AboutMichael Expertise Ph.D. Cand. in Latin. Conversant with all forms of the language: classical, mediaeval, and modern. My purpose is to provide information on the Latin language of all periods. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR TRANSLATIONS. If you need assistance for a translation projects, there are other resources that provide that service, such as Vivat Latina! at www.traditio.com/latin.htm.
Experience I have 45 years of teaching at all levels from public school through university postgraduate. I read, write, and speak Latin daily.
May I ask you something about the Apostles Creed in Latin?
It goes " Credo in Deum........passus sub Pontio Pilato.....tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis...etc.
I am confused by the words ad caelos. Presumably, the term ad takes the accusative case of the second declension word caelum. If it is, then shouldn't ad caelos be ad caelum? Or shouldn't it be ad caela if it means He ascended into the heavens?
Even if the word is in the ablative case, shouldn't it be caelo (singular) or caelis (plural)?
Thank in in anticipation for enlightening my confused mind.
Sincerely,
Ernest.
Answer "Caelum" as a neuter second-declension noun is the most common classical form. However, there is an alternative, "caeli" as a masculine plural second-declension noun. In this instance, the masculine accusative plural as the object of the preposition "ad" would be "caelos," the form that is found in the Latin version of the Apostles Creed.
In contrast, the usage "in caelum," is found in Latin version of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. In essence there is no real difference. The "ad caelos" usage is perhaps a little more poetic.
