Catechetical Lectures 4 part 2/2

For there is one God of the two covenants, who in the old foretold the Christ who appeared in the new;

who through the law and the prophets led us as by a tutor unto Christ.

For before faith came, we were kept under the law;

and the law became our tutor unto Christ.

And if ever you hear any of the heretics blaspheming the law or the prophets, answer back with the saving voice, saying:

Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil it.

And learn diligently and from the Church, which are the books of the old covenant, and which of the new.

And read me none of the apocryphal books.

For why, not knowing the things agreed upon by all, do you trouble yourself in vain over things doubtful? Read the divine Scriptures, these twenty-two books of the old covenant, which were translated by the seventy-two Interpreters.

For when Alexander the king of the Macedonians had died, and the kingdom was divided into four realms—into Babylonia and Macedonia, Asia and Egypt;

one of those reigning over Egypt, Ptolemy Philadelphus, who was a most learning-loving king and gathered books from everywhere, having heard from Demetrius of Phalerum, the curator of the library, concerning the divine Scriptures of the law and the prophets;

and judging it far better not to take the books by force from unwilling owners, but rather to propitiate those who possessed them with gifts and friendship;

and knowing that what is compelled is often falsified, being given unwillingly;

but that what is provided of free choice is given in all truth;

having sent very many gifts to Eleazar, then the high priest, to the temple of Jerusalem here, he caused to be sent to him, six from each tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel, for the translation.

Then, taking a test of whether or not the books were divine, and suspecting lest those who were sent should collude with one another;

in the island called Pharos, lying off Alexandria, assigning to each of the interpreters who had come a house of his own, he committed to each to translate all the Scriptures.

And when these had completed the task in seventy-two days, gathering together at one place the translations of all, which they had made in different houses without consulting one another, he found them to be in agreement not only in the meanings, but also in the very words.

For what came about was no clever speech or contrivance of human sophistries;

but the interpretation of the divine Scriptures, which had been spoken by the Holy Spirit, was accomplished out of the Holy Spirit.

Of these read the twenty-two books;

but with the apocryphal books have nothing in common.

Study earnestly these only, which we also read in the Church with confidence.

Far more prudent and reverent than you were the apostles and the ancient bishops, the leaders of the Church, who handed these down.

You then, being a child of the Church, do not

And of the old covenant, as has been said, study the twenty-two books;

which, if you are a lover of learning, take care to remember by name as I name them.

For of the law there are the first five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy;

and next, the book of Joshua son of Nun;

and the book of Judges with Ruth, counted as the seventh.

And of the remaining historical books, the first and the second of the Kingdoms are one book among the Hebrews;

and the third and the fourth likewise one.

And likewise among them the first and the second of the Chronicles are one book;

and the first and the second of Esdras are reckoned as one;

and the twelfth book is Esther.

And these are the historical books.

And the poetical books are five:

Job, and the book of Psalms, and Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, the seventeenth book.

And after these, the prophetic books are five:

of the twelve prophets one book, and of Isaiah one, and of Jeremiah with Baruch, and Lamentations, and the Epistle;

then Ezekiel, and that of Daniel, the twenty-second book of the old covenant.

And of the new covenant, the four Gospels only;

but the rest are falsely titled and harmful.

The Manichaeans also wrote a Gospel according to Thomas, which, being tinged with the fragrance of the evangelic name, corrupts the souls of the simpler sort.

Receive also the Acts of the twelve apostles.

And in addition to these, the seven catholic epistles of James, and Peter, and John, and Jude;

and as the seal of them all, and the last of the disciples, the fourteen epistles of Paul.

But let all the rest be set in a secondary place.

And whatever is not read in the churches, do not read these even by yourself, as you have heard.

And concerning these matters, so much.

But flee every diabolical activity, and do not obey the dragon, the apostate, who from a good nature received a self-chosen change;

who is able indeed to persuade those who are willing, but to compel no one.

And give heed neither to astrologies, nor to bird-augury, nor to omens, nor to the fabulous divinations of the Greeks.

Sorcery, and enchantment, and the most lawless practices of necromancy—do not accept even so far as to hear of them.

Depart from every kind of licentiousness, being neither gluttonous nor pleasure-loving, and rising above all avarice and usury.

And do not join the heathen gatherings for spectacles;

nor ever use amulets in sicknesses.

And turn away also from all the vulgarity of frequenting taverns.

And do not fall away into Samaritanism or Judaism;

for Jesus the Christ has now redeemed you.

Withdraw from every observance of sabbaths,

and from calling any of the indifferent foods common or unclean.

Above all, hate all the assemblies of the lawless heretics.

And in every way fortify your own soul with fastings, prayers, almsgiving, and the readings of the divine oracles, so that, having lived the rest of your time in the flesh with self-control and godly doctrines, you may enjoy the one salvation of the laver;

and so, enlisted in the heavenly hosts for the Father and God, you may be counted worthy of the heavenly crowns;

in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory unto the ages of ages.