1.] THE CORINTHIANS TO ST. PAUL. 429 APPENDIX I. TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ARMENIAN. Two Epistles from the Armenian Version,' and the “Pleasure "Houses of Byzantium." (1) "THE EPISTLE OF THE CORINTHIANS TO ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE. "I. STEPHEN, and the Elders with him, Dabnus, Eubulus, Theophilus, and Xinon, to Paul, our Father and Evangelist, and faithful Master in Jesus Christ, health.' "2. Two men have come to Corinth, Simon by name, and Cleobus [Clebus,' A.], who vehemently disturb the faith of some with deceitful and corrupt words; '3. Of which words thou should'st inform thyself: "4. For neither have we heard such words from thee, nor from the other apostles : 66 5. But we know only that what we have heard from thee and from them, that we have kept firmly. "6. But in this chiefly has our Lord had compassion, that, 1. On a copy of these Epistles, in the possession of Moore, Byron has written-Done into English by me, January-February, 1817, at the Convent of St. Lazaro, with the aid and exposition of the Armenian text by the Father Paschal Aucher, Armenian Friar.— BYRON. Venice, April 10, 1817. I had also the Latin text, but it is in many places very corrupt, and with great omissions." The version has been compared with that given by Aucher, and the differences are noted in the text thus [A.]. The notes are those given in Moore's Life (1830), vol. ii. pp. 809-813. 2. Some MSS. have the title thus: Epistle of Stephen the Elder to Paul the Apostle, from the Corinthians. 3. In the MSS. the marginal verses published by the Whistons are wanting. 4. In some MSS. we find, The elders Numenus, Eubulus, Theophilus, and Nomeson, to Paul their brother, health! 5. Others read, There came certain men, vehemently shake. ... and Clobeus, who whilst thou art yet with us in the flesh, we are again about to hear from thee. "7. Therefore do thou write to us, or come thyself amongst us quickly; "8. we believe in the Lord, that, as it was revealed to Theonas, he hath delivered thee from the hands of the unrighteous.' "9. But these are the sinful words of these impure men, for thus do they say and teach : "Io. That it behoves not to admit the Prophets;2 66 II. neither do they affirm the omnipotence of God: 66 12. neither do they affirm the resurrection of the flesh : "13. neither do they affirm that man was altogether created by God: "14. neither do they affirm that Jesus Christ was born in the flesh from the Virgin Mary : "15. neither do they affirm that the world was the work of God, but of some one of the Angels. "16. Therefore do thou make haste to come amongst us; "17. that this city of the Corinthians may remain without scandal ; "18. and that the folly of these men may be made manifest by an open refutation. Fare thee well.' "The deacons Thereptus and Tichus received and conveyed the Epistle to the city of the Philippians. 6 "When Paul received the Epistle, although he was then in chains on account of Stratonice['Statonice,' A.], the wife of Apofolanus, yet as it were forgetting his bonds, he mourned over these words, and said, weeping: 'It were better for me to be dead, and with the Lord. For while I am in this body, and hear the wretched words of such false doctrine, behold, grief arises upon grief, and my [this,' 4.] trouble adds a weight to my chains; when I behold this calamity, and progress of the machinations of Satan, who searcheth to do wrong.' "And thus, with deep affliction, Paul composed his reply to the Epistle." 1. Some MSS. have, We believe in the Lord, that his presence was made manifest; and by this hath the Lord delivered us from the hands of the unrighteous. 2. Others read, To read the Prophets. 3. Some MSS. have, Therefore, brother, do thou make haste. 4. Others read, Fare thee well in the Lord. 5. Some MSS. have, The deacons Therepus and Techus. 6. The Whistons have, To the city of Phænicia: but in all the MSS. we find, To the city of the Philippians. 7. Others read, On account of Onotice. 8. The Whistons have, Of Apollophanus: but in all the MSS. we read, Apofolanus. 9. In the text of this Epistle there are some other variations in the words, but the sense is the same. 1.] (2) ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. "EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS.1 431 "I. Paul, in bonds for Jesus Christ, disturbed by so many errors,2 to his Corinthian brethren, Health. "2. I nothing marvel that the preachers of evil have made this progress. 66 3. For because the Lord Jesus is about to fulfil his coming, verily on this account do certain men pervert and despise his words. 4. But I, verily, from the beginning, have taught you that only which I myself received from the former Apostles, who always remained with the Lord Jesus Christ. "5. And I now say unto you, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, who was of the seed of David, "6. according to the annunciation of the Holy Ghost, sent to her by our Father from heaven; "7. that Jesus might be introduced into the world, and deliver our flesh by his flesh, and that he might raise us up from the dead : "8. as in this also he himself became the example. "9. That it might be made manifest that man was created by the Father, 10. he has not remained in perdition unsought; "II. but he is sought for, that he might be revived by adoption. 12. For God, who is the Lord of all, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who made heaven and earth, sent, firstly ['first,' A.], the Prophets to the Jews : 13. That he would absolve them from their sins, and bring them to his judgment ['justice,' A.]. "14. Because he wished to save, firstly, the house of Israel, he bestowed and poured forth his Spirit upon the Prophets; "15. that they should, for a long time, preach the worship of God, and the Nativity of Christ. "16. But he who was the prince of evil, when he wished to make himself God, laid his hand upon them, "17. and bound all men in sin," "18. because the judgment of the world was approaching. "19. But Almighty God, when he willed to justify, was unwilling to abandon his creature; "20. but when he saw his affliction, he had compassion upon him : "21. and at the end of a ['the,' A.] time he sent the Holy Ghost into the Virgin foretold by the Prophets. 1. Some MSS. have, Paul's Epistle from prison, for the instruction of the Corinthians. 2. Others read, Disturbed by various compunctions. 3. Some MSS. have, That Jesus might comfort the world. 4. Others read, He has not remained indifferent. 5. Some MSS. have, Laid his hand, and them and all body bound in sin. "22. Who, believing readily,' was made worthy to conceive, and bring forth our Lord Jesus Christ. "23. That from this perishable body, in which the evil Spirit was glorified, he should be cast out ['reproved,' A.], and it should be made manifest ['manifested,' A.] 66 24. that he was not God. For Jesus Christ, in his flesh, had recalled and saved this perishable flesh, and drawn it into eternal life by faith. "25. Because in his body he would ['should,' A.] prepare a pure temple of justice for all ages; "26. in whom we also, when we believe, are saved. "27. Therefore know ye that these men are not the children of justice, but the children of wrath; "28. who turn away from themselves the compassion of God; "29. who say that neither the heavens nor the earth were altogether works made by the hand of the Father of all things.2 '30. But these cursed men have the doctrine of the Serpent. "31. But do ye, by the power of God, withdraw yourselves far from these, and expel from amongst you the doctrine of the wicked. "32. Because you are not the children of rebellion,' but the sons of the beloved Church. "33. And on this account the time of the resurrection is preached to all men. 66 34. Therefore they who affirm that there is no resurrection of the flesh, they indeed shall not be raised up to eternal life; "35. but to judgment and condemnation shall the unbeliever arise in the flesh : "36. for to that body which denies the resurrection of the body, shall be denied the resurrection: because such are found to refuse the resurrection. "37. But you also, Corinthians! have known, from the seeds of wheat, and from other seeds, dies, 66 38. that one grain falls dry into the earth, and within it first 39. and afterwards rises again, by the will of the Lord, endued with the same body; "40. neither indeed does it arise with the same simple body, but manifold, and filled with blessing. "41. But we ['must,' A.] produce the example not only from seeds, but from the honourable bodies of men." 66 42. Ye have also known Jonas, the son of Amittai;' 1. Others read, Believing with a pure heart. 2. Some MSS. have, Of God the Father of all things. 3. Others read, They curse themselves in this thing. 4. Others read, Children of the disobedient. 5. Some MSS. have, That one grain falls not dry into the earth. 6. Others read, But we have not only produced from seeds, but from the honourable body of man. 7. Others read, The son of Ematthius. 1.] ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. 433 "43. because he delayed to preach to the Ninevites, he was swallowed up in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights: "44. and after three days God heard his supplication, and brought him out of the deep abyss ; 66 45. neither was any part of his body corrupted, neither was his eyebrow bent down; 1 66 46. and how much more for you, oh men of little faith! "47. If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, will he raise you up, even as he himself hath arisen. 66 48. If the bones of Elisha the prophet, falling upon the dead, revived the dead, "49. by how much more shall ye, who are supported by the flesh and the blood and the Spirit of Christ, arise again on that day, with a perfect body? "50. Elias the prophet, embracing the widow's son, raised him from the dead: "51. by how much more shall Jesus Christ revive you, on that day, with a perfect body, even as he himself hath arisen? "52. But if ye receive other things vainly, 2 "53. henceforth no one shall cause me to travail; for I bear on my body these fetters ['bonds,' A.],3 "54. to obtain Christ; and I suffer with patience these afflictions to become worthy of the resurrection of the dead. 66 '55. And do each of you, having received the law from the hands of the blessed Prophets and the holy Gospel, firmly maintain it; "56. to the end that you may be rewarded in the resurrection of the dead, and the possession of the life eternal. 66 57. But if any of ye, not believing, shall trespass, he shall be judged with the misdoers, and punished with those who have false belief. "58. Because such are the generation of vipers, and the children of dragons and basilisks. 66 59. Drive far from amongst ye, and fly from such, with the aid of our Lord Jesus Christ. "60. And the peace and grace of the beloved Son be upon ['with,' A.] you." Amen." 1. Others add, Nor did a hair of his body fall therefrom. The grace of 2. Some MSS. have, Ye shall not receive other things in vain. 3. Others finished here thus, Henceforth no one can trouble me farther, for I bear in my body the sufferings of Christ. our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brethren. 4. Some MSS. have, Of the holy evangelist. 5. Others add, Our Lord be with ye all. Amen. Amen, VOL. IV. 2 F |