fpeaking of affairs, when Nerva and Veftinus were Confuls, which was the year of Chrift 65, mentions a peftilence in the city, violent ftorms in fome parts of Italie, and other calamities. So Pagi. And Bafnage (g) argues in the like manner from that paffage of Orofius.

The laft mentioned learned chronologer likewife obferves, that (b) Sulpicius Severus having given an account of the fire at Rome, and Nero's perfecution of the Chriftians, and of the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul therein, adds: "Whilft these things are doing at Rome, the Jews being "uneafie under the oppreffions of their Governour Geffius Florus, begin "to rebel." Upon which Bafnage obferves: the (i) Jewish war began in May 66. Therefore the martyrdoms of the Apoftles happened in the year before, that is, 65. To which, perhaps, might be added, that (k) Suetonius, having spoken of the fire, the peftilence, and thofe calamities, which are mentioned by Tacitus, and Orofius, takes notice, that at the fame time Syria was difficultly kept from breaking out into a rebellion: intending, probably, the uneafinefs of the Jewish people in 65. and 66. Bafnage obferves alfo, that (1) Epiphanius placeth the death of Peter and Paul in the 12. year of Nero: part (m) of which, as he says, fell in the year 65.

I am

Dii tempeftatibus, et morbis, infignivere. Vaflata Campania turbine ventorum, qui villas, arbufta, fruges paffim disjecit, pertulitque violentiam ad vicina urbi: In qua omne mortalium genus vis peftilentia depopulabatur, nullá coeli intemperie, que occurreret oculis. Petrus itaque et Paulus eo anno morti traditi, quo urbem peftilentia afflixit. Quare, cum tefte Tacito, anno Chrifti fexagefimo quinto peftis Romæ graffata fuerit, Principium Apoftolorum martyrium perperam a Baronio ad præfentem annum dilatum. Pagi Ann. 67. n. iii.

(g) Jam vero fæva hæc lues in Nervæ et Veftini confulatum incidit. Bafn. ann. 65. n. ix.

(6) Interea abundante jam Chriftianorum multitudine, accidit, ut Roma incendio conflagraret, Nerone apud Antium conftituto. Sed opinio omnium invidiam incendii in Principem retorquebat, credebaturque Imperator gloriam innovandæ urbis quæfiffe. Neque ulla re Nero efficiebat, quin ab eo juffum incendium putaretur. Igitur vertit invidiam in Chriftianos, actæque in innoxios crudeliffimæ quæftiones.... Hoc initio in Chriftianos fæviri coeptum. Poft etiam datis legibus, religio vetabatur: palamque edictis propofitis, Chriftianum effe non licebat. Tum Paulus ac Petrus capitis damnati: quorum uni cervix gladio defecta, Petrus in crucem fublatus eft. Sulp. Sev. 1. 2. c. 41.

Dum hæc Romæ geruntur, Judæi, præfidis fui Geffii Flori injurias non ferentes, rebellare coeperunt. ib. cap. 42.

(i) Bellum autem Judaicum incoepit anni fequentis menfe Maio. Proindeque Apoftolorum martyrium in præfens tempus conferendum. Bafn. ann. 65. n. ix.

(4) Accefferunt tantis ex Principe malis, probrifque quædam et fortuita: peftilentia unius autumni, quo triginta funerum millia in rationem Libitina venerant: Clades Britannica, æægreque Syria retenta. Sueton. Neron.

сар. 39.

(1)

...

μετὰ τὴν τὸ ἁγία πέτρα καὶ πάυλες τελευτὴν τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ δωδεκάτῳ ἔτει γέρωνος γενομένην. Haer. 27. num. vi.

(m) Pars autem anni Neroniani duodecimi ad præfentem fpectat, utpote Oftobris tertio et decimo incipientis. Bafn, an, 65, n. ix,

1

I am the more inclined to this date, because we do not find in the epiftles of the New Teftament any notice taken of the perfecution of the Christians at Rome, or of the devaftations in Judea, after the commence ment of the war. If Peter and Paul had been in any of the provinces, and had furvived the terrible perfecution at Rome in 64. and 65. we should have had fome epiftle, or epiftles of theirs, concerning it, to the Romans, or to the Chriftians of fome other place.

I do not prefume to affign politively the year of the martyrdom of thfee two Apoftles. I have mentioned the fpecious and probable arguments of two very eminent chronologers, in favour of the year 65. Nor do I think the Apofties furvived that year. But I cannot fay, whether their martyrdoms happened in the year 64. or 65. Pagi fays, that (n) Peter and Paul were taken up and imprifoned in 64. and put to death in the year 65. But I know nothing of the imprisonment of the Apoftles at this time. There may be in late and fabulous authors large and particular accounts of their imprisonment, just before their martyrdoms But there is little or no notice taken of it by the most ancient writers. If Peter and Paul were come to Rome before the City was fet on fire, and before the perfecution of the Chriftians began, (which is not impro bable) they might be taken up, and foon put to death, before the end of the year 64.

1. The Introduction. II. The two Epiftles to the Theffalonians. III. The Epiftle to the Galatians. IV. The first Epistle to the Corinthians. V. The firft Epistle to Timothie. VI. The Epifle to Titus. VII. The fecond Epifle to the Corinthians. VIII. The Epiftle to the Romans. IX. The Epifle to the Ephefians. X. The fecond Epiftle to Timothie. XI. The Epiftle to the Philippians. XII. The Epistle to the Coloffians. XIII, The Epistle to Philemon. XIV. The Epifle to the Hebrews.

I

The Introduction.

SHALL now endeavour to fettle the time of St. Paul's Epiftles of which Origen faid: "If (a) any man reads them with atten→ tion, I am perfuaded, he will admire the writer's abilities in expreffing great things in vulgar language: or, if he does not admire them, himself will appear ridiculous."

It

() Præterquam quod, cum perfecutio adverfus Chriftianos anno lxiv. decreta fuerit, ac infequenti continuata, non dubium, quin priori anno Petrus et Paulus in carcerem conjecti fint, ac pofteriori necati.` Ann. 67, num, iii, (a) See Vol. iii. p. 247.

It cannot but afford fatisfaction, to know the order of time, in which they were writ. It will not only be attended with pleasure, but will allo contribute to the right understanding of them. For wrong dates have been the occafion of many mistakes. Baronius obferves, that fome have imagined the fhipwreck at Melita, related in Acts xxvii. to be one of the three, mentioned by St. Paul 2 Cor. xi. 25. not confidering, that the fecond epistle to the Corinthians had been writ feveral years before, I have put the paffage (b) in the margin, as quoted by Lewis Cappell. The Author of the Commentarie upon thirteen of St. Paul's epiftles, in the fourth centurie, made (c) the fame mistake, and several others of a like kind, in explaining the paragraph of 2 Cor. xi. 25. 26.

Of St. Paul's fourteen epiftles thirteen have been generally received by Catholic Chriftians in all times. I therefore need not now allege the teftimonies of ancient Chriftian writers, which may be seen in the preceding volumes of this work. But as the epiftle to the Hebrews has been fometimes doubted of, I fhall obferve the evidences of it's genuinnelle. With regard to the others, I fhall do little more than fhew the time, when they were writ. And I would take it for granted, that they who are difpofed to examine the arguments in this chapter, have first read the hiftorie of St. Paul, in the preceding Chapter. Which will be of great ufe, and prevent the trouble of numerous references.

The two Epiftles to the Theffalonians.

HE first and fecond epiftles to the Theffalonians

THE

are now generally allowed by learned interpreters A. D. 52. and chronologers to be the two firft writ epiftles of

St. Paul. The time and place of writing them may be deduced from

the

(b) Quantum juvet, quamque fit utile, certo tenere tempus, quo Pauli epiftolæ ab eo fuerunt fcripte, recte obfervavit Baronius ad A. C. 58. §. xlii. Sed hic, inquit ille, et illud neceffario monendum putamus lectorem, nonnullis accidiffe, ut temporum ignoratione in maximos errores incidant, putantes nimirum naufragium apud Melitam paffum, quod Lucas narrat A&. xxvii. unum e tribus fuiffe a Paulo enumeratis 2 Cor. xi, non animadvertentes, fecundam iftam epiftolam ad Corinthios longe ante illud naufragium effe fcriptam. Quamobrem fcrupulofa, quæ videtur, in hiftoria temporum indagatio quantum conferat ad veram atque germanam Divinæ Scripturæ interpretationem, quifque facile judicabit. Hæc rectiffime Baronius. Itaque hac in parte operam noftram ejufmodi indagatione poft alios collocavi mus. Lud. Capp. Append. ad Hift. Apoft. p. 63.

(c) Node et die in profundo maris fui.] Hoc factum eft, quando miffus eft Roman, cum appellaffet Cæfarem. Tunc defperatione vitæ in alto, id eft, in profundo maris fuit, mortem ante oculos habens.... Periculis in mari. Jam fuperius dixit: Ter naufragium feci, nocte et die in profundo maris fui. Quod aliud periculum fuit in mari. Sed hoc eft periculum, quando in mari, hoc eft, in navi, milites cogitaverant, omnes cuftodias occidere, ne quis enatans effugeret. Quod periculum centurio prohibuit inferri, ne Paulus occideretur, ut eum vivum Romam produceret. In 2 ep. ad Cor. xi, 25, 26. p. 202. ap. Ambrof. in App. Tom. 2.

the epiftles themfelves, and from the hiftorie of St. Paul's travels in the book of the Acts. Some have thought, that (d) the first at least, if not alfo the fecond, was writ at Athens. But I fuppofe it to be now generally allowed, that (e) both these epiftles were writ at Corinth. Where by we are alfo affured of their time. For it was formerly fhewn to be probable, that (f) St. Paul came to Corinth before the end of the year 51. and ftaid there till the begining of the year 53.

In the Synopfis afcribed to Athanafius the (g) first epistle to the Thea lonians is faid to have been writ at Athens, and (b) the fecond, very abfurdly, at Rome.

Theodoret, as (i) before quoted, faw thefe to be the two firft writ ten epiftles of the Apoftle. The (k) first he supposed to have been writ at Athens, and the fecond not long after, either at Athens, or Corinth. For he does not feem to fay diftinctly, at which of thefe two cities the second was writ. Nevertheless I fuppofe it may be fhewn, that they were both writ at Corinth. St. Paul came from The falonica to Berea. Which place he left in hafte, because of the violence of the Jews, who came thither from Theffalonica, and stirred up the pesple. Acts xvii. 10.... 13. And then, immediately, fays St. Luke, the brethren fent away Paul, to go as it were to the fea. But Silas and Timethie abode there fill. And they that conducted Paul, brought him unto Athens. And receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothie to come to him with all speed, they departed. ver. 14. 15. Accordingly, as we may fuppofe, Silas and Timothie did foon come to him. And Paul, having great concern for the Theffalonians, whilft he was at Athens, fent Timothie to them. As he fays. 1 Theff. iii. 1. 2. Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone. And fent Timothie, our brother and minifter of God, and our fellow-laborer in the gospel of Chrift, to efiablifh you, and comfort you, concerning your faith. From Athens Paul went to Corinth, where he staid a year and fix months. There Timothie came back to him from Theffalonica. Comp. Acts xviii. 5. and I Theff. iii. 6. And Silas, or Silvanus, and Timothie are joyned with the Apostle in the infcription of the epiftle.

Near the end of this epiftle, ch. v. 27. are these remarkable words: 1 charge, or adjure, you by the Lord, ôęxílw iμãs tóv xúgiov, that this epif be read unto all the holy brethren. It is likely, that from the begining all Christian affemblies had readings of the fcriptures of the Old Testament. Paul, knowing the plenitude of the apoftolical commiffion, now demands the fame refpect to be paid to his writings, with thofe of the ancient Prophets. This is a direction, fit to be inferted in the first epiftle writ by him. And the manner, in which it is given, fuggefts an argument, that this was his firft apoftolical epiftle.

The

(d) Ante Pauli vincula omnium prima fcripta eft ad Theffalonicenfes utraque. Scriptæ autem omnino videntur duæ ifte epiftolæ Athenis. Lud Copp. Hift. Ap. p. 63.

(e) Pearfon. Ann. Paulin. p. 11.... 13. Mill. Proleg, num. 4. et 6, (f) See before p. 217.

(g) Synopf. S. S, n. 66. ap. Aihan. T. 2. p. 196.

(b) Num. 67. ib. p. 197.

(k) Praf. in Ep. Pauli. T. 3. p. 3.

(i) Vel, xi, p. 85.

The fecond epistle to the Theffalonians appears to have been writ foon after the firft, and at the fame place. And Silvanus and Timothie are joyned together with the Apostle in the infcription of this epiftle, as well as of the former.

These two epiftles therefore I fuppofe to have been writ at Corinth, in the year of Chrift 52. Which is also the opinion of (1) Mill, and others. But by whom thefe epiftles were carried to the Theffalonians, we do not perceive.

Some objections have been made against the above mentioned date of thefe two epiftles. But the point is fo clear, that I do not think it worth the while to prolong this argument in examining them. They who are curious, may fee thofe objections well anfwered by Dr. Benson, in the fecond edition of (*) his History of the first Planting the Chriftian Religion.

HE epiftle to the Galatians is infcribed after this man

THE

ner: Paul, an Apoftle,... and all the brethren which A. D. 53. are with me, unto the churches of Galatia. Upon which Jerome obferves: "In (m) other epiftles Softhenes and Silvanus, and fometimes alfo Timothie, are mentioned at the begining: but in this, "for adding the greater weight and authority, are put all the bre"thren who, perhaps too, were believers of the circumcifion, and not defpifed by the Galatians. And the confent of many is of great use to "fatisfy people. To the churches of Galatia. Here alfo, as he proceeds, "it is to be obferved, that in this place only Paul writes in general, not "to the church of one city only, but to the churches of a whole pro"vince: and that he calls them churches, whom afterwards he reproves, "as corrupted with errour. Whence we learn, that a church may be "understood in a two-fold manner: both of that which has no fpot, or “wrinkle, and is indeed the body of Chrift: and of that, which is af"fembled in the name of Chrift, without compleat and perfect vir

tues."

(1) Prolegom. num. 4.
(*) Vol. 2. p. 119.. 122.
•

(m) In aliis epiftolis Softhenes et Silvanus, interdum et Timotheus, in exordio præponuntur: in hac tantum, quia neceffaria erat auctoritas plurimorum, omnium fratrum nomen affumitur. Qui et ipfi forfitan ex circumcifione erant, et a Galatis non contemptui ducebantur. Plurimum quippe facit ad populum corrigendum multorum in una re fententia atque confenfus. Quod autem ait, Ecclefiis Galatia, et hoc notandum, quia hic tantum generaliter non ad unam ecclefiam unius urbis, fed ad totius provinciæ fcribat ecclefias: et ecclefias vocet, quas poftea errore arguat depravatas. Ex quo nofcendum, dupliciter ecclefiam poffe dici: et eam, quæ non habet maculam aut rugam, et vere corpus Chrifti fit: et eam, quæ in Chrifti nomine abfque plenis perfectifque virtutibus congregetur. In ep. ad Gal. cap. i. T. 4. p. 225.