Victorinus of Pettau

About Victorinus of Pettau

Victorinus of Pettau was Bishop of Poetovio (modern Ptuj, Slovenia) and the earliest known Latin biblical exegete. He wrote commentaries on various biblical books, though only fragments and his "Commentary on the Apocalypse" survive. Victorinus used allegorical interpretation influenced by Origen and provided early Christian understanding of Revelation. His work shows early Latin Christianity engaging with Scripture interpretation. Victorinus interpreted Revelation with a millenarian perspective (literal thousand-year reign of Christ), which was common in early Christianity but later fell out of favor. His work influenced later interpreters like Jerome, who revised Victorinus' Apocalypse commentary, removing millenarian elements while preserving his exegesis. Victorinus was martyred during Diocletian's persecution around 304, making him one of the few early Latin Church Fathers to die as a martyr. He represents early biblical scholarship combined with faithful witness.