A Third Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians

A THIRD EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. (AS FOUND IN THE ARMENIAN BIBLE.) BY FREDERIC CLIFT, A.B., M.D. Having in previous articles* endeavored to arrive at the mean- ing and value of so-called Apocryphal and Lost Scriptures, it may now be profitable to consider one of the apocryphal writings, as found in the Bible recognized and used by the Armenian Catholic church. Readers of the English ver- sion will recall that St. Paulf writes of a third, perhaps of a fourth, epis- tle to Corinthians, but not being in- serted therein, or included in the ac- cepted English Apocrypha, they are classed as "Lost Scripture." Such an epistle to the Corinthians, is, how- ever, found in the Armenian Apocry- pha. The history of the early churches of Asia and Europe, and their differ- ent copies of the scriptures, is an in- dr frederic clift. teresting one. After the death of our Savior but little is known of the subsequent work of the Apostles. They, however, seem to have been called in from their several fields of labor to attend the first General Coun-

• Improvement Era, Vol. X, p. 849, and Vol, XI, p. 1. t I Cor. 5: 9, and II Cor. 2:3; 7:8.

98 IMPROVEMENT ERA. cil of the Church at Jerusalem, in A. D. 51, when, as we learn, James, the Lord's brother, acted as presiding elder or president.* At the close of this council, it would appear that the apostles separated, each taking charge of the mission work in some assigned portion of the then known world. Each knew his field; there was then no pope to control; each established the Church in the country to which he had been sent by the presi- dency. Gradually the different branches of the Church received local or territorial names, such as Ephesus, Smyrna, 'Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.f But all accepted and taught the sam3 gospel, and composed part of the same universal Church. In view of the fact that our elders have recently translated the Book of Mormon into the Armenian language, and are opening up this historic country, the following may prove of interest to many of our people. The ten tribes, when they were allowed to take their departure from Media- Assyria, took a northward course, as described by the prophet Esdras,and traveled through part of what is now known as Asia Minor, to a region called Arsareth: "A further country where never man dwelt * * * * a great journey, even of a year and a half."$ Many stragglers, discouraged by the hardships encountered in their passage through the mountain- ous country forming the narrows or canyons of the Euphrates, were doubtless left by the way, and later scattered through Asia Minor, and they are possibly those referred to in the history of the Maccabees, and by St. John as "the dispersion among the Greeks. "§ Whatever the cause, the "scattered" and "those who serve among the heathen"|| were ripe forthe harvest; and St. Paul's missionary journeys, although not in Armenia proper, were largely amongthe "dispersion" of Asia Minor his own people— for, as he— himself tells us, he was born in Tarsus of Cilicia.^" The early history of the Armenian, like that of the ancient British, church is mainly

• Acts 15: 6-29. t Revelation, chapt.rs 2 and 3. X II Esdras 13: 39-47, and Imp. Era, Vol. 10, p. '859. \ II Mace. 1:27. John 7: 35. \ Acts, chapter 13 e. t seq.

: THIRD EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE .CORINTHIANS. 99 legendary. It is supposed to have been founded as early as A.D. i 36. the Armenians being credited as the first of the heathen nations to accept Christianity. Abgar, their king, is said to have suffered with .leprosy, and having heard of the miracles performed by Christ, is reputed to have sent a letter to our Lord by special mes- sengers, possibly Greek Jews of the dispersion, and to have received a reply. The suggestion has been made that these messengers were the Gieeks whose visit to Christ on Palm Sunday, is recorded by St. John.* The following are found among the treasures of the Armenian church, and though considered spurious by the majority of the most eminent Greek, Latin and English authorities, their primitive source, however, should not be overlooked, especially by Latter-day Saints, to whom a standard for guidance in such mat- ters has been given. The King's letter: I have heard of Thee and of the , cures wrought by Thee, without herbs or medicine, ; for it is reported that Thou restoreth the blind, and maketh the lame to walk, cleanseth the lepers, casteth out devils and unclean spirits, and healeth those that are tormented of diseases of long continuance, and thst Thou also raiseth the dead. Hearing all this of Thee, I was fully persuaded that Thou art the very God come down from heaven to do such miracles, or that Thou art the Son of God, and so performeth them; wherefore I write to Thee to entreat Thee

---

to take the trouble to come and cure my disease. Besides, I hear the Jews mur- mur against Thee, and want to torture Thee. I have a small and beautiful city, sufficient for us both. reads Our Lord's reply, written according to tradition, by St. Thomas, • Blessed is he who believes in Me without seeing Me, for it is written of Me, that they that see Me shall not believe, and they that have not seen Me i-hall be- lieve and be saved. As concerning the request that I should come to thee, it becomes Me to fufill all things for which I was sent, and, when I have fulfilled these, then I shall ascend to Him that sent Me; but after My ascension I will send one of My disciples, who shall cure thee of thy disease, and give life to thee and those who are with thee. In pursuance of this promise, it is believed by the Armenians that the Apostle Thaddeus visited Edessa, now known as Urfa, and

• John 12: 20.

100 IMPROVEMENT ERA. tradition asserts that he took with him the spear with which Christ's side was pierced when on the cross. A spear is preserved I to this day in the cathedral church of Edjmiatzin, along with I other precious relics and is brought out on all solemn occasions. Abgar, being cured of his leprosy, as promised in the letter, was baptized with all his household, and was thus the first monarch to embrace Christiantity. He has ever since been regarded by his church as one of their saints. Armenian history bears testimony to his faith and zeal, as also to the fact that he wrote letters to the Emperor Tiberius, as well as to Artaxes, king of Persia, urg- ing them to accept Christianity. After Abgar 's death, persecu- tion became the order of the day, Thaddeus being put to death a few years later by Sanatrook, a nephew of Abgar. About A.D. 49, St. Bartholomew took up the work, but is alleged to have been, shortly after, flayed alive by this same Sana- trook, and crucified and buried in the city of Arevpanus, now known as Aghbah. It is said that Jude, the apostle, also visited Armenia, and was put to death and buried in the city of Urmi. Whatever the value of these primitive traditions, Ar- menia can hardly be said to have had a national church during this first period, although there are evident traces of Christian worship in the country at a very early time. And, as the blood of the martyrs shed in Missouri and Illinois was the seed of the Church ih these "latter days," so it was in former days in Armenia — until finally Gregory, the Illuminator, was, in A.D. 302, consecrated Supreme Patriarch. Later he baptized King Tirdat in the Eu- phrates, and built the great church of Edjmiatzin, round which the city grew. was subsequently recognized as an apostolic see, It and has ever since been occupied by the Catholicos of Holy Edj- miatzin. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says: "With the introduc- tion of Christianity, a great development of literary activity took place, which chiefly expended itself however, in translations from , the Syriac and Greek. Armenian students were found in Athens, Byzantium, Alexandria and Rome. * * * * To this tendency we owe the preservation in Armenia of many works that have per- ished in their original language."* In spite of. many national Encyclopedia Britanica, Vol I, Art. Armenian Literature.

THIRD EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. 101 calamities and internal dissensions, the Armenian church is entirely distinct from the Greek, Russian, Roman, or Syrian churches. It has largely preserved its primitive character, doctrine and dis- cipline. Prayers are said for the dead, and entreaty is made for the pardon of their sins, but this primitive and apostolic church does not believe in purgatory nor admit of indulgences. The Ar- menians have, from the first founding of their church by the apos- tles of old — as the Latter-day Saints have by special revelation in these last days* — performed their baptisms by immersion. So, too, confirmation, or the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, is administered to children immediately after baptism, fol- lowing which the sacrament is partaken of. The original Armenian Bible, as used in their national church, is a translation of the early Greek, Syrian and kindred ver- sions. It agrees in general features with the Bibles of the Greek, Roman and English churches, except that it has preserved several portions of scriptures, otherwise lost, amongst which is found a Third Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. The Armenians recog- nize not only the epistle itself, but also the one to which it is an answer. Both are set forth in their bible, but being considered apocryphal, are placed at the end of the book. It must be remem- bered that there are two bibles in use in Armenia: (1) The orignal Bible as used in their national church; (2) An Armenian translation of the King James English version. This Armenian-English version is published by the English and American Bible Societies, and is used by the Protestant sects in Armenia. Our elders, if they wish to consult or inquire further as to these apocryphal writings, must obtain a copy of the national bible. The history of the finding and translation of these epistles is told by Lord Byron in some letters under date January, 1817, in one of which, speaking of the monks of the society of the con- vent of St. Lazarus, an Armenian monastery on the island of St. Lazzaro, in the gulf of Venice, he says: These men are the priesthood of an oppressed and a noble nation which has par-

• Doc. and Cov., Sec. 20: 72 et seq.

: — 102 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . taken of the proscription and bondage of the Jews and of the Greeks, without the sullenness of the former or servility of the latter. This people has attained riches without usury, and all the honors that can be awarded to slavery without intrigue.

• • • • It would be difficult, perhaps, to find the annals of a nation less stained with crime than those of the Armenians, whose virtues have been those of peace, and their vices those of compulsion. But whatever may have been their destiny — and it has been bitter —whatever it may be in future, their country must ever be one of the most interesting on the globe, and perhaps their language only requires to be more studied to become more attractive. In another letter he writes It is a rich language, however. * * * * There are some very curious manuscripts in the monastery, as well as books; translations also from Greek originals, now lost, and from Persian and Syriac, etc., besides works of their own people.* Lord Byron made numerous translations from the Armenian into English, and included among them are to be found the two following epistles. The fact that they have been published, and are being sold by the authorities of the Armenian church, is evi- dence of their correctness in translation and value, in the eyes of those in whose possession they are found. In reading them, how- ever, the criticisms of Dr. Paley, one of the most learned theolo- gians of the English church, should be kept in view. He says: It is a versute (crafty) and specious forgery, introduced with a list of names of persons who wrote to St. Paul from Corinth, and is preceded by an account sufficiently particular of the manner in which the epistle was sent from Corinth to St. Paul, and the answer returned. But they are names which no one ever heard of, and the account it is impossible to combine with anything found in the Acts or the other Epistles, t With regard to the implication that it was written in reply to a letter from Corinth, it will be remembered that the First Epistle was likewise written in reply to one received from the Corinthians "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me. "I
• Lord Byron's Armenian Exercises and Poetry, published and sold by t\e monks of the convent of St. Lazzaro. Venice, Italy. These exercises would be of service to our elders in their study of the language. t Paley' s Horoe Paulina, chap. 1. J II Cor. 7: 1.

: THIRD EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. 103 The following is a transcript as published by the monks of St. Lazzaro THE EPISTLE OF THE CORINTHIANS TO ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE. (Found in the Armenian Bible, as an Apocryphal writing.) TRANSLATED BY LORD BYRON.

1. Stephen, and the elders with him, Dabnus, Eubulus, Theophilus and Xinon, to Paul our Father and evangelist, and faithful master in Jesus Christ, health.
2. Two men have come to Corinth, Simon by name and Cle- bus, who vehemently disturb the faith of some with deceitful and corrupt words.
3. Of which words thou shouldst inform thyself:
4. For neither have we heard such words from thee, nor from the other apostles:
5. But we know only that what we have heard from thee and from them we have kept firmly.
6. But in this chiefly has our Lord had compassion, that, whilst thou art yet with us in the flesh, we are again about to hear from thee.
7. Therefore do thou write to us or come thyself amongst us quickly.
8. We believe in the Lord, that, as it was revealed to Theonas, he hath delivered thee from the hands of the unright- eous.
9. But these are the sinful words of these impure men, for thus do they say and teach.
10. That it behooves not to admit the prophets:
11. Neither do they affirm the omnipotence of God:
12. Neither do they affirm the resurrection of the flesh.
13. Neither do they affirm that man was altogether created by God:
14. Neither do they affirm that Jesus Christ was born in the flesh from the Virgin Mary:
15. Neither do they affirm that the world was the work of God, but of some one of the angels.
16. Therefore, do thou make haste to come amongst us:

. 104 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 17. That this city of the Corinthians may remain without
scandal 18. And that the folly of these men may be made manifest by an open refutation; fare thee well. The deacons, Thereptus and Tichus, received and conveyed the epistle to the city of the Philippians. When Paul received the epistle, although he was then in chains on account of Statonice, the wife of Apopholanus, yet as it were, forgetting his bonds, he mourned over these words, and said weeping: it were better for — me to be dead and with the Lord. For while I am in this body, and hear the wretched words of such false doctrine, behold grief arises upon grief, and this trouble adds a weight to my chains, when I behold this calamity and progress of the machinations of Satan, who searcheth to do wrong. And thus with deep affliction Paul composed his reply to the epistle. EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. (Found in the Armenian Bible as an Apocryphal writing.) TRANSLATED BY LORD BYRON.

1. Paul, in bonds for Jesus Christ, disturbed by so many errors, to his Corinthian brethren, health.
2. I nothing marvel that the preachers of evil have made this progress.
3. For because the Lord Jesus is about to fulfil his com- ng, verily on this account do certain men pervert and despise his words. 47 But I verily, from the beginning, have taught you that only which I myself received from the former apostles, who always remained with the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. And I now say unto you, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, who was of the seed of David.
5. According to the annunciation of the Holy Ghost, sent to her by our Father from heaven:
6. That Jesus might be introduced in the world, and deliver our flesh by his flesh, and that he might raise us from the dead.
7. As in this also he himself became the example.

; : THIRD EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. 105 9 . That it might be made manifest that man was created by the Father. 10. He has not remained in perdition unsought. 11. But he is sought for, that he might be revived by adoption. 12. For God, who is the Lord of all, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who made heaven and earth, sent first the prophets to the Jews. 13. That he would absolve them from their sins, and bring them to his justice. 14. Because he wished to save first the house of Israel, he bestowed and poured forth his spirit upon the prophets 15. That they should for a long time preach the worship of God and the nativity of Christ. 16. But he who was the prince of evil, when he wished to make himself God, laid his hand upon them. 17. And bound all men in sin. 18. Because the judgment of the world was approaching. 19. But almighty God, when he willed to justify, was- unwil- ling to abandon his creature 20. But when he saw his affliction, he had compassion upon him; 21 . And at the end of the time he sent the Holy Ghost into the Virgin, foretold by the prophets, 22. Who, believing readily, was made worthy to conceive, and bring forth our Lord Jesus Christ. 23. That from this perishable body, in which the evil spirit was glorified, he should be reproved, and manifested, that he was not God. 24. For Jesus Christ in his flesh had recalled and saved this perishable flesh, and drawn it into the eternal life by faith. 25. Because in- his body he should prepare a pure temple of justice for all ages; 26. In whom we also, when we believe, are saved. 27. Therefore, know ye that these men are not the children of justice, but the children of wrath. 28. Who turn away from themselves the compassion of God,

; : 106 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 29. Who say that neither the heavens nor the earth were altogether works made by the hand of the Father of all things. 30. But these cursed men have the doctrine of the serpent. 31. But do ye, by the power of God, withdraw yourselves far from these, and expel from amongst you the doctrine of the wicked. 32. Because you are not children of disobedience but the sons of the beloved Church. 33. And on this account, the time of the resurrection is preached to all men. 34. Therefore, they who affirm that there is no resurrection of the flesh, they indeed shall not be raised up to eternal life, 35. But to judgment and condemnation shall the unbeliever arise in the flesh; 36. For to that body which denies the resurrection of the body, shall be denied the resurrection, because such are found to refuse the resurrection. 37. But you also, Corinthians! have known from the seeds of wheat and from other seeds 38. That one grain falls dry into the earth, arid within it first dies; 39. And afterwards rises again by the will of the Lord indued with the same body. 40. Neither indeed does it arise the same simple body, but manifold and filled with blessing. 41. But we must produce the example not only from seed, but from the honorable bodies of men. 42. Ye also have known Jonas the son of Amittai; 43. Because he delayed to preach to the Ninevites he was swallowed up in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights. 44. And after three days, God heard his supplication and brought him out from the deep abyss. 45. Neither was any part of his body corrupted; neither was his eyebrow bent down 46. And how much more for you, oh men of little faith! If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, he will raise you up, even as he himself hath risen.

THIRD EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. 107 47. If the bones of Elisha the prophet, falling upon the dead, revived the dead, 48. By how much more shall ye, who are supported by the flesh and the blood and the Spirit of Christ, arise again on that day, with a perfect body? 49. Elias the prophet embracing the widow's son, raised him from the dead, 50. By how much more shall Jesus Christ revive you on that day with a perfect body, even as he himself hath risen? 51 . But if ye receive other things vainly, 52. Henceforth no one shall cause me to travail; for I bear on my body these bonds 53. To obtain Christ, and I suffer with patience these afflic- tions to become worthy of the resurrection of the dead, 54. And do each of you having received the law from the hands of the blessed prophets and the holy gospel, firmly main- tain it; 55. To the end that you may be rewarded in the resur- rection of the dead and the possession of life eternal. 56. But if any of ye not believing shall trespass, he shall be judged with the misdoers and punished with those who have false belief. 57. Because such are the generations of vipers, and the children of dragons and basilisks. 58. Drive far from amongst ye, and fly from such with the aid of our Lord Jesus Christ. 59. And the peace and grace of the beloved Son be with you. Amen. Whatever may be our own individual opinion as to the value of these epistles, as Latter-day Saints, we are ready and willing to search for and test the truth by the standard revealed to us by our Father. ''Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things * * * ye would ask God the eternal Father, in the name of Ch v Ut, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of

' 108 IMPR YEMEN T ERA . the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." * It is not necessary that we should accept the very words of this translation, for it is the work of a fallible man. We, however, look for the germs of truth that are to be found in all scripture, from whatever source it may come. "We believe all that God .has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God."f "There- fore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit mani- fested truth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit, shall obtain benefit therefrom. "$ Provo, Utah.

• Book of Mormon, Moroni 10: 3-5. t Articles of Faith, 9. X Doc. and Cov., 91: 4-5. "^' ":v. •••• * jjK: " ,1. ffi'tV \i i r | ~. - . ,.* %»*' ^ AN ASPEN FOREST IN THE UINTAH MOUNTAINS. Here on the mountain tops, silent and untrimmed, Quaking asps encircle us in leafy pride. Lone or in groups, their tall trunks and trembling crowns, Fresh, and with wild spell of age, rise far and wide.