Our English Bible Part 3 God s Faithful Scribe
02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 2 The Age of Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11
02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 3 Lucian of Antioch (c.240-312 A.D.)
02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 4 Lucian s School c.268-303 A.D.
Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, (1890 ed.) Series 2, Vol. 1, Prologue, ch. 1, 5, p. 11... Lucian... was one of the most learned men of his age in the Oriental Church, and rounded an exegetico-theological school in Antioch, which for a number of years [c.268-303] stood outside of the communion of the orthodox Church in that city, but... made its peace with the Church, and was recognized by it. He was held in the highest reverence by his disciples, and exerted a great influence over them even after his death. Philip Schaff (1819-1893) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 5
History of the Christian Church, (1901 ed.) Vol. II, ch. 13, 194-95, pp. 814-16 Lucianus is known also by his critical revision of the text of the Septuagint and the Greek Testament. Jerome mentions that copies were known in his day as exemplaria Lucianea, but in other places he speaks rather disparagingly of the texts of Lucian,... As to the New Testament, it is likely that he contributed much towards the Syrian recension (if we may so call it), which was used by Chrysostom and the later Greek fathers, and which lies at the basis of the textus receptus. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 6
... The characteristic features [of his method] are, attention to the revision [the review] of the text, a close adherence to the plain, natural meaning according to the use of language and the condition of the writer, and justice to the human factor. In other words, its exegesis is grammatical and historical, in distinction from the allegorical method of the Alexandrian School.... The Arians [i.e., the name given those who opposed the Trinity doctrine]... claimed descent from, or affinity with, Lucian and his school; but from the same school proceeded also the prince of commentators among the fathers, John Chrysostom,... Philip Schaff (1819-1893 A.D.) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 7
New Testament Tools and Studies, Vol. IV, Chapters in the History of New Testament Textual Criticism (1963 ed.), pp. 1-5... Lucian was a critical scholar whose views on the Trinity and on Christology differed from what was later defined at Nicea as the orthodox position,... he exerted a pervasive influence upon the theological views of those who came to adopt Arian theology.... Jerome... in his description of Lucian.... charaterizes him as a man of great talent and so diligent in the study of the Scriptures that even now certain copies of the Scriptures bear the name of Lucian. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 8
... two Gothic churchmen had inquired of Jerome why his own Latin Psalter (the so-called Roman Psalter) differed so frequently from the Septuagint. In his reply Jerome points out that they have been misled by their edition of the Septuagint, which varied widely from the critical text of Origen given in the Hexapla and used by himself. Jerome writes: You must know that there is one edition which Origen and Eusebius of Caesarea and all the Greek commentators call κοινή [koiné, common], that is common and widespread, and is by most people now called Lucianic; and there is another, that of the Septuagint [of Origen], which is found in the manuscripts of the Hexapla, and has been faithfully translated by us into Latin [Jerome s Latin version of Origen s OT]. Bruce M. Metzger (1914-2007) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 9
Truth Triumphant, (2004 ed.) Ch. 5, Lucian and the Church in Syria, pp. 49-52 Manichaeism dethroned the first chapter of Genesis by rejecting creation and a miracle-working God, by demanding celibacy of its leaders, and by worshiping the sun as the supreme dwelling place of Deity. Imbued with the ancient Persian hatred of the Old Testament, it ridiculed the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and exalted Sunday. This fanatical darkness, with its own fabricated scriptures, came down upon Syria like a fog. Lucian weakened its attacks by his irresistible defense of the Scriptures and their teachings. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 10
It is altogether too little known that the real editor of the received text was Lucian. None of Lucian s enemies fails to credit him with this work.... Lucian s day was an age of apostasy when a flood of depravations was systematically attempting to devastate both the Bible manuscripts and Bible theology.... Lucian s unrivaled success in verifying, safeguarding, and transmitting those divine writings left a heritage for which all generations should be thankful. Consider how masterly must have been Lucian s collection of the evidences which identified and protected the writings left to the church by the apostles. From that day to this the Received Text and the New Testaments translated from it are far in the lead of any other Bibles in use. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 11
Thus, in many ways Lucian became a blessing to those churches [i.e., the Waldenses] which in later years designated the Church of Rome a newcomer, and felt themselves compelled to disagree with it, while they persevered in apostolic usages. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 12
It was a critical hour in the history of the church in the days following the efforts of Clement, Origen, and Tertullian the mystical teachers of north Africa to substitute new foundations for Christianity. In that time God raised up a tireless champion of truth, Lucian. Speculation within the church was tearing to pieces the faith once delivered to the saints. The very foundation of the gospel itself was at stake. Because of the immense contributions made by Syrian Christianity in the following centuries, later generations are indebted to Lucian. Benjamin G. Wilkinson (1872-1968) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 13
02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 14 The Persecution Feb. 303 Feb. 313 A.D. Revelation 2:10
Eusebius Ecclesiastical History, (1847 ed.) Bk. 8, chs. 1, 2, pp. 327, 28 But when, by reason of excessive liberty, we sank into negligence and sloth, one envying and reviling another in different ways, and we were almost, as it were, on the point of taking up arms against each other, and were assailing each other with words as with darts and spears, prelates inveighing against prelates, and people rising up against people, and hypocrisy and dissimulation had arisen to the greatest height of malignity, then the divine judgment, which usually proceeds with a lenient hand, whilst the multitudes were yet crowding into the church, with gentle and mild visitations began to afflict its episcopacy; the persecution having begun with those brethren that were in the army; 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 15
and, as if destitute of all sensibility, we were not prompt in measures to appease and propitiate the Deity; some, indeed, like atheists, regarding our situation as unheeded and unobserved by providence, added one wickedness and misery to another. Some that appeared to be our pastors, deserting the law of piety, were inflamed against each other with mutual strifes, only accumulating quarrels and threats, rivalship, hostility, and hatred to each other, only anxious to assert the government as a kind of sovereignty for themselves. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 16
It was the nineteenth year of the reign of Diocletian [303 A.D.], and the month of Dystrus, called by the Romans March, in which the festival of our Saviour s passion was at hand, when the imperial edicts were every where published, to tear down the churches to the foundation, and to destroy the sacred Scriptures by fire, and which commanded, also, that those who were in honourable stations should be degraded, but those who were freedmen should be deprived of their liberty, if they persevered in their adherence to Christianity. The first edict against us was of this nature; but it was not long before other edicts were also issued, in which it was ordered that all the prelates in every place, should first be committed to prison, and then, by every artifice, constrained to offer sacrifice to the gods. Christian Frederic Cruse (1794-1864) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 17
Short Papers on Church History, (1874 ed.) Vol. 1, p. 328, 360 During the winter of the year 302-303 Galerius paid a visit to Diocletian at Nicomedia. His great object was to excite the old Emperor against the Christians. Diocletian for a time withstood his importunity.... Diocletian at length gave way, and a persecution was agreed to... 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 18
The attempt to exterminate the scriptures was a new feature in this persecution, and, no doubt, was suggested by the [pagan] philosophers who frequented the palace. They were well aware that their own writings would have but little hold on the public mind if the scriptures and other sacred books were circulated. Immediately these measures were resolved upon, the church of Nicomedia was attacked, the sacred books were burnt, and the building entirely demolished in a few hours. Throughout the empire the churches of the Christians were to be levelled to the ground, and the sacred books were to be delivered to the imperial officers. Many Christians who refused to give up the scriptures were put to death,... Andrew Miller (1810-1883) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 19
Eusebius Ecclesiastical History, (1847 ed.) Bk. 8, chs. 1, 2, pp. 344, 391... Of the martyrs at Antioch, we also name Lucian, that presbyter of this church, who during all his life was preeminent for his excellent character and piety. He had before, at Nicomedia, and in the presence of the emperor [Maximinus], proclaimed the heavenly kingdom of Christ, in the defence that he delivered, and afterwards bore testimony to its truth in his actions. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 20
... And Lucianus, a man in all respects most excellent, temperate in his life, and conspicuous for his proficiency in sacred literature, was presbyter of the church of Antioch, and when brought to Nicomedia, where the emperor happened to be staying, he delivered a defence of his doctrine before the governor, when he was committed to prison and slain.... Christian Frederic Cruse (1794-1864) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 21
02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 22 The Edict of Milan Feb. 313 A.D.
Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, (1890 ed.) Series 2, Vol. 1, bk. 10, ch. 5, p. 379... When I, Constantine Augustus, and I, Licinius Augustus, came under favorable auspices to Milan and took under consideration everything which pertained to the common weal and prosperity, we resolved among other things, or rather first of all, to make such decrees as seemed in many respects for the benefit of every one; namely, such as should preserve reverence and piety toward the deity. We resolved, that is, to grant both to the Christians and to all men freedom to follow the religion which they choose, that whatever heavenly divinity exists may be propitious to us and to all that live under our government. 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 23
We have, therefore, determined, with sound and upright purpose, that liberty is to be denied to no one, to choose and to follow the religious observances of the Christians, but that to each one freedom is to be given to devote his mind to that religion which he may think adapted to himself, in order that the Deity may exhibit to us in all things his accustomed care and favor. Philip Schaff (1819-1893) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 24
The Great Empires of Prophecy, (1898 ed.) Ch. 28, p. 423 If all the professors of Christianity had been content with this victory, and had held the tide of events steadily to the principles of this edict, the principles for which Christianity had so long contended, the miseries of the ages to come would never have been. Alonzo Treviér Jones (1875-1923) 02/15/14 Our English Bible - Part 3 25
The End Part 3