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126 views85 pagesChurch at End of 1stC
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Michael CheungCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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/ 85
‘THE CHURCH AT THE END
OF THE FIRST CENTURY
by
G, BARDY
Trantated by
PW. SINGLETON
Wai -rfANARW)
SANDS & CO.
(rostisitens) come
vy KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN, WC Pot pubis 19
| Nini obsat:Gvoncios Cas. Sart, STAD. PRD.
Inprimatur: Lzonetss Can, EvaNs, Vie, Gea,
CONTENTS
sei toe, Tr te Me:
I iran atta ona
pra ihe Genel ofthe Hebewy- Phe Gone of he Rp ; ‘THE JunsrO.GMIsTIANS Ay tHE END OF HE
bop. The wee Gp "UL Sr mmm
a Se," ge hs Mr he ot
hay" Bots Rept Wie pe
5, Pine a She Min th
IV, pt °W. Hoa. Vi The ‘Wen VIL Soca Espen
Mi Moat Onin eee
INTRODUCTION
“Tue tiny years which passed between the death of Saint
Per and Saine Paul abd the death of Saint John were
Usthive for the Christan Chreh, One after the odher
{he wlmenes ofthe Saviouts Iie had disappeared, and the
tstnis of the work He founded were entrusted co men
Stn hd neither known Hien, nor seen His miracles, nor
Teccived Is teaching. "The apostles, illed with the grace
ihe Holy Spirit, bad preached wis supreme aushorigg
helt sucesors had no other mission than that of guard
tp and transmitting the deposit they had received from
tha" Chosen by the Saviour Mistslé wo be His preachers
{eth ends ofthe earth, the sples governed in His name
the communities usy’ ad founded almost everywhere;
his Suen aed the load Chavehes which were united
Dy the bond of charity and ahich ateady turned towards
Rome ar the eentre to which everything must converge,
"This period of nganization—one would be cempted to
‘write tapsformatin i here was not danger ofthe word
Deing misunderstood war not without 1s dlc.
Suine Peter an Sait Pa ie vetims of Nero's psec
fiom Saint Joln, according 10 teadicion, was plunged
{iuo' cauldeon of bling oil by order of Domitian. From
the moment i erat to know Cheisianty the Empire
‘denned its even Trajan reminedfithfal on this point
{oe practice of his predecessors; i he forbade the younger
‘ny fo sek out Christians, he ordered im to have all
thowe whe were denoted and convicted, pr to death,
Perscotel bythe civil power, the Chueh had fight vcs Leper inthe bane of an
ie ie ee liberated by Saine Paul ‘The caprare
Jerusalem by the Romans was cer tow to
Judie, baci id moc ne et ee
time a controversy was conti a witch the we
«SE ewan ih it
inronai® fendency. “The final letters of Saint Paul already
inn uso these manera ofthe
serge cy Ae i ti a ca
support, and this they thought they fond in the
{By lions which hal ret es ect
rast syneretism. Would Christianity accepe the allen
So ees alia
taPaey gomfided to i by ies divine founder?” At amy
ee eee
inging from various points, Fore coe
foe At the head of ih communis Soe
Sty a ele ate oh
9f Andoch brings out clearly the unit af the Chercnaee
the aposes tok no part ine and athe
cater than the se the pent
ond century, nevertheless the peste
ixraonverton 5
creed does expres dhe faith of dhe primitive Charl ei
the witnes of ie most ancient Deli
“The liturgy also was in proces of fixation. Tes hardly
probable, i spite of wat hasbeen sad that we til poses
fhe apostolic anaphora, ad for a long tine the various
Gommuniies left the Gaty of expressing ther Feelings of
Sdinrtion and grstude, or of formulating their prayers,
fo Weir leaders But, ftom the beginning, the Christian
‘Me was organized round two esental ites: hat of initae
tion couerred by baptisa in ube name of the Father and
tt the Son and of he Holy Spit; that of the Eucharist
(eierated by repeating the Lovds formulae: "This is my
body; this i dhe chalice ofthe new alliance in my blo,
"The secondary forms of administation varied according t
ples and periods while what was esendal remained,
‘RincPau bed alvedy said that chere is only one ait and
tne apis Saint Ignative adde that there fs only one
bishop ad one Eucharist.
"We should like to be able to relate che history of
these ruil years ae it was unfolded from day to day.
Dut hat is dream to be renounced almost belore iti
xpress None of thowe who lived at that time troubled
Ihmslf wo eit the annals of the Cristian Church for the
tue of the generation to come, Thowe who did write, Like
the apostle Suint John, recalled the gest memories ofthe
pase tin his Gospel, of a inthe Apocalypse, ited the
filo the mysterious fate. Move frequently they com
owed instructions of the practical order, addres eters
odistane communities and absent friend preached hom
Ties whose esential traits they afterwards wrote dove.
‘These are chance works, without any pretence wo Keerary
sie, and without any concern forthe instruction of the
fauhul inthe tatore centre,
‘A considerable pare of thew fe Christin writings has
‘completely disappeared, and some of them have only been
covered in ou days alter several centuries of oblivion,
‘Their apostate origi, their snered character have natally 4
Preserved from deuruction the works of Suit John over
‘which the Church has nese eased to watch leer
of Sune Glement of Rome fom faving bev cera tee
‘opin he end of te Ne Tea, hes sna see
ied all sorms, “But who will ean by atot eens
the Doctrine of the Aposter was discovered tt 185 hyo
‘minuscipe of Conaninopie and ny the Ode of
Solomon were recovered in 109m a yrse manure,
ton te egos a he gt
future may pethap sre other suprise ofthis
ind. ‘But we mast no rly too chon a ae she ee
‘we shall never have sufficient info Tor the history of
information forthe hiro
the Christian Church at the end of the apostolic period to
Berelted nde. The prance the perl ish
ers reat that ateay many have stomped ode
i oming ar so anes ne ene hi iis
aly. “We shally toe Gear and to bing vt the en
nes ofthe work acempliied hy the Chain Certs
‘ete the years joie. May chs litle Book augue
ister ial rat ha Mother Chueh found by
Jesus Christ and nourished by the blood afte spe
CHAPTER I
‘THE WRITINGS
i, Resi. ate Hey Pade Maan
Ase eatin. eer eb, Ey
SEE USGE Vota "Te Gp Sty Fe Ta Be
‘Our ise task isto review the testimonies at our dispos
These testimonies as we shal ee, are not ery MUMETOUS,
Shucthey ae alist ll contemporary with the events ehey
flat of to which they allude AC the begining ofthe
fourth century Eusebius of Caesarea cerainly pomested a
‘cher and more complete collection than that which bas
‘ome down tots through hm we also know certain
ments ofthe most ancient Chrsian witers; but these are
Aoninute that we learn almost noching from them.
‘What would we not give, however, ew have the eomplete
text of the five books of Exegesis of the Discourses of
the Lordy deawn wp betore 190 DF Papias of Hierapols?
Eusbius has reprociced the prologue to this work: "I
‘wll not hesitate to communicate to you, by adding them
To may imerpretations ll tie things {Jarat well from the
Seieas and that have Kept wel in by emory, aking
Inysell responsible for thet truth. For unlike most men,
5 6 cuuneu ar ENp oF rixst centuRY
1 do not car forthe who speak mich, bt for those who
teach the tuth nor for those who veal strange preps
‘but forthe who real ihe precepts ten bythe Lord to
be believed snd coming ffom the truth Heel Atif by
hanes there came one who ha frequented the ancients {
‘questioned him about the discourses ofthe ancients; what
fad Andrey, Petr, Pilip aid? What had Thomas or
James sald? What bad John or Matthew or some other
‘iciple ofthe Lord aid?” And what do Ariston and Jon
the elder, the dicples ofthe Lard say? Foro not hin
tha he omens of bls on render me mc sever
thar which comes from the vg poonal oie:
‘We father from that that Papi tonk Pleasure in
‘queoning the immediate septs of the Lond or atleast
thowe who had come In contac with they aed hat he ut
down their answers fa writing, He must have learnt any
Snterstng details about the feriod of which we ate eat
ing. Apare fom some fragments quoted by Irenaeus sd
Euebius the Exegesis is lot. There some consolation
in the fat that the aceon, reproduced by Irenaeus and
by Buses of the death of ud or ofthe marvelous
feliy ofthe earth during the milleniam do not indicate
much citial acumen: and, infact, Ensebias hel sets
thae the good bishop was of very lnited understanding
“The Memoirs or Commentaries of Hegesppus would
doubles be more interning std mre usta A Chris
tian of Jewish eign, Hegeappus wrote tis work before
180; he concerned hin with exhlishing te apotic
siceaion of the diferent Churches in onder show where
and how the tr faith way conserved: he delred that
"the Chorch had remained pare and inceeupie up to
his wn te; thon who stoped fo corupe the sind
rule of the preaching of rdtmpaon hd up tote dat
rus wairines: 1
ch en tat genera whic had a the
lege of b ith its own ears
crete dite ae
seg he aps st ed ened wade
Ca sy
re Gov iat
erain fragments which refer to the death of James, the
tro f the Lord, to his successor in the episcopate,
brother oh, Goa and coun of the Lord tthe
sh thee ls
Sees beet ee
ree Cy on tts ee
Towing that he was a believer who had come from the
HOES a te eed nny ths hc Done
‘madition "2 To-day we know very little of the Juc
iain en 2" fag me
pint.
rom cerain ein wes and eps Som
ae Semen of Alexian, we le ao
Sein ened ated toe peers THe
Beal We ae S cmurcw ar ep oF Finst centuny
‘tations ae nt of equal value orf equal interest. Some
‘of them are purely octal; ott, although of am histor!
fa nature, are insignifiane. Be wealo find among them
Some admirable acount, suchas the one transite by
Clement of the pardon granted by the apose Sant John
to one of his young disciples eho ad become the leader of
aa and of brigands. Such finds ae rate. but they show ws
the value ofthe old traditions
AA this doesnot lead us very far; and in facts i i
tw certain works written during the lst year of the it
entary or atthe Beginning of the seid century that We
‘ove the best of or infarttation.
1 THE JOHANNINE WRITINGS
‘The waitings of che apostle Sane Jotn—the Apacalype,
the Govpel andthe thee Catholic epistles aust be give
place apart. ‘The Chueh regards these books a inspired
‘omsequently she asks us to erent them with all the respect
‘duc to the Word of God. "Even if we envisage them hese
8 historical documents, we shall no fonget thei sacred
Gharacter
“According to the tradion, John, whoa dhe Saviour had
‘chosen in his early youth, had survived his Ivete in
fhe apostolate. Te is uselew to stop 10 ditty here an
‘obscure text, stsibuted to Papas, which fas been asserted.
to contain the proof of Jon's death at dhe has the Jens
Defore A. go. Actually, the disciple whom Jens loved
Ina established himself i Aviat a date which cannot be
precisely determined, and he had stnosnced the good news
of che Saviour in that vase region, whete Sain Paal had
previously stayed so long,
In the reign of Domitian, for some unknown reason,
{on vas tom from his labours and exe to the island of
Pamos, having frst undergone before the Latin Gate the
torre ofthe boiling oil Te was then that he received
sue watrines ®
by hin
she seaton reed in se Apc and et by
she fret chef esas, Pergamon
12,05 Sars Pldelphia a Leora.
rious book: the
“The Apc it stange and mpi book the
coun fenriins have neve ene oven ia
See abt dob wheter ny of hem hve
eter enne merng The teary ges co wb
longs ws then the fon, te bok of Enoch the
Tosh fbi tbe camer ofthe evel patria at
week ic ofthe Maceabees the Pons of Salmon und
ese the bee of the ects of Enoch the sumption
Temp the thr of the sybline books, atthe esi
Ne Cinta eras fad obained 2 biliant socom
outhcndes Tws nial ht Chrsiniy shoud Bae
[ouch aio” Men have ever een to be wemen
Soap act i dhe frre ae to ey Uo peveat
see nuinctly they ge aged weknme t he
Sahayer tithe aps, mt fen te dn
{en singh he one fom te of
enn waa pops hehe wore wane "he ef
and aight Ld he Code he sa he
es bd sn his soge o show his servants the hi
Tha ment soy be Gone He ad rece the
Teche the mesa of hope tis com
Tepes an ety tothe fh of the Seven
Geechee Aue, he times were oubled, persecution
sand threnened to become more act a ie
set Fen pce at or ae
NG) Meat hey amore Bad aeady weaken
the commen which hd seed mow sable. “To
seers hil co ona cently the wis of the
sean sernersuy to forearm them agit te entice ‘ments which che Beast would wse in is perpetual conic
‘with God. These warnings. in some ‘ays necesarly
fHighcning, were counterbalanced by a cent std precise
vision of tisimate victory. This made the faith of the
{Christiane ofthe fist century invincible, and sustained all
thse in the ages which followed who were involved i the
‘eternal, many sided confit between Got and the devil”
Te ving, however, mclet—pethaps even dangeroe—t0
speak too clear. ‘The hour of trump would come for
the disciples of the Lamb, but it would he 3 Tong me
foming. Unil the advent of the new Jerusalem where
“there shall be no night, at they shall need no ele
neither ight of sm, fr te Lord Ged giveth ther Tigh
fd they shall reign for ever and ever there were to be
‘ountlem perscentions and sfering. Tt was not the duty
fof the ser of Patmos to define exedly the duration of
these trials which, after al, were tramtory. His predic:
tion of the fall of Babylon and of the victory of the Lord
sliced
Since it was writen primarily to answer contemporary
Aificalees, ies natural that the Apocalypee enables
to form an idea of the sate of the Churches when i we
eiten. "The letters eo the Seven Chuehes in Asi, whieh
provide a kind of introduction, supply most valuable
formation as to Christian life, heresies and the apotoate
atthe end af the fine centry. “The book tlt fll of
‘lusions which ean be elucidated, Te has been sieese
‘hot without reason, that the plendid litany of eave
{san elaborated reproduccion ofthe liturgy on earths that
the hymns sung by the twentyfowr elders and hy all the
angels were thote the fithf loved to sing at thelr meet
Ings." TE as everything indicates, the symbol of Babylon
the Great signifies Rome, the shouts of jor which weleome
{us fall aests the haved which, ae last in ceein ile,
fervent Chritiane bore tothe idlatros and perccting
Jee is » prophecy of the end of the world: it is at Oe
‘sijent and passionate book shows us the spirit of the
et sod el pe
eee rethren and impatient for the coming of divine
ih ah aes a te
Sah pe 2 aa whe
on a en ts
Rl eo rch he
Sie el oe hs te
cori eased pe em
Saronic la ado
brought 10 Tighe
ie ce Saint Jon ha fog mesitatod_for sty yea atleast
om elite and teaching ofthe Sewiou,befove commit.
ting his memories to writing. On shy ecasions he mst
have had oselate the say of Jr real is words
is memory was gusteottys Wa he ha af what be
tad often rept, was Indeed what he bad ten and
Ard, and his io what he wrote down tthe reqs of
his icp Neverehleny twin elects his fen
temperament ardent sprit and vine Ives Tie fad
sed his companion in the apotlteharetuet
{he'Master and extered the mation prepared for they
he knew that his own hour was approhing and tat
immorality on arth had been note pomed to Hen
thn tothe ser apse. Here dying he prepared ae
bls his Gonpl to sence once forall hse wh
oe confess Jeson Inspired by the Holy. Chose why
*"embled hin wo vember ll int the Lord had sid
‘nc emphased the Incsrason of te Word andthe gic
dlsiny of Him who, being the light of men, nas not co
Prehended bythe darkaes wast ecewed by Hs ont
“The Gospel of Sant John both x work of history
a of theology, relating with pretiion The deel ad
Actions of fein daring fit cary ie and entbling ut
{0 see fly the glory of the only Son al of ace nd
truth Buti is tot conned lly to poling ant
Yaleable witness to the minsty of the Lord Te ale
throws vivid light on the personal toot ofthe poste
‘The Prologue f hie works ands ae thre pound
lnereations which fom tie t ne Masta te ata
‘iver "Jems, Anowing that his our Was cme that be
should depart out of this wold unt she Face, hating
ioved his own which were inthe world he loved tent
sia ee ena
‘Muchas been writen on the prlogoe ofthe fourth
Gospel and wil dul continue to be writen, For
tome, thes few yrs contain the Hey othe whele wert
"ln
ue warrines 18
tery they fom + Kind of xr, an aves
sea might vy nel have ben oad. ‘The
eeenepin ut donb eee ne Wo
See ne etl tevin oe Word ot eg
sa ee be aad tote ele wy of Jost
Hi eo tas Ean Ge Gone a the
Fe ten sony the Wer Jom
Pret an Hef peyote Hee
sane Word
se ine uelew a ak agzin where Sane Jota
ibn en Wd Fagen ye tal
sac erie have tered ng he
seta" honest eagle pao he
Caan ee ing of hs Goda of
resi be lt nr nes te
‘ieee fhe Wort wich por se
eee ure oa ashe eee ey
[eStart Asya ond fe nent,
‘YS weaned he ose et
Ses aoe a precy ae iar os ae
Shy Innortion- Colowiin Hsien ae bom
ee So ahh at sete ot
eee ee ene any te rel tem
JFlvordy sed once #0 posing he Apocalypet that
festa cman for Doutise ite knew more about
the Johannine communities our surprise would cease
“The nce Epis of Sain John belong to she ame
period as is Gopel From the theologies ewpoine the
Bratand longest of hse Epes alo the mas important.
{ent suomi onthe Nlewane racer f Jess and
hcg sho ig at but Be that denier tha
Tens isthe Chria?™ Hlereby Know ye the Spi of M4 CHURCH aT EXD OF inst cENTURY
God every spirit cat eonfeweth ut Jess Christ is come
in the Hash is of God" " And no have sen. end do
texfy that the Father sen the Sono be the Saviour of
the world, "Whosoever shall enfen that Jesu isthe Son
of God, God dwelleth tn him and he in God" Who.
seep lieve that Jesus i the Cis bom of God*
“This isthe victory that onercometh the World, even our
faith, Who i he that overenmeth ne world but he that
believeth that Jes is the Son of God" He that
believeth the Son of God ath the wines in himsell™
“And we hiow tha the Son of God is come an hath given
1s an undemtanding, that we hnow him that is tues tnd
‘ve are in him thae fs tue, even in his Som Jesus Chis
‘This isthe rue God, and exeral le"
"Thisinssenc is signieane” Underying thse firma
ons of Sane Jolin the negations of fereiel opinion en
ber discemed Without diel” His scrupilousnes it
‘aling te edbne ables eo Get i ror
hich were advoeated aginst it and even their widespread
Popolarty. "This fst leer may have Teen sed.
prelace ot commendation to the Gospel; in any ease the
{vo works supplement each other adtnably. “The Gospel
provides the historical proof forthe teaching cone
in the Epistle. As bette « sory, the Gospel is calm,
{tanguil and mennreds ia the foreground he ad
‘who speas and act, while dhe author i simply His ue
and fitful wiene. “The Epistle, onthe contrary, Sot
batdeary: all are alle, both old and young: al must
fight aghinst dhe world and thowe who represent it No
one cam remain iniferent tothe iT with which
Arey threatening the fiche Ps
In spite oftheir brevity the second and tied Epistles
wefuly complete the teaching ofthe fie ‘They mo only
‘emphasize the gravity of the etrors they denounce but asd
run warrixes 8
reveal the methods of those who promote them. We find
that dhe authority of che apostle himself was contested in
{rain Churches hat certain suspect individuals refused
toreceve him, that being unable to omamunicate diecly
with the whole communiey he was forced to write 10 af
ated ember who remiaed faith, AU dhs indietes
very disturbed sitwation, Ie i sd to think that the
Tan days of the old apostle were troubled and. perhaps
Giorganized by heretics, unfaithful to their Chvstian
UL THE LETTER OF SAINT CLEMENT
About the cme when Saint John sent the Apocalypee
to the Scten Chusehes of Asia,“ the Chugh of God which
Sejouens fa Rome” sent to “the Church of God which
Sojourn in Corinth, to those who are called and sancitied
by the will of God through Our Lord Jesus Christ”, 2
Tong letr, he oldest Christian document, which ean be
eliniively dated, ouside the writings of the New
‘Testament
“This leer is anonymous; i elms tobe the ex
of the ideas and feelings of the whole Church of Rome.
But itis eear that the Roman clegy and faithful ae here
represented by a mandatory; and ic equally dears0
titanimous i traci on this point—that this mandatory
fs none other than Clement, who, according t0 Saint
Trenaeus, was the hind sucesor of Salat Peter on the
episcopal ee of Rome.
‘Why did Clement te, in the name of his brethren,
to the community at Corinth? We lean fromm dhe letter
‘hat the Church at Carinds was disturbed by schisms and
fnteral disensons recalling the unfortunate incidens
gains which Saint Pal had had to Bight some forty years
Dreviony. A certain number of leaders, for sme utr
own reason, sere in revolt aginst the heads of the
CCureh, the presbyter; they ad deposed several, who 1G cHUREH AT END OF FiKeT CENTURY
were, however, entirely blameles; the schism had led
‘numerous Christians astay; se brought discouragement
and doube 9 many, and sadness upor all, Even the not
Christians had heard of it, were xandalied snd wed it
45 4 pretext for blsphemy
“The lations between Rome and Corinth were f6e-
quent.” When the Roman Church heard of the troubles
Which divided ‘the community at Corinth into hose
putes, ie did not estate to datervene and recommend
the benefits of peace This intervention does not seem
to have been sicted in any vay by Corinth it was a
Spontaneous gesture fren dhe Reman motivated primaly
by charity. Let us then cleave to the innocent and
righteous, for these are God's elect, Why are there sie
4nd passion and divisions and schisms aad » war among
you?” Or lave we not one God, and oe Chrise and one
Spire of grace poured out upon ts? And is there not one
calling in Chiist?" Why do we divide and tear avander
‘he members of Christ, and vase up strife agai on own
body, and reach such pitch of atdness as to forget that
we are members one of another?
“Remember the words of the Lond Jesus; for he sid,
Woe unto that man i were good fr him Hf he had not
been born, Gun that he should olfend one of my ele
it were better for him chat a millaone be bang on hin
and he be cst into the sea, chan he should eum ssde one
of my elec
But charity alone is not suficient to account for
CGlemenc’s action. "However trterval his Teter may be,
it i impnaile not wo observe the authoritative tome he
‘employs. "You therefore, whe Ind the foundation a the
Sedition, submit to the presbytery, and receive the correc
tion of repentance, bending the knees of your hears
Lear to be submisive, puting aside the Bost and
the haughty seltconidence of your tongue, for ii better
for you to be found small bu honowrsble in dhe Nock of
cavie than be preeminent in rep but be es
Grom ha hope Reve oo conte td ee
2 iho yo to eget
sa Bc the wos whic have been spoken by 3h
tian ex thom know the they wil enaugle em
srowsh grein and mo ide danger, bute all
owcent of hi
be ee rmutae are extremely significant; they show
thoi sur i avare of ping el Power ©
eS and oft seroe author. Prony e
ee uae pd wal: bt he the eo re
ett whieh he Cannot allow to br overlooked. ‘The
seer Reme inno dee oc odes othe Chsrch
Crete pefersw wn tt Char by Pesan
sere ould be uninateforta whore
wee het coun The cr hs been gly
wr foe ac eppiaay othe Roman primey, Bert
ferme at ectay Rome wg ene
sc ever afer ee be her om
igh Uucne leat no elieve thatthe Church of
corns Sc tht oat of Rome fo te
Cort Sate woogie Babop of Corinth, Dens
eae, eee crt We have today erated the holy
weer aeetEy and we have read your Hr we sal
at Sore caea ia oo, yell a the 0
‘Mr Cienenprevialy me out “Theme ven
see ae cn of Chments Ep eon
ra tor aurg pic won would be bar
{Simeine aoe tbe
ML THE LETTERS OF SAINT IGNATIUS
Saint Clement was the third suceesor of Suit Peter 0
the See of Rome, Tradition makes Saint Tgnatis bis
‘Mond sicoaar tothe See of Antioch, AC dhe beginning 8
of the second censy, a persction, of which we know
hither the eater he precise del, broke ver the
Ghureh of Antioch he ththop was eandmaed to he
beasts and brutally tor fom commuty to bese to
Rome, where he tev to snderg hi punisinene
His jouney was lng and pat we knw, however;
that fom new tine wat Sleiated by the war we.
coe ie othe mary by the Chrsdas commie
‘A 'Smyina in pareulr the Bishop Polya. gave a
brodherlyweleone to bis callegue fen Antiody, depute
sions fiom the neighbouring Churches of Epes Sag
esa and Tale ao came grt hm sno eomamend
themeles to his prayes. farther on, a Philp is
‘eception vas equally arto; thePhilppans even aed,
‘wen gate at hs ompaions had oleae, to seo
ty thom ate ance ta he om,
ic was inthe couse a hs oar tat Hats wrote
the sere leurs which we sll poses oer his tne
Four of them ae dated fom Smyoma they are adres
tothe Chueh of Ephesus Magnet “Trl and Rome
‘The thee ler were witen a Tat they were dna
forthe Chutes of Philadelphia, Stine and for Ply.
carp the bishnp of the later ci. "The autem of
thee leis ha for Tong been dicated. "Tosa Wil
tte excepuon of cera extemiste We scems beyond
diag
They form one of che most valiable_witneses to
Cvisia fe at the cad of te fst and beginning the
second entry. ‘The wien of sol ft ale Sint
Hgts as ot ass: his broken pass, his ince
si uncompleted popositons, hi unalund peolg
ould bender the grammar tnd the shor Bat for
the Christan dey are delight the ing warmth af
geet heart, The leer w the Romans fe comple
cfre coming to the en of his juste he Bop
Ato et ound eo dnueace Rims tthe Renan
twexplain the motive of his vst, andy perhaps cpetaly
rae werrinos "
to bg he db ning tht would wil Mim em
Sargeion . ee
a old not have you “eens Dt
ut et yon So ied ne fr Der
1 ee ch oppo ot aiing (0 Gl
rity be ta, have any ier dead
oa Nori yu are sat conning me, 13%
a Ga burl you love ty Hes sal gain be
a gn ing moe han cat be ured
on 3, ie amar sl ay that lm oe
2 no lve ay age Faber
Bee ie God hos sonnel hat the Bu
Be ond at he ting the
3 Ces be eaten yas beat neh won
1nd Tam Gad wheat ad Lam ground
ERE ea bat sat may be fund pec bead
Sy ech rece the wd et in ey ah
SCI and se moe oy oa a he
Tye burden any. Then salt be
ea cl Jes Ci, when the wold sl t
2 i tng fort beat that are peed
SEU TT Pty ar ey yt ound pomp fo es
tr mee nw devo pomp ok at
Lr ce nny have noth ro fe
sept sing ofthe vl foc heh
re is ava Tw at extn
Seto wan ging ea, My ong
a ee lee cvy em aiing Je
eine came me ie athe om a
AS teh bens, eon ad waning sr
Se cr msg of by runing of
seen rel cen may Tot ata Joe
=e
ea iat Iai ae not only she wien
ty isa soley slo provide into
Seer etre weed the oganion ofthe Christian Churches, dhe liturgy, che heresies, bout
‘ho, Yoo. Bishop ofthe geese city f Antioch which had
feeendy”been the primary centie tf the expansion of
Ghisianiy, Ignite had come into oneact withthe
Churches of Asta Minor dusing the couse of his journey.
He had stayed a while at Philippi, His arden nition
not hinder hin from preserving aja appreciation a
ten and things; we might have expected ito make hin
fn individnalit concentrating onthe rights of eocenee
On the contrary it served to incre his Yepec Tov
authority and forthe Tole ofthe bishop who governs his
Ghurehtogether with his presbyerim and his deacons
it'made him the herald of ordndoxy, anxious te avo
profane novels and wo Leep inact the depot of faith
‘The vigour of his teimony to the existence of the inom
archicad episeopate fall the Chutches he visted bas lig
ben a stumblingblock for dhe erties who take it 16
be a decisive argument aguinst the antentiy of the
seven len. Henetrth the evidence mu be ated
estes ae authentic and we shall appeal to then
Frequent. .
IV. THE LETTER OF SAINT POLYCARP
‘We have sen that wn Saint Ignatius nas pang
tough Smee was welcomed by bishop, Payer
He remenberet iat silly that he wae hia
peromal etter. IC een hat showy afer the margrdonn
Of the Bishop of Antioch the Gist of Philipp sent to
Potyearpfors complete election of the rtp lets
We no longer pons thes reque but we ll have Pay
cx anoe: een the ete hey ad aed oy
fl enclosed some general aice on the pace of the
Christan. -
"From the estimony of Sant Ienaeus we know ha Poly
exp asthe immedite disciple of the apostle, and ht
evict of Sint John, ‘The aor themseves ad made
Kin no af Suyyna in spite of hiv youth. Ut the
nd fh ie no ge dred ha Kp
eh, ad sang i disepes we tue mention atleast
sees ran who ao ete Brey
fd Sine Irae, who on wre aceasions tele
tnemnry._ OF the numerous eters he wrote to the neigh
Turing Churches of Syma in order to serengthen the,
fd to cena bretven im onder to warn o simulate
“ems we now only know the Epil o the Philippians
‘On the other aad, we posen the Tong leer
estimable value, eso by the Chareh of God whieh
SSjouns a Phono, snd to all he sojourning ofthe
Mlyrand catholic Church in ery pce. ‘This feter i
scully the eyeines seman of Peyer's martyedom,
Witt a year alter the cent, This event cannot retain
Thre Bt he of cae ene
hd the Epi tothe Pilippans will provide eran im
{Dimation with sand tothe ons of the Cian
{mmunitie of Asia aboot the Sear 00.
V. THE DIDAGHE OR TEACHING OF THE
"TWELVE. APOSTLES
“The writings we have noticed up to now hve dhe work
ef dente persmales and it has ben pablo nda
hae te tnd place of org wid sulin precio.
‘Bat evr Dooes mysterious when we approach
the de book known ender the tie of The Tearing of
the Tarlo dpostes,o beter, The Teaching of the Lord
(tangy to che satsnn by the Twelve Aponte,
"Thistnk wasftequendy queda Cori asiquy
Eoecbius” in his cast of the boks of the Ney
Temment plac ater the sues wong among the antlegomens together with the Epste of Barnabas.
Saint Athanasios mentions it anong the books which,
Withoa being Snpted neers deserved tne ead hy
the Churches Im fc, lore the fourth ctu Clone
of Alsandria and Origen ute fragunt of iss though
they eame from the Serpe, and many ces ne
to'be found in the arly authors Ta the Mile Ages
he ner’ pera a the othe hand ns
own. ‘The fs print ein appeated it 188
‘The book is divided ino thee pare: a mora ete
ste Gala tc os eto
ipline (ay) fllowcd bys chapter on the it ee
(ey by way of concason. =
“Abou the fist part thee fs noc much bes
it the author descies sca fi
gether with the duty impr and the way of dest
Si be nes or of ich eal." os
3 the same time, dat, apa from the page 1 Se
hich might be consered an inepolatin, hing
in this catechess Is specially Christian, “These ogee
‘night jas at well have been srten bya Jews and eit
=e stong reno for thinking that oxgualy they Tore
2 separate work, and later were atachal it Nye
feat way tothe succeding chapters of the Didache
“The liturgical and divplinaty instructions are much
sore exer.” We a fr wi aoa i ich
concerns baptism, fat dys, prayer and the Tucan
ten what must be the beau wich Tear to meee
ing preachers, apostles, prophets and teachers, a ow
the segular life of the Chrian community Worn
by is bishops and deacons Te formule tepradesd
1m the Didache om the subject ofthe Bachar srk ut
A once by ther archaic ‘character "They make mo
allusion eo the Body and Bod ofthe Lords nor to the
Last Supper, They reall certain Jewish prayers ery
ley a tial the more probable that they fer 1
‘tes fom the fee atone of then is preceded Dy the
rue warriwes s
swords: Afler you ate said with food, chs give
{nla Not tse emrkable are te ests given on
{Resubjen ofthe vers egies of nares The
Mion is addresing sm siesdy onganied community
ince ie as bishops sad deacons and yet he gresuppots
{hates community isl fen vite by Wander
ihe peaches, and tht sono these. the prophets led
MHA! the Holy Ghost and eadwed with extraordinary
ito, deserve spel consideration,
ee owne ave not awe of sy Chri Chur a ay
period, which coespos to the conditions presippaed
Btn Dilache, “The Pastoral Epistles, week ate the ast
igs of Sani Pao ave dicted ane ging the come
Huns sable onaniation. "The apo who aeady
I'he ft Epis tothe Corkins pointed on dhe re
‘Cation ty be taken with segard to thse endowed with
Sheet of tongues and ther chorion in the Pastoral
pistes only mentions bishops and dens. and eto
‘ons hie dsdpls above al fo gesed the depos. "Then
{the Lees of Sain kato, rsed ithe previous
Seon, wend every Chure having a ead 2 bishop
‘Sho asined by a follege of presbyer and by dco.
Tree sour, fn the Snceneinry period, between the
Pasay and the Igwaian Teter for Chaxches which
Miough posteting vesdent ews, equenty recived
“Tne om preachers coming frm grades knows where?
“This fe poblem ofthe Diache."Obvowly we koow
{en litle about tis pti fiaion t9 have the Tit to
Swern the negates Neverieles i imposible not
tote a Mule uacerai, and iti ely understandable
fa cevain scholars have eld the Difathe toe a com
farncly recent work whove aithor set himself 00 to
Users an ideal of Uo ie of the enky Christian com.
tani suchas he would have liked i to fave been
‘On the whole however, this hypothe rans against
voany ifeaes and sem ipowble to main. We 4
re led to conclude that the evolution of the Christian
‘Churches did not take place everywhere with an abelute
regularity Some of dhe provinces were remote and ft
Tong while inaccessible to progress. Where the onarehica
pucpate developed soest in Ata Minn and Rome
Een Oe pope and teats elt
Fein icf so og el eee To fle
by Ese i Lite of een ao)
‘Sse mioais ed on tl tes the me
these entry a wast nhs ne at
fone chatting estes among then in
(oeexplot he eandour af the iti. Dut da dos
‘ot mean tht sma bases had ot ocurred before ad
a i al pect Dae the pec
Father than streets dese persons Fespect
St tx lap hn howe wna re
we, mould take into actune ll these diferent
aspects we shall be brought tthe condasion that the
Didache canon be cri han the Iw ear of the Bt
censor me ae ha th fey of the nd
Vi THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS
_The author of the Didache recalled to his readers the
exec of the ewe wast fie ad of deh
means of making cleat his moral teaching to them.” The
Same procedure fs employed by the unknown writer ofthe
Episle of Barnabas who contaves the way of light with
the way of darkness, sometimes in terms identi! with
Hoe the Dice ca
i its author know the Didache? Or did they bot
ache they both
draw their aching fom the sme source? Oris it possible
the Didache borrowed in some measore from Barnabas?
All ree hypotheses have had ther partisan, and although
rae warrines 5
the second seems the most probable, the problem bas not
Jet received a definite solution.
[ein however only one of he many puzzes involved
in the Epistle of Barnabas. This lite book is addresed
to a'Chuseh or group of Churches which i author knew
‘fal and in whic he was carrying on a miniy.- It
Jneended w complete the instruction of the faithful om
ieee japortan. pois, and slough its anonymows
Seer jntiaduces mse om several ocasons a snp
anaE te brethren, He is conscious ofthe fac that he 8
SMeacher and has a oly ideal ofthe cask e bas assumes
BSRate uhercfe reckoned that, HT mae Ht my ae it
our Deal to eommunicate somewhat of that which 1
eased, sal bring me the reveard of having ministered
Te dpiitual ite aE hasten o send you a shor eter
12 Seder at your knowledge may be perfected along with
yor uth
"ye teaching of the liter bears on the value of the
Monte Ine he: problem had been raised from the
Meise days of the Church and it ad received the most
ng Sotto according tothe diversity of the enon
TRE yn the communities of pagan origin, 2s a role, the
arms lad down by Sant Paul had been Followed and the
Ghottan war declired to be definitely feed fom! the la
Doe che Law lef remained: it was regunded a6 the word
Brat the Old Texament remained for the Christians
‘Grav It bad been for the Jews. the inspired hook, We was
Thhsetovea question o interpreting it. The Epistle to the
Hebrews hodt clearly marked out the way for Christin
BR ‘AMlegory enabled the Old Testament to be om
SSE its encty and to be adapted tothe exigencies
ofthe Church.
Me lester of Barnabas adopts allegorsm, But with
anh note baldness than the Epistle tthe Hebrews, Te
ute a this has alays Deen the are method of explain
$BNke Law. Te is not only Christians who have hence: 26 cmunes ar Exo oF Finer ceNTURY
forth to regard the laws of Motes as smb the Jee
th co have done son the pase and for not ving ose
so they low tir lice wth God. Did noc the prope
Sy that God fad no need of holocuts and sok Oat
Ga hae! the Sabato, the new moons and the fsa?
‘Te Jem gi me undeniandt e Lond ete hn
"Be not Hke unto wom, heaping up your sas ad Si
tht ihe Allan is bth thes and cur Te guy ne
they fly lov when Monee had us secede" Bat
ie her het Ge Alia ch he ate co te
fathers to give t the poople--wbether realy gave
Hiei give Stat they (ihe Tews) wee st worthy to
receive ft Beeate of thelr sins! Sey we who Juve
ected it” Moves roceved i ss vant, but the Lod
in perm gave i oa the pple of the ier,
by faering for ovr sakes”
steven of Jus shine
int aul alowed the Law the suhnty of» pega
Charge wth watching ovr the ding te dye his
trinity but the ator of ts este af that om the
Bex the pia wns. Chan slo
fam claim the inheritance The Jews were: deprived of
‘Hou the me of Moves. ee
ea en tay reed hat eh aboot
content with coldly exablshing theory there ia fervour
{nis demonstration which would be sestelyexplicsble
unless he wat intending to warn his sears guise an
truent danger. "At the time of writing the Jews mse
fave shown themselves more srogun hn ever sd hose
cf the Christians who, in spite of every hing retained
Sched to the Mote observant, were 90 doube taking
uptheolensve once more. Hence the pie nsec
Nie oh then to quire nt te preeat cheumeenes
sd to seek out thse which are able tose us (rom this
pen) Let'us then testy fe fra all the works of
rue warrises ”
wickedness, let they overcome 1 ets hat che ear of
Tproen tim, Gr we ray be loved sneha wich is
tiedne, "Lat us give no freedom to our souls to Bave
tease walk with siers and wicked men, Test me be
trade like to them
‘cc wint date were the Jens able co be aggresive ia
this way? An indication iy given om tis pint hich
PTs pecous if twas ener: In the such caplet
Wks teas the wre is Ted to speak of the temple in
Siu the Jeys peal cir ope. Did they not dheefre
TER toe'God? des noc allow Himslt co be ence
Aaa amnctuame Now lila id, "Loy they, who
Wbbhed is tpl, sll hemes ebuild That
Jappening ww For because the Jows age war, thelr
aaaree road the temple How even the servants of
Free etnies il build isp agin "The temple ws
sper gen the year 70. When and ow was is recon
creas decided upon? eis posible that the event
SHON placed a the beginning of Hadtan's weigh for
‘eng Spans etn bn yw
OTANI Mood wil ovards the Jews. But thee tx
wee omever, ae in genera op rage 1 provide fll
Rem Au, many ees thik tat the fer refers
ine the eonsurucon of the Roman colony af Acta
GiMGolna ster the cel syppresion of Rar Cochebas
sot pny lh lingo hee
da apts af che sanctsyy of the Capitline Jupiter.
Teen ce sages Tony the wrker sl be
a speaking of the empl which i the days of
Fe tidbr as aca salar tothe page tsps, and
ASB tgs tow teplaced by vetable temple of ost
‘Wet ad that csr, in dapter 1 thee are
snaios which hey were token in hit eos
ina ud ggest tat the work was competed in
Rea Vespasan ox of Nera Out of tis efuson #8 CHURCH AT END oF Finer CENTURY
there results an uncertiny from which ic seems dice
toga tee
The same uncertainty exists with segatd both w che
peronality ofthe writer and to snd of oral “The
‘ith nowhere ames hie ad Clement of Atcanda
ithe ist wo ident him with Baabas whose act
‘wellknown to stg the Acts of the Apostles No oe
{ouay accepts this dentiston. "The ltr is dough (9
bot Egyptin origin te ony Ses seeps,
ing Eaype in bease llega cxegs, which pe
[irmabal' makes so much ob developed tise. tthe
county. Tes ths gue pole thatthe Tee ees
from elsewhere, ae nk
But however obscare the origin of the Epise of
Barnabas maybe, the work ill sone the lesa great
value, “Even fas probable, i was ot wren beore
‘ses and aldagh it ay nly emviage» paras
‘i,t nverthles thos mich igi on he tate othe
‘elation wich sircady belore thee ofthe fst cent,
fxd beeen Jews and Christan -And we sal wine
4s testimony tothe fall exten of our mead
VIL THE APOCRYPHAL GosPELs
rn weirines 9
fates beeween the second al of the fs century and
{heen ofthe second centory I should be added that
{hese accounts were slay being weve, completed and
‘ranged iter tne Tht istry therfore most
cules and base
eed nt ean re acento the
agoepat Cone shone which may have been waite
Wethe endo the fs cena and tus provide =
‘itnes to Christin the between. Bos,
According wo Sain Jerome? a pasage fom the Gove!
accning tthe Hebiexe had vey beet quoted by
Sine Tgptiu of Antioch ‘This good bishop would ths
tour ealien witness o this Gorpel, which paso men
tioned by Clem ob lexandrin, Origen, Bustin quo
Sg Hegesppus and seal ber fathers. Unfortunately
ths ty speak of ey dono aye aot nt ever
‘Sin ero, nh ane sever] tes hat he ad cra
Intl dis pres ext epy of whic head found in
Ihe iby of Cacses, frm Hebrew int Greek and
Ein, "One ean by queton so ele and prcie 2
Sateen fom the que dcr, But i remaine asonish
Sng and tb difene to wndentand how scholar of
Teall pnd an opporcunity of desering in deca)
Aint were the terry ad doctrinal characteris ofthe
Saupe ecoing to the Heres.
"Re fagmenis which have come down to at leas
couleur te that this Gopel was dene avienaed
me JudbeoChvistan Gvecion, "The who fest wed
‘ate uve been cousinced Christians srl to put the
Mentah sbove the prophets ut alot harmonize the ewe
Petumenty Be Lagrange get thei was onsrted
fom the Aramean text of Saint Mattes, which Wass
Atngue source and that i ges back tothe last years of
ae He eM a $0 CHURCH Ar END oF Fins GENTURY
‘The passages which refer to the Baptian of Jems are
pctculaty curious, ies, betore the baptism: Behold
the mother of the Saviour and his bretnen sito him
John the Baptist is ptzing forthe semnsion of sins Let
ts therefore go and be baptized by him But he mid to
thems In what hive T sind ehat I should go there and
be bapsied by him? Unless indeed chat what U ave jst
said & ignorance.” "Then at dhe moment of bapisn: “Te
happened chat when the Lovd eam up out of the wate
the fll power of dhe Hoty Ghost deeded pon hi and
ivsaid @ him: My son, Tavaited you in all she prope,
So that you should come and I should rest ia you For i
{8 you who are my vest, my ftscburn son, who dost reg
ceermaly.”
"The Gospel according to the Hebrews muse not be
‘confuse with the Gospel of the Ebionites of which Sant
Epiphanius speaks. "This leer work, in which several of
tie doctrines contained. in the Clementine apocrypis
"reappear, cam sarely be eirler than the year abo,
This Gospel seems tobe of slightly more recent date
‘an the Gospel according to che Hebrews. Clement of
Alexandria Knew it wel, an eis luo quoted by Origen,
Saint Hippolytus and Saint Epiphany. "The fine witness
to it seems to have been the hotilis. who, towards the
‘middle of the second century, wrote the work Knot a9
{the Second Epistle of Clement, For in it is contained the
following account which we know isto be found in the
Gospel according to the Egyptians: "When the. Lo
Iimselé was asked by someone when the kingdom would
‘ome, he sid: When dhe two shall be one, an the outide
asthe inside and the male with the female neither male
for female
“The passages related by Clement of Alexania corm
rue warrixes:
{Elon marrage and dapprovs o all he works of che
‘ate wt js Case gos he gee
‘Sins it lies ble wih rach hat a2
‘York was ever ofially received by the Egyptians. Tf it
Tein cerain tc, twas the Gnostio and not the
may moe the Govpel of Peter, 20 tponant
eat he was dette hn 186 poled
pa 7
"This fragment fame sy ee
ane tole lel Jom Hi pn scion,
reed when sm ant a pa
see ae be mwuticed The sory te
‘Sha my gu sa sm “Nin Be
"ren ond eth li wee Seng
ard two byowo i their tan, they sw the bea
aarrvand. two men respletsent with Tight, come down
ifm dm ant dear he epee” And th sone
ee ce aed belt th dowel fla
ts eat onside Ande pele opened and
sp wing en ered AL sight the mle
woke "ap the ‘centurion and the elders, for they also were
TeeS Weg "But hy were oan wha hey ge CHURCH AT END oF Fixst CENTURY
hha seem, they saw three men come out of the sepulere,
the two young men supporting the other, and 1 cros
followed them. And the head of che fre wo seached the
heavens, but that of him sehom they Led went beyond the
heavens, And they heard a woe which eae fou heave.
Tsai: Have you preached to those wh sleep? And foun
the eros was heard the answer: Yes ‘Then they planed
together 10 warn Pilate of these events’
eis probable that this apocrypia was used by Saint
Jostin and. thar dheefore the dite of ig coxposiion
‘annot be later than 130-140" ie may even be eater. Its
Suthor seems to have wtten in Syria and to have Been
‘auch preoecupied with anti-Jewish apologetics, He doubt
less belonged to the orthodox Chureh and he wiuted to
bring out strongly the divinity ofthe Lord, even wiough
that meane runing the #sb of slightly compromising is
humanity. Te may seem astonishing to find a. Catholic
(Christian thus reediting the story of the Saviour in is
town way, by using and at need correcting the Canonical
Gospels.” Bue it must be fealled that before the csi
‘sed by the teaching of Marcin, the list ofthe Canonical
Gospels was not yet precise, and also, even later, ters
were not afraid to ake grea liberties with history, as i
evident from the ts of Paul, which ‘Tertalian tele us
‘were writen in Asia by «priest fled with devotion for
the great apostle. Tf only fom this spect, he Gospel of
Peter deserves attention.” Tt throws light on the attitude
taken, even alter the end of the fist century and the
passing of the last of the apostles, by certain Chiistians
‘who wed to defend their beliefs and introduced their
particular spologeie interests tothe very sory of Jesus
frthoue skate, van
rue wartixes, ss
VII, THE ODES OF SOLOMON
Mystery still envelops the Odes of Salomon which
fase quoted inthe Growte work ists Sophia, then known,
from Lacantis,aterwarde disappeared for centuries only
to be redacovered in 109 in ah old Syriac manuscript.
"The moat varied hypotheses have been put forward with
regard to tet origin and date of composition. Tn cura they
have been sid to be. Jewish, Catholic, Docetie, Gnostic.
Montanis cantiles. ‘They have been dated at the second
In of the first centor, the boginning af the yexe 50 the
Tap eats of the send century. The fist eto, Rendel
aor, writes, for example: "The eolection mast go back,
fo the last quarter of the Sse century, or thereabouts.”
Fr Lebreton, on the other band, declares: "It is without
‘dbube = in the Chureh of Alexandria and sometime
before Clement thatthe cauticles which fave come down
to us under the mame of the Odes of Solomon, were
‘compote
"Eeems probable thatthe author of the Odes belonged
tw the Orthodox Church, The traces of Docetinn and
Gaostcian which have been discovered in him are not
Shliienely emphatic wo be ascribed to anything more than
ack of precson in language. And it i albo probable
that these canticls expres the flings of che Christians
fof Asi or Syria atthe end of the fist century, Te isnot
‘wihowe reo tha dhe Johannine character ofthe syleand
Thonght ofthe Odes has been pointed out Te is no certain
thot their author, any more shan Saint Ignatius of Antioch,
ner the fourth Gospel But at lease he wrote in an en
‘ionmene which un asf were saturated with the spine
tf Saint Joh It iin thi way that they mast have payed
fn the Churches founded ane watched over by the apse
‘We will tow quote some fragments from these ea
ticles, "Hl loves me; T should not have been able wo love
the Lard, he had not loved me (irs), For who ean {4 ciURCH AT END oF rinst cENTURY
understand lve, ues i be he who loves? I love the
beloved and iy soul loves him. Where he aks his ese
there shall Tbe and Isha oe he a seanger For Uae
isto hatred with the mo bigh and most mercial Lv
1m mingled (with Kim) forthe lover as fond hin
wiom he loves. Beane love bina who isthe Son hal
become’ a som. Ye, he who adheres to him who dees ot
die becomes immortal als And he who dlighs tn he
stat! be living Such ie the spire of the Lar, without
untruth, who teaches men to kiow his ways. Be, Whe,
Understand and watch Alla"
ei oe fica to hea this the echo of the ples
of the Song of Song. But thee phrases are sited in
{ome way y the life of him wo is Benectorch the beloved.
cin Paul had already mgnibed the Son of God who
Tove me and gave himtlf or me" "Ad Sine Jon
veiens “Tes not we who have loved Gods its he who
ft Toved us and Sent his Son in proptaton for our
sins” This isthe ought which ates the ator
tthe Odes
1 is agin the Johannine psi which animate the
following Ode: "Fil youslye with water fom the ving
wel of the Lod for it open to yous, Comal yo
thy nes rink ade Yous ota he wll a
Lor tori is bestia ad pe and it bring qe to
the soles waters ate far secter than honey, dl he
honeycomb ofthe bees i ot compare to iy bese
ies rom the lips ofthe Lov and om the heer othe
Lora ie draws ts mare Ke comes inne se nv,
and nti ies brought to them they have ot kon
apy are the who have dak a tad have gach
“The limges of water and of honey appear in the
Palms. And ii Saint Joh who repens ce rent phe
rae wairies ss
of the Lord: “IE any a hist et in came wo ean
Gini" to which the Oue cnroponds 0 well
With Gees Slo we comple se
Ae Cristian writings which can esim'n be as acest 38
the end of the st cry ote begining othe second
vung toss wine ne scone a
ot dated th ersiny an some o them ae not previous
to's prod well on ino the second cent. These books
Scale rena o liertare whic Was meh ore
SGnsidcabie Even a0 sey are sient to reveal the
hulp fons of Cris acti
bids the Chusces sid the fifo were conceaed
wich the story of the pasts Che lst spose of Jess
Ao was aline hay soled by hip bretven to wri is
Themoi andy retrace ia a jnetable way the mage
lhe Master wih ba eerory had fait reserved
Forever diferent his Gompel may be from the Synoptic,
Itmas not sow in imposing elt everywhere aud 13
tei necived ss lspted Series.
"Fhis was nt te le of the Apocrypbal Gospels which
set out wv atly 9 sete cusinty, and more olen, «©
marca the Nekinr the Gospel scoring to
