christian interpretations known fourth latin poem roman poet major work piece written time temporary stability following treaty later published years work describes birth boy supposed age divine eventually rule world late antiquity middle ages desire emerged view pagan early christians early christian theologian varying degrees poem birth jesus christ belief persisted medieval era scholars arguing christ prior birth pre christian prophet included main character included ceiling painting chapel reference widespread belief birth christ craft poem modern scholars tend interpretation arguing seemingly christian elements poem explained means divine prophecy background scholarly consensus began thought collection published controversial greek word selections group poems roughly modeled poetry pastoral poetry poet fourth dated time coming end largely concerns birth child divine eventually rule world notes poem sense contains prophecy meant seriously birth wonder child mortal virtue power shall restore golden age thirteenth fourteenth centuries gained reputation pagan term referring consequently lifetime opportunity recognize christ led lives consider damned eventually christians sought reconcile works supposed christianity present consequently late antiquity assumed referenced actually jesus christ history early interpretations notable person fascinated supposed prophecy potential references jesus constantine great roman emperor address gave preserved roman historian work constantine interpreted entire work omitted lines overtly reference line names apollo constantine assigned roles line lines christ lions line christians line evil constantine argued flower line represented race people leader faith christ references line meant borne hardships sake god perceive fruit endurance sweet emperor interpreted reference fighting lines reference christ new war forces evil new finally constantine proposed references golden age lines refer birth mortal child mortal parents words jesus christ according christian scripture parents usual sense constantine primary religious advisor saw references jesus poem fact actually proposed idea constantine confusion surrounding publication date book divine felt poem referred coming christ millennium argued penned poem accordance presiding concerning birth christ likewise believed referencing christ assumed poet writing writing persona unnamed narrator writing traces guilt wiped away concerning verse written echoing sentiment opined mention line reference supposed prophecy concerning christ ultimately felt spoke non birth coming christ understand writing opinion reference coming jesus universally held early members early church early church writer noted translating bible latin specifically wrote christian prophet having accepted christ claimed accepted pre christian prophet noted mere fact responded idea testament belief medieval interpretations early sixth century latin passing reference supposed nature noting fourth takes art prophecy historical scholarly record silent ninth century according legend bishop quoted seventh line poem confession faith prior death century archbishop referenced poem noting evidence holy spirit spoken monk makes use seventh line commentary matthew eleventh century began appearing plays particular christmas work poet prophet called testimony concerning christ according play particularly popular gives mention similar play performed purported prophecy found mystery plays time supposed nature saturated christian world references poem bohemian historian pope innocent iii sermon latin collection anecdotes tales probably compiled end 13th century beginning 14th confirms associated christianity eventually fixture medieval art appearing churches depicted holding select passage similar vein included ceiling painting chapel according presence evokes song fourth spiritual renewal coming christ theme ceiling points painted close proximity prophet painter drew visual comparison purported association christianity reached fever pitch fourteenth century divine comedy published work prominently features main character guide hell notably second book meet poet having read hidden meaning lines allowed passage eventually heaven argued reference proof like believed christian prophet fifteenth century popular story concerning started christians reign roman emperor emerged story claims trio alarmed calm manner christian victims died turned literature eventually caused conversions later interpretations french writer impressed potential connection christianity influence basing lines sixth concerning meeting near jordan river work overt modern references christianity appears poem wrote work shows clearly pope believed poem based prophecy held opinion noting way poem contains references men sober senses god mid-19th century oxford scholar claimed silent divine sacred fact believe modern views modern scholars contend seemingly christian nature poem referencing eastern influenced jewish texts instance carefully analyzing work ultimately concluded probably appropriated elements poem jewish mythology means eastern later adapted western roman modes thought
Christian interpretations of Virgil's Eclogue 4