Texts in Conversation
The Christian theologian Origen, in a sermon on Joshua, quotes the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs alongside other texts, demonstrating how early Jewish traditions were incorporated into Christian theology and teaching.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Testament of Reuben 4:7
Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs
Pseudepigrapha
6 So, my children, I say to you: do everything I command you, and you will not sin. 7 Sexual immorality is a trap for the soul. It separates a person from God and draws him toward idols, because it corrupts the mind and leads young men down to Hades before their time. 8 Sexual immorality has destroyed many. Whether a man is old or young, noble or common, rich or poor, he brings shame on himself before others and mockery from Beliar. 9 You have heard how Joseph guarded himself from a woman and cleansed his thoughts of all sexual immorality, and found favor in the sight of God and men. 10 The Egyptian woman did everything she could—she summoned magicians and offered him love potions—but the strength of his soul would not allow any evil desire.
Origen Homilies on Joshua 15 6
Early Christian
For if Satan is one, how can he both be crushed under the feet of the servants of God and also take action again? For if he has been crushed, and crushed by God, he certainly is no longer able to act. Therefore, perhaps there must be as many Satans as there are those who do the works of Satan. For this seems to me to be indicated also in the book of Wisdom, where it is said, “The impious who curse Satan are cursing their own soul.” But also in a certain other little book that is called the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, although it is not considered part of the canon, we nevertheless discover the same such meaning—that individual Satans ought to be understood in individual sinners. But, more clearly, as those of the Hebrews who are learned teach, the very interpretation of his name seems to signify this same thing. For Satan is called “adversary.” Therefore, all who are against the will of God can be called Satans. We have said these things because it is written, “The Lord strengthened their hearts so that they might go out to the battle against Israel and be exterminated.”
Date: 235 -245 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The extent to which the present Christian work [Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs] depends on preexisting sources and incorporates older traditions remains a matter of scholarly debate. All that can be stated with certainty is that it was written in Greek, probably in the early second century CE, since it is quoted by the church father Origen in about 250 CE. It therefore provides significant evidence for the theological views and ethical values current among Christians at that time ..."
Docherty, Susan E.
The Jewish Pseudepigrapha: An Introduction to the Literature of the Second Temple Period
(pp. 94-95) Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2014
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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