Poenitentiam agite
Encyclopedia
Poenitentiam agite is a Latin term used in the first of the Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther
, and variously translated into English as "Repent" or "Do Penance
".
The term is part of the larger quotation from St. Jerome's Vulgate
translation of Mt.
3:2 (as said by John the Baptist
) and Mt. 4:17 (as repeated by Jesus of Nazareth): "Pœnitentiam agite: appropinquavit enim regnum cælorum" ("Repent: the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand").
The term is translated from the original Greek command μετανοεῖτε (English transliteration
: "metanoiete"), which some post-Vulgate translators (including Erasmus
) alternatively render in Latin as "resipiscite" – a translation that favors the connotation of changing one's internal state of mind, rather than the connotation of engaging in external penitential action. The Greek μετανοεῖτε is alternatively translated within the Vulgate at Mk.
1:15 as "pœnitemini," a translation more similar in connotation to "resipiscite." The translational issue is often used to justify positions on the subject of sacramental penance.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, and variously translated into English as "Repent" or "Do Penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
".
The term is part of the larger quotation from St. Jerome's Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
translation of Mt.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
3:2 (as said by John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
) and Mt. 4:17 (as repeated by Jesus of Nazareth): "Pœnitentiam agite: appropinquavit enim regnum cælorum" ("Repent: the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand").
The term is translated from the original Greek command μετανοεῖτε (English transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: "metanoiete"), which some post-Vulgate translators (including Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian....
) alternatively render in Latin as "resipiscite" – a translation that favors the connotation of changing one's internal state of mind, rather than the connotation of engaging in external penitential action. The Greek μετανοεῖτε is alternatively translated within the Vulgate at Mk.
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
1:15 as "pœnitemini," a translation more similar in connotation to "resipiscite." The translational issue is often used to justify positions on the subject of sacramental penance.