The Lost Scriptures.

The Fourth Book of Maccabees: Concerning the Sovereignty of Reason

 [1] The subject that I am about to discuss is most philosophical, that is, whether devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. So it is right for me to advise you to pay earnest attention to philosophy. 2For the subject is essential to everyone who is seeking knowledge, and in addition it includes the praise of the highest virtue – I mean, of course, rational judgment. 3 If, then, it is evident that reason rules over those emotions that hinder self-control, namely, gluttony and lust, 4 it is also clear that it masters the emotions that hinder one from justice, such as malice, and those that stand in the way of courage, namely anger, fear, and pain. 5 Some might perhaps ask, “If reason rules the emotions, why is it not sovereign over forgetfulness and ignorance?” Their attempt at argument is ridiculous! 6 For reason does not rule its own emotions, but those that are opposed to justice, courage, and self-control; and it is not for the purpose of destroying them, but so that one may not give way to them. 7 I could prove to you from many and various examples that reason is dominant over the emotions, 8 but I can demonstrate it best from the noble bravery of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar and the seven brothers and their mother. 9 All of these, by despising sufferings that bring death, demonstrated that reason controls the emotions. 10 On this anniversary it is fitting for me to praise for their virtues those who, with their mother, died for the sake of nobility and goodness, but I would also call them blessed for the honour in which they are held. 11 For all people, even their torturers, marvelled at their courage and endurance, and they became the cause of the downfall of tyranny over their nation. By their endurance they conquered the tyrant, and thus their native land was purified through them. 12 I shall shortly have an opportunity to speak of this; but, as my custom is, I shall begin by stating my main principle, and then I shall turn to their story, giving glory to the all-wise God.

The book is grim and gruesome. The author spares no detail in describing the extent of torture that many of the faithful suffered by the hands of the evil tyrant, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He uses this approach to accomplish two goals: first, it evokes sympathy from the readers, and second, it bolsters his point that “devout reason is sovereign (has ultimate power) over the emotions.”

This author is staking his claim on the belief that Judaism is still the only option in a world where life has dramatically changed. He was writing from the realization that Judaism was no longer the dominant culture. Jews were living in a thoroughly Hellenized world where the Romans were completely in charge. Surely, many Jews would have been tempted to make some accommodation to these changes. It is also possible that Jews were again experiencing some form of oppression. It was a dangerous time to be a Jew.

I believe it is a challenging time to be a Christian – not dangerous, but challenging. We need to stake our claims to our belief that Jesus is the way for salvation – maybe not the only way – but the way we have come to embrace in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is what helps deal with the grim and gruesome of this world.

Pastor Dave