10 Background

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.