The library · Edition and sources
Aphrahat: Selected Demonstrations
Albert Edward Johnston, edited by John Gwynn; NPNF2-13 (1898) · Edition commentary
Reading appearance
Accessibility options
Saved in this browser and shared between texts. Labels and line patterns remain in every theme.
About this reading layout
Source wording, punctuation, paragraph boundaries and supplied line breaks are retained. Long prose also has editorial reading breaks at sentence boundaries. Substantial passages already enclosed in double quotation marks are set apart; this does not identify their source or establish a connection.
These added breaks are reading aids, not claims about the original manuscript’s layout. Poetry is lineated only where the downloaded text supplies line breaks. References and edition notes remain with their text.
Translator and historical edition notes
The beginning to this point is lost in the Syriac but has been preserved in the Armenian translation. We have borrowed it thence through the Latin translation of Graffin (Patrologia Syriaca, Tom. I.).
S. Matt x. 8.
Jer. vii. 4, 5.
Levit. xxvi. 12.
1 Cor. iii. 16, etc.
John xiv. 20.
1 Cor. iii. 10.
1 Cor. iii. 11.
1 Cor. iii. 16.
John x. 30.
Ps. cxviii. 22.
Luke xix. 14.
John xix. 15.
Luke xix. 13, 14.
Ez. xiii. 10.
Ez. xxii. 30.
Is. xxviii. 16.
Is. xxviii. 16.
Matt. xxi. 44.
Dan. ii. 34.
Ps. lxxxv. 12.
Dan. ii. 34, 35.
Ps. xix. 4.
Matt. xxviii. 19.
Zach. iv. 2.
The words for chief and for beginning are almost identical in the Syriac.
John xv. 12.
John xv. 15.
Cf. Eph. ii. 4. 5.
Cf. Eph. v. 2.
Zech. iii. 9.
Is. xi. 1, 2.
Zech. iv. 10.
Is. xlix. 6.
Ps. cxix. 105.
John i. 1.
John i. 5.
John i. 11.
Matt. x. 27.
Cf. Matt. v. 16.
Matt. v. 14.
Matt. v. 16.
John xii. 35.
John xii. 36.
John viii. 12.
Matt. v. 15; Mark iv. 21; Luke viii. 16.
Ps. cxix. 105.
Hos. x. 12.
Luke xv. 8.
Ex. xx. 2.
Hos. x. 12.
Is. lv. 6, 7.
Am. viii. 9. (Cf. the commentary ascribed to Ephrem in loco.) Cf. Zech. xiv. 6, 7.
1 Cor. iii. 10, 12, sqq.
Is. lxvi. 16.
Is. lxvi. 24.
1 Cor. iii. 11.
1 Cor. xiii. 13.
The allusion is to Heb. xi. This sentence, connecting sections 13 (which relates to 1 Corinthians iii. and xiii.) and 14 (which echoes Hebrews xi.), seems to imply (“he showed”) that they are written by the same author,—in other words, to ascribe Hebrews to St. Paul.
Ps. lxxxi. 6.
Ex. xvii. 12. (Pesh.)
Ps. xxiv. 7, 9.
2 Kings ii. 8–15.
Jos. iii. 17.
Jos. x. 13.
Heb. xi. 33.
Prov. xx. 6.
Job xxvii. 5, 6.
e. q. Matt. ix. 29.
Matt. ix. 28.
Mark ix. 22, 26.
Lit. “king’s servant,” John iv. 46, which is here confused with Matt. viii. 8.
Matt. viii. 8, 10.
Mark v. 23–36.
John xi. 23–27.
Kipha—rock.
Mark xvi. 16. Note that Aphrahat here cites the disputed conclusion of St. Mark’s Gospel.
Matt. xxi. 22.
Matt. xiv. 31.
Luke xvii. 5, and Matt. xvii. 19; xxi. 21.
(Apocryphal.)
Mark xvi. 17, 18.
Demonstration V.—Of Wars.
Apocryphal; see Ps. Clem., Homil. xii. 29.
Luke xvi. 15.
Luke xiv. 11.
Jer. ix. 23.
2 Cor. x. 17.
Ps. xxxvii. 35, 36.
Is. xiv. 13.
Is. xiv. 15, 16.
2 Kings xix. 23, 24; Is. xxxvii. 24, 25.
Is. x. 15.
2 Kings xviii. 35.
Is. xiv. 25.
2 Kings xix. 21–23, 28; Is. xxxvii. 22–24, 29.
2 Kings xix. 37; Is. xxxvii. 38.
Dan. viii. 2, 4.
Dan. viii. 20, 21.
This Demonstration was therefore written in the year 648 according to the “era of the Greeks,”—i.e., reckoning from b.c. 311–312. This year accordingly corresponds with the year 336–7 a.d.; and the “ram.”
Dan. vii. 19.
Dan. vii. 8.
Dan. vii. 9, 13, 14, 22.
2 Kings xx. 18; Is. xxxix. 7.
Ezek. xviii. 3.
Ezek. xxviii. 2.
Ezek. xxviii. 14, 15.
Lam. iv. 2.
Lam. iv. 1.
Zech. ix. 16.
Jer. xx. 9.
Jer. v. 14.
Jer. xxiii. 29.
Ezek. xxviii. 14.
Lam. iv. 20.
Lam. v. 16.
Ezek. xxviii. 16.
Ezek. xxix. 18, 19.
Ezek. xxviii. 14.
Ezek. xxviii. 16.
Dan. iv. 17, 19.
Is. xxiii. 15, 17.
Dan. vii. 7.
Dan. ii. 31–33.
Ib. ii. 38.
Jer. li. 7.
Gen. x. 10.
Dan. ii. 39.
Ibid.
Gen. x. 2.
Dan. ii. 40.
Dan. ii. 43.
This passage describes the Roman Republic and empire.
Dan. ii. 44.
Dan. ii. 34.
Dan. ii. 35.
Dan. vii. 4–7.
Dan. vii. 2.
Jer. l. 17.
Dan. iv. 30.
Jer. xxviii. 14; xxv. 11.
The Romans are here signified, according to Rabinical doctrine, as descendants of Esau.
The “kingdom of the Greeks” is here reckoned from the “era of the Greeks,” b.c. 311–12, in the reign of Seleucus Nicanor, to the end of the Ptolemies; b.c. 43,—269 years, as above. From b.c. 43 to the death of the Emperor Philip, a.d. 249, makes up (approximately) the 293 years of the text. Philip was reputed to have been the first Christian Emperor, (Euseb. H. E., VI. 34; Jerome, Chronicon).
Dan. vii. 8, 24.
Dan. vii. 8.
2 Macc. vi. 2–4.
2 Macc. v. 26.
Ps. lxxix. 1–3.
2 Macc. vi. 18–31; vii.
2 Macc. v. 27.
Dan. vii. 21.
Dan. vii. 25.
2 Macc. vi. 10, 11.
Dan. vii. 25.
Dan. vii. 26.
2 Macc. ix. 5–12.
Is. xli. 14.
2 Macc. ix. 13, 18, 19, 28.
Dan. vii. 27.
Jer. vi. 30.
Lam. iv. 16.
Is. lii. 11.
Dan. vii. 27.
Hos. viii. 10.
Deut. xxxii. 32.
Is. v. 2.
Is. v. 1 sqq.
Matt. xix. 28.
Is. v. 1–6.
Ezek. xv. 4, 5.
Luke xx. 10 sqq.
Deut. xxxii. 21.
Hos. viii. 10.
Dan. vii. 27.
Gen. xlix. 10.
Gen. xxvii. 40.
Gen. xlix. 10.
Luke ii. 1, 2.
Deut. iv. 2.
Demonstration VI.—Of Monks.
Rom. xiii. 11.
Luke xii. 37.
Matt. xxv. 4, 10.
Matt. xxv. 21.
Matt. v. 7.
Matt. v. 6.
Matt. vii. 24.
2 Tim. ii. 21.
Matt. xiii. 46.
Matt. vi. 20.
Matt. xxv. 33–35.
John xii. 25; Eph. v. 2.
John xvii. 14.
2 Tim. ii. 11, 12.
Joel ii. 11.
Eph. vi. 14–17.
Luke x. 19.
Matt. xx. 1.
Matt. xxiii. 9.
2 Cor. vi. 9, 10.
Rom. xii. 12.
Matt. xix. 28.
Eph. vi. 16.
Matt. vii. 7.
Matt. vi. 33.
Col. iii. 1, 2.
Matt. xxii. 13.
Luke xiv. 18.
Matt. xxv. 16.
Matt. xiii. 44.
Matt. xiii. 7.
Luke xiv. 18, 19.
Luke xiv. 29.
John xii. 35.
Matt. xxiv. 20.
Hebr. iv. 11.
Matt. xviii. 24.
Matt. xxv. 27.
Matt. v. 9.
Luke xii. 47.
Is. xxxiii. 17.
1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.
Eph. iv. 30.
Eph. iv. 22.
Eph. vi. 16.
Hebr. x. 38.
Ps. i. 2, 3.
Jer. xvii. 5, 7, 8.
Matt. xxv. 6.
Gen. iii. 6.
Gen. xxxix. 7 ff.
Judg. xvi. 15 ff.
Gen. xxxv. 22.
Num. xii. 1 ff.
Exod. iv. 24, 26.
2 Sam. xi. 2 ff.
2 Sam. xiii. 1 ff.
1 Kin. xi. 1–4.
1 Kin. xvi. 31, xxi. 5 ff.
Job i. 13 ff.
Job ii. 9.
1 Kings xv. 13.
Matt. xi. 11, xiv. 6, sq.
Esth. vi. 13.
Num. xxv. 6–15.
Lam. iii. 27, 28.
Ex. xxxiii. 11.
Ib
1 Kings xvii. 3–5; xix. 1–8.
2 Kings ii. 11.
2 Kings iv. 8–10.
1 Cor. ix. 4, 5.
Matt. xxi. 19.
Matt. v. 13.
Col. ii. 14.
1 Cor. xv. 54, 55.
Gal. iii. 28.
Matt. xxv. 10.
Is. lvi. 5.
Prov. vi. 27.
2 Cor. viii. 9.
Matt. viii. 20.
Matt. xxvi. 64.
Matt. xxi. 2–7.
Phil. ii. 6, 7, 8.
John iv. 6, 7.
Matt. iv. 2.
Matt. viii. 24.
Matt. xxvii. 26, 34.
I.e. when He took a nature which was not originally His.
John xiv. 3.
John i. 14.
Eph. ii. 6.
Matt. xxviii. 20.
Is. liii. 12.
John xiv. 20.
John x. 30.
Num. xi. 17.
Cf. 1 Cor. xii. 11, 28, and Rom. xii. 36.
John iii. 34.
Joel ii. 28, 29.
John iii. 34, 35.
Matt. xi. 27.
John v. 22.
1 Cor. xv. 27, 28.
Levit. xxi. 12.
Gen. i. 2.
Gen. ii. 7.
1 Cor. xv. 44.
2 Cor. v. 8.
1 Thess. iv. 16.
2 Cor. v. 4.
Matt. xviii. 10.
1 Sam. xvi. 14 ff.
Ps. li. 13.
2 Kings iii. 15–17.
1 Kings iv. 27.
2 Kings vi. 32.
Is. lxvi. 2.
John xiv. 23.
2 Cor. xi. 14, 15.
Luke x. 19.
Job xl. 14.
1 Cor. xv. 44, 45.
Scil., heretics.
1 Cor. xv. 49.
2 Cor. v. 3.
1 Cor. xv. 51. This transposition of the negative is supported by many Greek and Latin authorities, but not by the Peshitto.
1 Cor. xv. 53, 54.
1 Cor. xv. 52.
Matt. xxiv. 32.
Luke xxi. 10, 11.
Luke xvi. 14.
Demonstration VIII.—Of the Resurrection of the Dead.
1 Cor. xv. 35.
1 Cor. xv. 36–38.
John v. 25, 28, 29.
1 Cor. xv. 40.
1 Cor. xv. 44.
Ib. xv. 51.
Ib. v. 53.
2 Cor. v. 10.
1 Cor. xv. 29.
Ib. v. 13–15.
Ib. v. 32, 33.
1 Cor. ii. 15.
Rom. viii. 5.
Rom. vii. 5.
Rom. viii. 9.
Is. lxvi. 8.
Heb. ix. 15, 16.
Gen. xlix. 29, 31.
Gen. l. 24.
Exod. xiii. 19.
Gen. xlix. 3, 4.
Deut. xxxiii. 6.
Deut. xxxiv. 5, 6.
Ex. xxxii. 1.
Deut. v. 15.
Deut. xxxii. 39.
1 Sam. ii. 6.
Is. xxvi. 19.
Ps. lxxxviii. 10, 11, 12. (Pesh.)
Ez. xxxvii. 1–10.
Luke vii. 14.
Mark v. 47.
John xi. 43.
Is. lv. 10, 11.
Is. viii. 18.
John v. 25.
John i. 1.
John i. 14.
Matt. xxii. 28.
Matt. xxiii. 29–32.
Gen. ii. 17.
Ez. xviii. 23, 32; xxxiii. 11.
Luke ix. 59, 60.
Ps. iii. 4.
Is. xxvi. 19.
Matt. ix. 26.
John xi. 11.
1 Cor. xv. 51.
1 Thess. iv. 13.
Rev. ii. 11; xx. 14; xxi. 18.
Matt. xxv. 32 ff.
Luke xx. 9 ff.
Hebr. xi. 40.
2 Cor. v. 8.
See Dem. VI. 14.
Is. lxii. 6, 7. This quotation differs widely from the Peshitto, as well as from the Hebrew and the Septuagint.
John iii. 13.
John iii. 12.
Deut. xxxii. 39.
Demonstration X.—Of Pastors.
John x. 11, sq.
Gen. xxxi. 38, 40.
Ex. xxxii. 31, 32.
Ps. lxxviii. 72.
2 Sam. xxiv. 17.
Ezek. xxxiv. 2–4, 9, 10–12, 18, 19.
Zech. xi. 9, 17.
Ezek. xxxiv. 31.
Ezek. xxxiv. 14.
John x. 11.
John x. 16, 17.
John x. 9.
John xxi. 15–17.
Ps. lxxviii. 72.
Sc. Gehazi.
1 Cor. ix. 7, sq.
John xii. 26.
Matt. x. 8.
Matt. x. 8.
Matt. xxv. 29.
Matt. xi. 27.
1 Cor. i. 24.
Demonstration XVII.—Of Christ the Son of God.
Deut. xxxii. 39.
Exod. xxxiv. 14.
Ex. vi. 1.
Ex. vii. 1.
Ex. iv. 22, 23.
Hos. xi. 1, 2.
Is. i. 2.
Deut. xiv. 1.
2 Sam. viii. 14.
Ps. lxxxii. 6.
Ib. 7.
Exod. iii. 6, 15.
Gen. xvii. 1; Exod. iii. 14; Jer. xxxii. 18. The Hebrew has “Jehovah Sabaoth.”
Jer. xxvii. 8. The Hebrew has “King of Babylon,” and so the Peshitto. But Nebuchadnezzar is addressed as “King of Kings,” Daniel ii. 37.
Ps. xlv. 17.
I.e., homage, outward reverence.
Deut. iv. 17.
Gen. ii. 7 ; Ps. xc. 1.
Lev. xxvi. 12.
Jer. vii. 4, 5.
Ps. xc. 1, 2.
Is. xliv. 6; xlviii. 12.
Ps. ii. 7.
Ps. cx. 3 (Pesh).
Is. ix. 6, 7.
Is. vii. 14; Matt. i. 23.
Gen. xlix. 10. So in Peshitto; similarly in Septuagint.
Dan. ix. 26, 27.
Ps. xxii. 17–19.
Is. lii. 13, 14.
Is. lii. 15.
Is. liii. 2.
Is. liii. 5.
Ps. xxii. 17, 18.
Ps. xxii. 23.
Ps. xvi. 10.
Zech. xiv. 7.
Zech. xiv. 6. So in Peshitto; also in Septuagint. Cp. margin of Revised Version.
This is so read in one Syriac ms.; for “the sheep, my friends,” which the other gives.
Zech. xiii. 7; S. Matt. xxvi. 31; S. Mark xiv. 27.
Ps. lxix. 22, 27.
Is. liii. 10.
Ib. liii. 5.
2 Cor. v. 21.
Ps. xxiii. 45.
Ps. xxii. 23.
John xv. 15.
Is. xli. 8.
Col. i. 15.
Demonstration XXI.—Of Persecution.
Matt. xvii. 19; xxi. 22.
Lev. xxvi. 44.
Is. xliii. 2, 3.
Ezek. xvi. 55.
Ezek. xvi. 48.
Ezek. xvi. 52.
Deut. xxxii. 32.
Is. i. 10.
Is. lix. 5.
Is. v. 2.
Jer. vi. 30.
Dan. ix. 27.
Ezek. xvi. 49.
Gen. xviii. 14.
I.e., a.d. 344, in which year this was written. Cp. Dem. XXII. 25.
Dan. ix. 27.
Ezek. xvi. 55.
Deut. xxix. 23.
Jer. xxv. 15–27; xlviii. 47; xlix. 6, 39.
Is. xxiii. 15, 16, 17.
Jer. li. 64.
Amos v. 1–2.
Is. liv. 9.
Rather, the Canaanites.
Judges iv. 2.
Judges iii. 12.
Judges xi. 5.
Judges xiii. 1–24.
1 Sam. iv. 1, sq.
1 Kings xx. 11.