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

The Lost Scriptures.

The Martyrdom of Isaiah

 1 And it came to pass in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah that he 2 called Manasseh his son. Now he was his only one. And he called him into the presence of Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet; and into the presence of Josab the son of Isaiah. 6b, 7 And whilst he (Hezekiah) gave commands, Josab the son of Isaiah standing by, Isaiah said to Hezekiah the king, but not in the presence of Manasseh only did he say unto him: ‘As the Lord liveth, whose name has not been sent into this world, [and as the Beloved of my Lord liveth], and as the Spirit which speaketh in me liveth, all these commands and these words shall be made of none effect by Manasseh thy son, and through the agency of his hands I shall depart mid the torture of 8 my body. And Sammael Malchira shall serve Manasseh, and execute all his desire, and he shall

9 become a follower of Beliar rather than of me. And many in Jerusalem and in Judaea he shall cause to abandon the true faith, and Beliar shall dwell in Manasseh, and by his hands I shall be 10sawn asunder.’ And when Hezekiah heard these words he wept very bitterly, and rent his garments, 11 and placed earth upon his head, and fell on his face. And Isaiah said unto him: ‘The counsel of 12 Sammael against Manasseh is consummated: nought shall avail thee.’ And on that day Hezekiah 13 resolved in his heart to slay Manasseh his son. And Isaiah said to Hezekiah: [‘The Beloved hath made of none effect thy design, and] the purpose of thy heart shall not be accomplished, for with this calling have I been called [and I shall inherit the heritage of the Beloved].’

[Chapter 2]

1 And it came to pass after that Hezekiah died and Manasseh became king, that he did not remember the commands of Hezekiah his father but forgat them, and Sammael abode in Manasseh 2 and clung fast to him. And Manasseh forsook the service of the God of his father, and he served 3 Satan and his angels and his powers. And he turned aside the house of his father which had been 4 before the face of Hezekiah the words of wisdom and from the service of God. And Manasseh turned aside his heart to serve Beliar; for the angel of lawlessness, who is the ruler of this world, is Beliar, whose name is Matanbuchus. And he delighted in Jerusalem because of Manasseh, and he made him strong in apostatizing (Israel) and in the lawlessness which was spread abroad in Jerusalem 

The story of Isaiah’s martyrdom has a biblical basis for truth, coming from 2 Kings 20:16 to 21:18 and 2 Chronicles 32:32 – 33:20 – but there is no specific mention of his death. Under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:23ff) Isaiah probably lived to the close of his reign, and possibly into the reign of Manasseh. The time and manner of his death are not specified in the Bible, but The Talmud [Yevamot 49b] says that he suffered martyrdom by being sawn in two under the orders of his grandson Manasseh.

Isaiah is widely regarded as one of the greatest prophets in the Bible. His name means “The Lord is salvation.” He lived in Jerusalem and the prophecies G-d gave him were directed toward Israel, Judah and other nations. The biblical account in chapter 1, verse 1 of the book he authored says he received visions from G-d during the reigns of four kings of Judah—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. The time covered is from the end of King Uzziah’s reign (Isaiah 6:1) to the Assyrian King Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem. It was at least a 40-year ministry during the last half of the eighth century B.C.

 Some of the greatest prophetic utterances we have come from Isaiah. It is Isaiah that the Christian church in particular looks to read especially when seeking Old Testament allusions to Jesus as the Messiah. We all want to know what happened to the authors of each book of the bible – whether they might be apocryphal or not. As such, this great prophet met a gruesome end – being a mouthpiece for the Lord.

Pastor Dave