Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMicah 5
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Micah 5 in the BibleMicah 5:5
Seven Pastors, eight principal men.
◦ Christ raiseth up, and always conserveth many, or a great number (signified by the two mystical numbers seven and eight) to defend the faithful people of the Church against Assur & Nemrod, that is, against all persecutors and adversaries. These defenders are the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, especially Bishops, who are here called Pastors, to admonish them, that their office is to feed the people with spiritual food, doctrine & Sacraments: and are called also Princes, or principal men, to admonish the people to obey, and follow their ordinance. As. S. Paul also admonisheth: Obey your Prelates, and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render account for your souls. Heb. 13.
- ◦ The Church hath always true Pastors.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Micah 5:2
From the beginning, from the days of eternity.
◦ To signify that Christ taking man's nature, was nevertheless eternal God with the Father and Holy Ghost, the Prophet addeth that he was from the beginning, and from the days of eternity. Which manner of speech, by iterating the same terms, as also seculum seculi, secula sæculorum, and the like, signify absolute eternity. Though the same words put single in some places do only import long time, or during such a state: as Exo. 21. v. 6. Psal. 23. v. 7. & 9.