Article Fourteen: Convincing Proofs
Sins of the Presidents!
The leaders of our people have risen up, and have forsaken the law and have boasted of their iniquity.
They acquired good things, but greed overcame them.
They lend at interest and take interest. No one remembers what is written: “You shall not take interest or increase from him” (Lev. 25:36). And it is said: “He who desires to dwell in the tent of the Lord shall not give money on interest” (see Ps. 15:1, 5). It is also said of him that he does not commit the abominations that Ezekiel enumerates, and the Lord is pleased with him: “He neither gives on interest nor takes increase” (Ezek. 18:8).
There are people in this age who act violently and distort judgment, who show partiality and acquit the guilty and condemn the innocent; who love the rich and hate the poor, who feed themselves and show favor to the sheep. Blinded by the world, they love bribes and reject the truth. [65].]
True love
If a brother meets his brother, he turns his face away and refuses to greet him (perhaps for fear that he might be harmed or lose his position). If he meets an evil pagan, he approaches him and greets him first.
If a rich, wicked, sinful man meets us, we kneel before him and greet him. But we do not greet our brothers and dear ones. The evil one (Satan) with his envy prevents us from doing so. While our Lord commands us: Love one another. And the blessed Apostle urges us to love. [66].]
Warning to priests and ministers!
[Beloved, it was necessary for us to write these things to remind ourselves and to remind you also, because we have neglected the service of the Holy One, and all this has happened to us in the present time. And because we do not honor Him, we have become a mockery before our enemies, and we have been despised, as it is written: “Those who despise me will be humiliated” (1 Sam. 2:30) [67].]
The danger of greed in the lives of priests!
All this earth and all this paradise are not enough for the greed that has entered AdamHe was burning with lust, so he took and ate from the tree that he was commanded not to eat from…
Stoning Achan For the lust of greed, he was stoned and destroyed from among his people.
and the two evil priests Son of Ali Greed made them lose their lives.
greed King Saul The chosen one of the people - because of what the Lord had forbidden him to do before Abimelech, so he fell from his glory, and his kingdom was taken away from him.
I crave Ahab son of Omri, king of Israel, honored Naboth and took him, and he fell in battle at Ramoth-gilead.
And my egoElisha's disciple, greed made him leprous.
Greed has killed many and deprived them of life.
greed is not satisfied Judas IscariotOne of the twelve, he stole, and even went so far as to take the price of the precious man’s blood. In his greed, he separated himself from his fellow disciples.
And conquer greed Hanania, The miracle appeared when he fell at the feet of the apostles (Acts 5:1-11) [68].]
Greed is not satisfied by the whole world.
As for For kings They are not satisfied with all their peoples and tongues, nor is each one of them content with his own region. They gather armies, declare war, destroy cities, and plunder other regions. They take captives and possess, but nothing is enough for them. They toil and labor to learn war. They tear down fortresses, and hunt men. They ascend and reach the peaks, and descend into the valleys, but their greed is never satisfied or satisfied.
When wealth increases, greed increases, and when good things overflow, greed becomes stronger.
The poor man is content with daily bread, but the rich man cares about the years in which he is not alive.
A patched garment is enough for the poor, while a garment of every fancy and every region makes the greedy person seem naked.
The bed of the poor is placed on the floor, and that is enough for him. The bed of the rich is bright beds and furniture of every kind, and that is too little for the sake of greed.
The poor man drinks water to quench his thirst, and the rich man drinks aged wine and remains thirsty.
The rich possess gold and silver; for them they stumble and for them they fight.
Sleep flees from all lovers of greed, but the bed of the poor is quiet and comfortable.
The poor man thinks of breaking his bread for the needy, and the rich man looks forward to hitting those who are weaker than him.
Blessed is he who does not serve the lordship of the belly. Blessed is the man who is not overcome by greed. Blessed is the man who meditates on the knowledge by which the roots of greed are cut off. [69].]
[Our dear ones, you know from what we have written to you that it is because of greed that hatred and envy have appeared among those who adhere to the law and are in power among our people. [70].]
Our Savior is the head of the shepherds!
Jesus our Savior is the chief shepherd. He is a light in the darkness, a lamp on a stand, enlightening the world and purifying sins.
He is the beautiful pearl, and we are the merchants, we sell what we have and buy it.
It is a treasure in a field, when we find it we rejoice and buy it.
He is the fountain of life, we who are thirsty drink from him.
He is the table full of richness and satiety, and we, the hungry, eat and enjoy.
It is the door of the kingdom open to all who enter.
It is the joyful wine that the weeping ones drink and forget their illnesses.
It is the glorious garment and dress that all the victors wear.
He is the tower on which many were built. We count the cost and complete it.
He is the Bridegroom, the Apostles are His friends, and we are His Bride. Let us prepare the wedding gift.
He is the ladder that ascends to the heights, so that we may work and strive with it towards His Father.
It is a narrow little road, let us hurry on it and reach the port.
He is the priest and servant of the sanctuary, and we work to be sons of his house.
He is the great and noble king, who went to take his kingdom (Luke 19:14).
Let us honor his weakness so that he may share in his greatness…
It is the love that bears many fruits. When it was planted, it was small, and it became a strong tree.
He is the firstborn son and the son of Mary, so let us accept his weakness and he will make us happy with his greatness.
He is the one who suffered and came back to life and ascended to heaven. Let us truly believe in him and accept his coming. He is the judge of the dead and the living who sits on a throne and judges the tribes. [71].]
Priesthood Dignity: Seniority or Fear of the Lord?
In our time, we do not find anyone asking: Who is he who fears the Lord? Rather, who is the first to lay hands on him?
If they say: So-and-so is more senior, they say to him: It is fitting for you to sit at the head of the table. And no one remembers the words of the Savior when he gave woe to the scribes and Pharisees. [72].]
Titles do not save us from death
[O our brothers, titles do not bring us into life, nor do they save us from death, as they did not save Nadab and Abihu (the priests)…
With titles you seek good deeds, because deeds without titles save those who do them. And titles without good deeds are of no use or benefit. [73].]
Shepherd, don't be arrogant!
O shepherd who does not know his own dignity, who are you to judge a servant who is not yours? For if he stands, he stands, for his Lord; and if he falls, he falls, for his Lord; but he will surely stand. If you cannot justify yourself, why do you continually sin?
If you are haughty towards me with your conscience and say: “I am your teacher and king, and if I do not accept that, you will put me in chains,” how can you teach me humility while you are haughty, boastful and arrogant?
How can you teach me, saying, “Love one another,” when you are full of hatred and anger?
How can you teach me, saying, “If someone takes your property, do not demand it back from him,” while you demand what is yours and take interest?
How can you teach me chastity, when you are corrupt, talkative and arrogant?
How do you teach me to leave this world, while you are fallen and suffocating in it?
How do you teach me to forgive what is in my heart, while you keep old leaven inside you?
How do you teach me to be at peace with my brother, while you are confusing the wide world? [74]]
Article Seventeen: On Christ, the Son of God
Purpose of the article
[This is a response to the Jews who blaspheme the people gathered from among the nations, saying: “You worship and serve a man who was born, a son of man who was crucified, and you call the Son of Man God. And since God has no son, you say of this crucified Jesus, He is the Son of God.” And they present the argument that God said: “I am God, and there is no god besides me” (cf. Deut. 32:19). And also: “You shall not worship any other god” (Ex. 34:14). They say: You are resisting God by calling a man God. [75].]
Names of God in Hebrew
[The name of the Godhead is given to the highest dignity in the world, in which God is pleased, and applies it to Himself. But in any case the names of God are many and honorable, and He delivered His names to Moses, saying to him: “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This is My name forever, and this is a memorial throughout the generations. And He called His name Ahiyah who is Ahiyah, El-Shaddai, and Adonai Sabaoth (Gen. 17:1; Ex. 3:14; Jer. 32:18). By these names God was called. [76].]
Prophecies about Christ
We must provide proof that Jesus was promised in advance by the prophets from ancient times, and that he was called the Son of God.
He said David“You are my Son, today I have begotten you” (Psalm 2:7). And also: “From the glory of the sanctuary, from the womb I have begotten you, a child of old” (Psalm 110:3 Syriac Sheetha or Simple Version).
He said Isaiah“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Isa. 9:6-7).
Therefore tell me, O wise teacher of Israel, who is this who is born and whose name is Child, Wonderful Son and Counselor, the Almighty God of all generations, the Prince of Peace, of whose government there is increase and whose peace there is no end? If we call Christ the Son of God, it is David who taught us this; if we call Him God, we heard it from Isaiah. As for the government that is upon His shoulder, it is because He took up His cross and went out from Jerusalem. As for that He was born as a child, Isaiah also said, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (which is, being interpreted, God with us) (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23). [77].]
[And if you say that Christ has not yet come, I present this to you for your stubbornness. It is written that when He comes, the nations will expect Him (Gen. 49:10 LXX and Syriac Peshitto). Behold, I am one of the nations who heard that Christ was coming. Before He came, I believed in Him beforehand, and through Him I serve the God of Israel. When He comes, will He blame me for believing in Him before His coming?
But you fool, the prophets will not let you say Christ has not yet come to me.
Daniel He rebukes you, saying: “And after sixty-two weeks the Messiah will come and be killed, and at his coming the holy city will be destroyed, and its end will be a precipice, and until these words are fulfilled it will remain in its desolation (Dan. 9:26-27). And you are waiting and hoping that when the Messiah comes he will gather Israel together from everywhere, and Jerusalem will be built and inhabited again. But Daniel testifies that when the Messiah comes and is killed, Jerusalem will be destroyed and will remain in its desolation forever, until these words are fulfilled.
As for the sufferings of Christ, he said: David“They have pierced my hands and my feet, and all my bones cry out; they look and stare at me. They have divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they have cast lots” (Psalm 22:17-19).
He said Isaiah“My servant shall be known, and shall be revealed, and shall be exalted, and many shall be astonished at him. But this man’s appearance was corrupted more than any other man, and his form more than the sons of men” (Isa. 52:13-14). He also said, “He shall purify many nations, and kings shall be astonished at his sight” (Isa. 25:15). He also said in this passage, “He came up before me like a child, and like a root out of dry ground” (Isa. 35:2). And at the end of the phrase he said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 35:5).
By what wounds was humanity healed? David was not killed, he died in a good old age, and was buried in Bethlehem.
And if they say that he is speaking of Saul, saying that Saul was killed on the hills of Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:4). And if they say that they pierced his hands and feet when they hung his body on the wall of Beth-shean (1 Sam. 31:10), this did not happen to Saul. When they pierced Saul’s limbs, his bones did not feel pain because he was dead. After his death, they hung his body and the bodies of his sons on the wall of Beth-shean. When David said, “They pierced my hands and my feet, and my bones cried out,” he then said the following statement: “But you, O God, make haste to help me; deliver my soul from the sword” (Ps. 22:19-20).
Now Christ was saved from the sword, ascended from hell, and rose alive on the third day, and God (the Father) remained to help him. As for Saul, he called upon God, but God did not answer him. He asked Him through the prophets, but no answer was given to him. He disguised himself and asked the diviners. Then he knew that he would be defeated by the Philistines, and would kill himself with his own sword, for he realized that the battle had brought him defeat. In addition, David said the following statement: “I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You” (Ps. 22:2). How could these things be fulfilled in Saul? Again David said: “You will not let Your Holy One see corruption” (Ps. 16:10). All of these apply to Christ.
When he came to them, they did not receive him, but they condemned him in an evil way with false witnesses. He was hung on a tree with his own hands, and his hands and feet were pierced with the nails which they had fastened, so that his bones cried out. On that day a great wonder was done, that the light became darkness in the middle of the day, as he had predicted. Zachariah“And it shall be a day known to the Lord, “There is neither day nor night, but in the evening there is light” (Zechariah 14:7). What is the day that is marked by a miracle, which is neither day nor night, and in the middle of the evening there was light? Certainly the day on which they crucified him, for in the middle of this day there was darkness, and in the evening there was light. [78].]
[We bow down to these mercies, and bow our knees before the majesty of His Father who restored our worship to Him. We call Him God as Moses (God) was called, the firstborn, the son as Israel was called, Jesus as Joshua the son of Nun, the priest as Aaron, the great prophet as all the prophets, the shepherd as the shepherds who shepherded and led Israel… He has said to us: “I am the good shepherd, the door, the way, the vine, the sower, the bridegroom, the pearl, the lamb, the light, the king, God, the savior and redeemer.” And by many names he surpasses the name [79].]
Article 20: Helping the Poor
[(In the parable of the rich man and the poor Lazarus) The poor man who was lying at his door is like our Savior. He desired to take fruits to deliver to the one who sent him, but no one gave him any. It was said: Dogs came and licked his sores. The dogs who came are the peoples who licked the wounds of our Lord, and took his body and laid it on their eyes. But they are greedy dogs who do not know how to be satisfied, and are unable to escape. Consider these dogs who lick the wounds of this poor man. They were not greedy, otherwise they would have desired the rich man’s table, not to lick the wounds. The prophet said about the Jews: They are dogs Greedy, they do not know how to be satisfied. David said: “They growl like a dog and go around the city” (Psalm 59:7).]
[The rich are the people (the Jews), and the poor is our Savior, as it is written about him: “But it pleased the Lord to crush him; He will cause him to be weary” (Isaiah 35:10). And the apostle said: “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And he also said: “He emptied himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross” (Phil. 2:8). [80].]
Article Twenty-One: On Persecution
Reason for the article
One day a man called a wise man among the Jews asked me: Jesus, who is called your teacher, wrote that if anyone among you has faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and it will move from your presence and will rise up and fall into the sea, and it will obey you. (Matt. 17:19; 21:22). It is clear that there is not a single wise man among all your people whose prayer is heard, and who asks God to put an end to those who persecute you. It is clear that this was written for you: “Nothing will be impossible for you [81]“.]
[And when I saw him blaspheming and speaking against the way, my mind was troubled, and I perceived that he did not know the interpretation of the words which he had quoted and spoken to me. Then for my part I asked him about the sayings of the Law and the Prophets, and said to him: Do you trust that even when you are scattered God is with you?… For he said to Israel: “Even in the lands of your enemies I will not forget you, nor will I break my covenant with you” (see Leviticus 26:44).
“Well,” I answered, “I hear this from you, that God is with you. But I also speak words against you,” for the prophet says to Israel, as from the mouth of God: “When you pass through the sea, I will be with you; through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be stung, and the flame will not consume you, for I, the Lord your God, am with you” (Isa. 43:2-3). So is there not one wise man among you, righteous and upright from among all the people, who can cross the sea and live without drowning, and who can cross the river without being overwhelmed, and who can walk through the fire and not be stung, and the flame will not consume him? And if you give me an explanation, I will not accept it from you, just as you do not accept an explanation of the words you asked me about. [82].]
[I wrote this article to you, my dear, from the beginning because of a Jewish reproach to our people (that we are persecuted), but now I show you how much I understand that the persecuted receive a great reward, while the persecutors become contemptible and disgraced. [83].]
Jacob the persecuted
Jacob was persecuted, and Esau was persecuted.
Jacob received the blessings and the birthright, while Esau was deprived of both. [84].]
Comparison between the persecuted Jesus and Joseph
Joseph was persecuted, and his brothers were the persecutors. Joseph was glorified, and his persecutors bowed down to him, and his dreams and visions were fulfilled.
Joseph the persecuted was a symbol of Jesus the persecuted.
Joseph was dressed by his father in a shirt of many colors, and Jesus was dressed by his father in a body of the Virgin.
Joseph loved his father more than his brothers, and Jesus is the dear and beloved one of his father.
Joseph saw visions and dreamed dreams, and the visions and prophets were fulfilled in Jesus.
Joseph was a shepherd with his brothers, and Jesus is the chief shepherd.
When his father sent him to visit his brothers, they saw Joseph coming and planned to kill him. When the father sent Jesus to visit his brothers, they said, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him” (Matthew 21:38).
Joseph's brothers threw their brother into the pit, but Jesus was brought down by his brothers to live among the dead.
Joseph came up from the pit, and Jesus rose from the dead.
Joseph, after he rose from the pit, had authority over his brothers, and Jesus, after he dwelt among the dead, his father gave him a great and glorious name (Phil. 2:9) so that his brothers would serve him and his enemies would be subdued under his feet.
Joseph, after his brothers recognized him, were ashamed, afraid, and amazed at his greatness. When Jesus comes at the end of time and announces his greatness, his brothers will be ashamed, afraid, and terrified before him because they crucified him.
Moreover, Joseph was sold to Egypt on the advice of Judas, and Jesus was delivered to the Jews by the hands of Judas Iscariot.
When they sold Joseph, his brothers did not answer a word, and Jesus also did not speak or answer the judges who tried him.
Joseph was unjustly handed over to prison by his master, and Jesus was unjustly condemned by his own people.
Joseph gave his two garments, one into the hands of his brothers, and the other into the hand of his master's wife, and Jesus gave his garments and they were divided among the soldiers.
Joseph, when he was thirty years old, stood before Pharaoh and became the master of Egypt, and Jesus, when he was thirty years old, came to the Jordan to be baptized and received the Spirit and went out preaching.
Joseph raised Egypt with bread, and Jesus raised the whole world with the bread of life.
Joseph took the daughter of the wicked and unclean priest as his wife, and Jesus betrothed to himself the church from the unclean nations.
Joseph died and was buried in Egypt, and Jesus died and was buried in Jerusalem.
The bones of Joseph were brought up by his brothers from Egypt, and Jesus was raised by his father from the house of death, and his body was put on and taken up to heaven incorruptible. [85].
Comparison between the persecuted Jesus and Moses
Moses was also persecuted just as Jesus was persecuted.
When Moses was born, they hid him from his persecutors so that they would not kill him, and when Jesus was born, they fled with him to Egypt so that his persecutor Herod would not kill him.
In the days when Moses was born, children were drowned in the river, and when Jesus was born, children in Bethlehem and its environs were killed.
To Moses God said, “The men who sought your life are dead” (Exodus 4:19). And to Joseph the angel said in Egypt, “Arise, take the young child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2:20).
Moses brought his people out of the service of Pharaoh, and Jesus delivered the peoples from the service of Satan.
Moses was raised in Pharaoh's house, and Jesus was raised in Egypt when Joseph fled with him there.
Mary stood on the edge of the river when Moses floated on the water, and Mary became pregnant with Jesus when the angel Gabriel gave her the good news.
When Moses slaughtered the lamb, he killed the firstborn of the Egyptians, and Jesus became the true lamb when they crucified him, and with his death the murderous people died.
Moses brought down manna for his people, and Jesus gave his body to the nations.
With the wood, Moses sweetened the bitter waters, and with his cross, Jesus sweetened our bitterness with the wood of the tree of his cross.
Moses gave the law to his people, and Jesus gave his covenants to the nations.
Moses conquered Amalek when he stretched out his hands, and Jesus conquered Satan with the sign of the cross.
Moses brought water out of the rock for his people, and Jesus sent Simon Cephas to carry his teaching among the nations.
Moses removed the veil from his face and spoke to God, and Jesus removed the veil from the faces of the people so that they would hear his teaching and accept him.
Moses laid his hands on his apostles and they received the priesthood, and Jesus laid his hands on his apostles and they received the Holy Spirit.
Moses went up the mountain, died there, and Jesus ascended into heaven, and sat at the right hand of the Father. [86].]
Comparison between the persecuted Jesus and Joshua
Joshua, son of Nun, was persecuted just as Jesus, our Savior, was persecuted.
Joshua the son of Nun was persecuted by unclean peoples, and Jesus our Savior was persecuted by ignorant people.
Joshua, son of Nun, took the inheritance from his persecutors and gave it to his people, and Jesus, our Savior, took the inheritance from his persecutors and gave it to foreign peoples.
Joshua, son of Nun, stopped the sun and the moon and took revenge on the people who persecuted him, and Jesus, our Savior, made the sun set in the middle of the day, to shame the persecuting people who crucified him.
Joshua, son of Nun, distributed the inheritance to his people, and Jesus, our Savior, promised to give the peoples the land of life.
Joshua, son of Nun, gave life to Rahab the harlot, and Jesus our Savior gathered the harlot church and gave it life.
Joshua the son of Nun struck down the walls of Jericho and destroyed them on the seventh day, and on the seventh day of Jesus our Savior, in the house of rest of God, the world will be dissolved and fall (Heb. 4:8).
Joshua, son of Nun, stoned Achan, who had stolen what was forbidden, and Jesus, our Savior, separated Judas from his fellow disciples, because he had stolen from the bag of the poor.
Joshua bin Nun died and delivered the testimony to his people (Joshua 24:22), and when Jesus Christ our Savior ascended, he delivered the testimony to his apostles (Mark 16:14; Matthew 28:18). [87].]
Purpose of the article
[These memories that I write to you, my dear, concerning Jesus who was persecuted, and the righteous who were persecuted, are for the sake of those who are persecuted today for the sake of Jesus who was persecuted, and they may find rest. For he himself wrote to us and gave us rest: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. They persecute you because you are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (see John 15:19, 20; 17:14) [88].]
The Twenty-Second Article on Death and the End Times
Our hope after death!
The righteous, the upright, the good, and the wise do not fear death or dread it, because of the great hope set before them. They always think about death, about their departure, and about the last day on which the sons of Adam will be judged. [89].]
Sultan of death before Moses
[The righteous know that when the judgment was issued because of Adam’s disobedience, the king of death reigned, and as the apostle says: “Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin. Thus death passed to the children of men” (Romans 5:14, 12) [90].]
Moses preached the resurrection
Death passed to all people (Rom. 12:5), passed from Moses to the end of the world. However, Moses preached that his kingdom would be abolished.
When Adam transgressed the commandment, he passed the sentence of death on to his children. Death hoped to bind all the children of man and reign over them forever. But when Moses came to announce the resurrection, death knew that his kingdom was ending. Moses said: “Let Reuben live and not die.”…” (Deut. 33:6).
And when the Holy One called Moses from the bush, He said to him:I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob“(Exodus 3:6). When death heard this utterance, he trembled and feared and was terrified and anxious, and knew that he would not be king over the children of Adam forever. From the hour that death heard God say to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” he began to beat with his hands, and learned that God is the King of the dead and the living, and that it was appointed for the children of Adam to come out of His darkness, and to rise with their bodies. Note that Jesus our Savior repeated the same utterance in the dialogue with the Sadducees about the resurrection of the dead, saying thus: “He is not the God of the dead, for all live to Him” (Luke 20:38). [91].]
Preaching the abolition of the power of death!
And so that God may make death know that his power over the children of the world will not last forever, Enoch was transferred to him. (Gen. 24:5), for he was pleased with him, and made him not to die.
once again Elijah ascended to heaven, Death had no power over him.
And Hannah also said:The Lord kills and gives life“(1 Sam. 2:6). Moreover, Moses said, as through God: “I kill and I make alive” (Deut. 32:39).
Again Isaiah said: “Your dead shall live, your corpses shall rise. Awake, and sing, you who sleep in the dust” (Isaiah 26:19).
When death heard all this, he was astonished and sat down sadly. [92].]
By death Jesus trampled death!
When Jesus came, the killer of death, and clothed himself in the body of the offspring of Adam, and was crucified in his body, and tasted death, and when death realized that he had come to him, he was terrified in his place, and was disturbed when he saw Jesus. He had closed his doors and did not want to meet him. Then he broke open his doors and entered him and robbed him of his spoils.
And when the dead saw light in the darkness, they lifted up their heads from the bondage of death and looked up and saw the majesty of the Messiah the King. Then the powers of darkness sat in mourning, for the power of death was taken from them.
Death tasted the deadly medicine for him, his hands fell, and he learned that the dead would rise and flee from his power. And when death struck him by robbing him of his possessions, he howled and cried out loudly in bitterness, saying: “Depart from my kingdom, do not enter it. Who is this living being who enters my world?”
And as death cried out in terror (as he saw the darkness beginning to pass away and some of the righteous who had fallen asleep rose to ascend with him), he realized that when he comes in the fullness of time, all those imprisoned will come out from under his power and go to see the light.
So when Jesus completed his ministry among the dead, death cast him out of his kingdom, and did not allow him to remain in it. He considered that it was not pleasing to devour him like the rest of the dead, since he had no power over the Holy One, and could not bring corruption upon him. [93].]
The divine promise of death
[When death eagerly took him out, Jesus left the kingdom of death, and left with him poison, which is the promise of life, so that his power would gradually disappear.
And just as when a man takes poison in the food that is given for life, and realizes in himself that he has eaten poison in the food, he vomits the food mixed with the poison from his stomach, but the effect of the poison remains active in his organs, until the entity of the body dissolves little by little and becomes corrupted, so the death of Jesus abolished death, for through it life reigns, and death is abolished, to whom it is said: “O death, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) [94].]
Think of death, remember life!
Therefore, O sons of Adam, over whom death reigns, think of death and remember life, and do not transgress the commandment like your first father.
O crowned kings, remember that death, which will take away the crowns placed on your heads, will be king over you until the time comes when you will stand for judgment.
O you who are haughty, proud and arrogant, remember death, which will shatter your haughtiness, loosen your limbs, dislocate your joints and bring corruption to the body and all its forms. With death the haughty are degraded, and the violent and cruel are buried in its darkness…
O ye greedy, rapacious, and despoiling fellows, remember death, and multiply not your sins. For in that place sinners do not repent, and he who robs his fellow man of his property does not even possess his own money, but goes to the place where wealth is not used, and becomes nothing, his dignity expresses it, and his sins remain to stand against him on the day of judgment. [95].]
The righteous after death!
In that place they forget this world. There they are not in want; they love each other intensely.
There is no heaviness in their bodies, but they fly lightly like doves to their nests (Isa. 60:8).
They never remember evil in their thoughts, nor does any impurity arise in their hearts. In that place there is no natural desire, for they are weaned from all desires. Neither anger nor wickedness arises in their hearts, for what could generate sins is removed from them…
There the inheritance is not divided, and no one says to his companion: “This is mine, and this is yours”…
There they do not marry women or have children, and there is no distinction between male and female, but all become children of their Father who is in heaven, and as the prophet says: “Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us?” (Malachi 2:10) [96].]
There is no sex after death!
[As for what you said, that there will be no wives, and no distinction between male and female, our Lord and his apostles taught us this. “Those who are counted worthy of that age and of the resurrection from the dead will not have wives, nor will women have husbands, for they cannot die anymore, for they are like the angels in heaven, and are sons of God” (see Luke 20:35-36). And the apostle said: “There is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). [97].]
What no eye has seen!
[There are “what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man” (see 1 Cor. 2:9), the unspeakable things of which no man can speak. The apostle said: “What God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). People talk a lot but are unable to express it. They cannot relate what the eye cannot see. It is not right to speak about what the ear has not heard until you compare it with what the ear hears and the eye sees and what the heart does not enter. Who would dare to speak about it as if it were like anything that enters the heart?
But it is fitting for the speaker to use a simile, and to call that place the dwelling place of God, the place of life, the place of perfection, the place of light, the place of glory, the Sabbath of God, the day of rest, the rest of the righteous, the joy of the just, the dwelling place of the righteous and the saints, the place of our hope, the safe house of our confidence, the place of our treasure, the place that banishes our anxiety, takes away our sorrows, and quenches our sighs. We may thus liken it, and thus call that place. [98].]
Prisoners of death!
[Once again, Death leads kings and founders of cities, who have been strengthened by pomp, and takes them to Himself. He does not leave the masters of states. Death leads to Himself and captures the greedy who are never satisfied and never say, “Enough.” He covets them more than they covet! [99]]
The death crusher will come!
The Giver of Life, the Destroyer of Death, will come and destroy its power over the righteous and the wicked. The dead will rise with a mighty cry, and death will be emptied and all its captives will be taken away.
All the children of Adam will be gathered together for judgment, and each one will go to the place prepared for him. The righteous who are risen will go to life, and the sinners who are risen will be delivered up to death. [100].]
Degrees of glory!
[Listen to the apostle who says: “Each one shall receive his reward according to his labor” (1 Cor. 3:8). He who labors a little receives according to his laziness, and he who is quick is rewarded according to his speed. Job (Elihu) said: “God forbid that he should do evil, and to Him from sin! For he rewards a man according to his deeds, and makes a man repay according to his way” (Job 34:10-11). And the apostle also says: “For as one star differs from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:41-42).
Therefore, know that even if a man enters into life, his reward is higher than his reward, his glory is higher than his glory, and his light is better than his light. The sun is superior to the moon, and the moon is greater than the stars that are with it. And note that the moon and the stars are also under the power of the sun, and their light is swallowed up by the splendor of the sun. [101].]
Degrees of punishment
[Also, concerning punishment, I say that not all men are equal. He who has done greater evils is tormented more; he who has not disobeyed much has less torment. Some go into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 7:12). Others are cast into the fire according to their merit, for it is not written of them that they gnash their teeth, nor that there is darkness there. Some are cast into another place where their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched, and they become an astonishment to all flesh (Isa. 66:24). And in the face of others the door is shut, and the Judge says to them, “I do not know you” (Matt. 25:12).
Consider then that just as the reward for good works is not equal for all men, so also for evil works. Not all are judged in the same way, but each one will receive his reward according to his works, for the Judge is clothed in righteousness, and shows no partiality. [102].]
Conclusion
These twelve articles are written according to the (Syriac) alphabet. [103].]
[These things are written as they have come to me. But if anyone reads these articles and finds words that do not agree with his thoughts, he must not despise them. For what is written in these chapters is not written according to the mind of one man, nor to persuade the reader, but according to the mind of the whole Church, and to exhort all to the faith. [104].]
Article Twenty-Two on grape tuft
The door has opened
[Indeed, when the first man gave his ear and listened to the serpent, the sentence of curse was pronounced upon him, and through him he became food for the serpent, and the curse passed on to all his descendants… But a door has been opened for the quest for peace, through which the veil has been lifted from the minds of the multitudes, and light has dawned in the mind, and the shining olive tree has borne fruit, which bears the sign of the mystery of life. This is the one through which Christians have been made perfect, as have priests, kings, and prophets. It illuminates the darkness, anoints the sick, and leads the repentant to its hidden mystery. [105].]
Great is the gift that the Good One has given us!
[Great is the gift that the Good One has given us. While He has not forced us, despite our sins He wants to justify us. While He does not in any way rely on our good works, He heals us so that we may be pleasing to Him. And when we do not want to ask Him, He becomes angry with us. He always calls us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find” (Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9). [106].]
Let's acknowledge his greatness!
[God is one, and we must acknowledge His greatness, worship Him, praise Him, exalt Him, honor Him, sanctify Him, and glorify Him. For we truly know this through Jesus, our Son, our Savior, who chose us and brought us near to Him. Through Him we know Him and become His worshipers, a people, a church, and a holy assembly. Glory and honor to the Father, and to His Son, and to His living and holy Spirit, from the mouths of all who praise Him, whether above or below. Let this be forever in eternity and be [107].]
Practical atheism
If a person acknowledges that God is one, but transgresses His commandments and does not act in accordance with them, then his acknowledgment is not true. [108].]
[65] Demonstrations, 14: 3.
[66] Demonstrations, 14:14.
[67] Demonstrations, 14: 21.
[68] Demonstrations, 14: 23.
[69] Demonstrations, 14: 24.
[70] Demonstrations, 14: 25.
[71] Demonstrations, 14: 25.
[72] Demonstrations, 14:25.
[73] Demonstrations, 14: 25.
[74] Demonstrations, 14:26.
[75] Demonstrations, 17:1.
[76] Demonstrations, 17:5.
[77] Demonstrations, 17: 9.
[78] Demonstrations, 17: 10.
[79] Demonstrations, 17: 11.
[80] Demonstrations, 20: 9.
[81] Demonstrations, 21: 1.
[82] Demonstrations, 21: 2.
[83] Demonstrations, 21: 8.
[84] Demonstrations, 21: 9.
[85] Demonstrations, 21: 9.
[86] Demonstrations, 21: 10.
[87] Demonstrations, 21: 11.
[88] Demonstrations, 21:21.
[89] Demonstrations, 22:1.
[90] Demonstrations, 22:1.
[91] Demonstrations, 22:2.
[92] Demonstrations, 22:3.
[93] Demonstrations, 22:4.
[94] Demonstrations, 22:4.
[95] Demonstrations, 22:6.
[96] Demonstrations, 22:12.
[97] Demonstrations, 22:13.
[98] Demonstrations, 22:13 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[99] Demonstrations, 22:14 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[100] Demonstrations, 22:15 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[101] Demonstrations, 22:19 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[102] Demonstrations, 22:22 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[103] Demonstrations, 22:25 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[104] Demonstrations, 22:26 (Of Death and the Latter Times).
[105] Demonstrations, 23:3.
[106] Demonstrations, 23:48.
[107] Demonstrations, 23:61.
[108] Demonstrations, 23:62.