Chapter VI.—Of the Four Living Creatures in the Apocalypse, Which Have Been Taken
by Some in One Application, and by Others in Another, as Apt Figures of the Four Evangel-
ists.
9. For these reasons, it also appears to me, that of the various parties who have interpreted
the living creatures in the Apocalypse as significant of the four evangelists, those who have
taken the lion to point to Matthew, the man to Mark, the calf to Luke, and the eagle to John,
have made a more reasonable application of the figures than those who have assigned the
man to Matthew, the eagle to Mark, and the lion to John.534 For, in forming their particular
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idea of the matter, these latter have chosen to keep in view simply the beginnings of the
books, and not the full design of the several evangelists in its completeness, which was the
matter that should, above all, have been thoroughly examined. For surely it is with much
greater propriety that the one who has brought under our notice most largely the kingly
character of Christ, should be taken to be represented by the lion. Thus is it also that we
find the lion mentioned in conjunction with the royal tribe itself, in that passage of the
Apocalypse where it is said, “The lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed.”535 For in Mat-
thew’s narrative the magi are recorded to have come from the east to inquire after the King,
and to worship Him whose birth was notified to them by the star. Thus, too, Herod, who
himself also was a king, is [said there to be] afraid of the royal child, and to put so many
little children to death in order to make sure that the one might be slain.536 Again, that Luke
is intended under the figure of the calf, in reference to the pre-eminent sacrifice made by
the priest, has been doubted by neither of the two [sets of interpreters]. For in that Gospel
the narrator’s account commences with Zacharias the priest. In it mention is also made of
the relationship between Mary and Elisabeth.537 In it, too, it is recorded that the ceremonies
proper to the earliest priestly service were attended to in the case of the infant Christ;538
534 [The latter application is that of Irenæus (Adv. Hær. iii.); but the prevalent application is that of Jerome,
which is accepted in mediæval art. It differs from that of Augustin (see table below). As a curious illustration of
the fanciful character of such interpretations, the reader may consult the following table, which gives the order
of the following living creatures in Rev. iv. 7, with some of the leading “applications.”
Rev. iv. 7. Irenæus. Augustin. Jerome. Lange, Stier. -------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------1. Lion… John. Matthew. Mark. Mark. 2. Calf… Luke.
Luke. Luke. Matthew. 3. Man… Matthew. Mark. Matthew. Luke. 4. Eagle… Mark.
John. John. John.
No doubt further variations could be discovered. Comp. Schaff’s Church History, rev. ed. vol. i. 585-589.—R.]
535 Rev. v. 5.
536 Matt. ii. 1–18.
537 Luke i. 5, 36.
538 Luke ii. 22–24.
Of the Four Living Creatures in the Apocalypse, Which Have Been Taken by Some in One Application, and by Others in Another, as Apt Figures of the Four Evangelists.
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Of the Four Living Creatures in the Apocalypse, Which Have Been Taken by…