Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament (42 page)

5.
Seneca
To
Paul
greeting

young man whom I intended to send to

you. You know when and by whom and

We are distressed at your exceedingly

at what time and to whom a thing should

long retirement. What is the matter? What

be given or entrusted. Therefore I ask

makes you stay away? If it is the displeayou not to think yourself neglected, while sure of our empress because you have

I pay attention to the qualities of the

withdrawn from your old rite and creed

messenger. But you write somewhere

and are a convert, then you will be given

that you are pleased with my letter, and

an opportunity of asking her to believe

I count myself fortunate in the approval

that you acted reasonably, not lightly. A

of a man who is so great. For you, a

kind farewell.

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NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS

6.
To
Seneca
and
Lucilius
Paul
tienus, a farmer to whom appeared in the

greeting

territory of Reate two men who later

were found to be Castor and Pollux,

I may not speak with pen and ink conhe seemed thoroughly enlightened.

cerning what you have written to me, for

Farewell.

the one marks a thing down and defines

it, while the other makes it all too clear—

especially since I am certain that there

8.
To
Seneca
Paul
greeting

are some among your number, with you

and in your midst, who are able to un

Even though I am not unaware that our

derstand me. We must show respect to

Caesar is now fond of wonders, although

everyone, the more so as they are apt to

he may sometimes lapse, still he allows

find cause for offence. If we are patient

himself not to be rebuked, but to be inwith them we shall overcome them in formed. I think that it was a very serious

every way and on every side—that is, if

mistake on your part to wish to bring to

only they are the kind of people who can

his notice what is against his practice and

be sorry for what they have done. A kind

training. Inasmuch as he worships the

farewell.

gods of the heathen, I do not see what

you had in mind wishing him to know

this, unless I am to think that you are

7.
Annaeus
Seneca
to
Paul
and
doing this from your great love for me. I

Theophilus
greeting

beg you not to do this in the future. You

must also be careful not to offend our

I admit that I enjoyed reading your letters

empress while showing affection for me.

to the Galatians, and to the Corinthians,

Her displeasure, to be sure, cannot harm

and to the Achaeans, and may our relaus if it lasts, nor can we be helped if it tions be like that religious awe which you

never happens. As a queen she will not

manifest in these letters. For the holy

be insulted; as a woman she will be anspirit that is in you and high above you gry. A kind farewell.

expresses with lofty speech thoughts

worthy of reverence. Therefore since you

have such excellent matters to propose I

wish that refinement of language might

9.
Seneca
to
Paul
greeting

not be lacking to the majesty of your

theme. And in order that I may not keep

I know that it was not so much for your

anything secret from you, brother, and

own sake that you were disturbed when

burden my conscience, I confess that Au

I wrote to you that I had read my letters

gustus was affected by your sentiments.

to Caesar as by the nature of things,

When your treatise on the power that is

which withholds the minds of men from

in you was read to him, this was his reply:

all upright pursuits and practices,—so

he was amazed that one whose education

that I am not astonished today, particuhad not been normal could have such larly because I have learned this well

ideas. I answered him that the gods are

from many clear proofs. Therefore let us

accustomed to speak through the mouths

begin anew, and if in the past I have been

of the innocent and not through those

negligent in any way, you will grant parwho pride themselves on their learning.

don. I have sent you a book on elegance

When I gave him the example of Vaof expression. Farewell, dearest Paul.

THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN PAUL AND SENECA

163

10.
To
Seneca
Paul
greeting
oning, and just as the best is sacrificed as

one life for many, so he shall be sacrificed

Whenever I write to you and place my

for all and burned by fire. One hundred

name after yours, I commit a serious fault

and thirty-two private houses and four

and one incompatible with my status. For

thousand apartment-houses burned in six

I ought, as I have often claimed, to be all

days; the seventh day gave respite. I hope

things to all men and to observe towards

that you are in good health, brother. Writyou what the Roman law has granted for ten 28 March in the consulship of Frugi

the honour of the senate—namely, to

and Bassus [� ad 64].

choose the last place when I have finished

my letter, lest I desire to perform in an

inadequate and disgraceful manner what

12.
Seneca
to
Paul
greeting
is my own will. Farewell, most devoted

of teachers. Written 27 June in the con

Greetings, my dearly beloved Paul. If

sulship of Nero III and Messala [� ad

such a great man as you and one who is

58].

beloved of God is to be, I do not say

joined, but intimately associated in all

respects with me and my name, then your

11.
Seneca
to
Paul
greeting
Seneca will be wholly satisfied. Since,

therefore, you are the peak and crest of

Greetings, my dearly beloved Paul. Do

all the most lofty mountains, do you not,

you think I am not saddened and grieved

then, wish me to rejoice if I am so close

because you innocent people are repeatto you as to be considered a second self edly punished? Or because the whole

of yours? Therefore do not think that you

populace believes you so implacable and

are unworthy of having your name in first

so liable to guilt, thinking that every misplace in your letters, or else you may fortune in the city is due to you? But let

seem to be tempting me rather than praisus endure it calmly and take advantage ing me, especially since you know that

of whatever opportunity fortune allots to

you are a Roman citizen. For I wish that

us, until invincible happiness gives us

my position were yours, and that yours

release from our troubles. Earlier ages

were as mine. Farewell, my dearly beendured the Macedonian, the son of loved Paul. Written 23 March in the con

Philip, the Cyruses, Darius, Dionysius;

sulship of Apronianus and Capito [� ad

our own age endured Gaius Caesar; all

59].

of them were free to do whatever they

pleased. The source of the frequent fires

which the city of Rome suffers is plain.

But if lowly people had been allowed to

13.
Seneca
to
Paul
greeting
tell the reason, and if it were permitted

to speak safely in these times of ill-

Many writings composed by you are

fortune, everyone would now understand

throughout allegorical and enigmatic,

everything. Christians and Jews, charged

and for that reason you must adorn that

with responsibility for the fire—alas!—

powerful gift of truth and talent which

are being put to death, as is usually the

has been bestowed upon you not so much

case. That ruffian, whoever he is, whose

with embellishment of words as with a

pleasure is murdering and whose refuge

certain amount of refinement. And do not

is lying, is destined for his time of reckfear, as I remember I have frequently
164

NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS

said, that many who affect such things

The determination which your good

spoil the thoughts and emasculate the

sense has attained must never fail—

force of their subject-matter. I do wish

namely, to avoid the outward manifestayou would obey me and comply with the tions of the heathens and the Israelites.

pure Latin style, giving a good appear

You must make yourself a new herald of

ance to your noble utterances, in order

Jesus Christ by displaying with the

that the granting of this excellent gift may

praises of rhetoric that blameless wisdom

be worthily performed by you. A kind

which you have almost achieved and

farewell. Written 6 July in the consulship

which you will present to the temporal

of Lurco and Sabinus [� ad 58].

king and to the members of his household

and to his trusted friends, whom you will

find it difficult or nearly impossible to

14.
Paul
to
Seneca
greeting
persuade, since many of them are not at

all influenced by your presentations.

Things have been revealed to you in your

Once the word of God has inspired the

reflections which the Godhead has

blessing of life within them it will create

granted to few. Therefore I am certain

a new man, without corruption, an abidthat I am sowing a rich seed in a fertile ing being, hastening thence to God. Farefield, not a corruptible matter, but the well, Seneca, most dear to us. Written 1

abiding word of God, derived from him

August in the consulship of Lurco and

who is ever-increasing and ever-abiding.

Sabinus [� ad 58].

Paul’s Letter to the

Laodiceans

The New Testament book of Colossians mentions a letter sent by Paul to the church of Laodicea in Asia Minor (Col 4:16).1 No letter addressed to the Laodiceans survives from Paul’s own hand, but we know that one had been placed in circulation by the second century, since the Muratorian canon (see below) warns against it as a Marcionite forgery.2

At a later time another letter to the Laodiceans appeared, also claiming to be from Paul; the letter became exceedingly popular: it is found in a number of Latin manuscripts of the New Testament down through the Middle Ages. This letter—which is given below—is evidently not, however, the Marcionite forgery mentioned in the Muratorian canon. For there are no clear and compelling Marcionite tendencies here. In fact, the letter shows few tendencies of any kind. It instead represents a kind of pastiche of statements drawn from Paul’s canonical writings, especially Philippians: it evidences no specific occasion and addresses no clear theological or ethical issues.

It is difficult to see why a pseudonymous author would choose to forge a letter in the name of Paul without trying to achieve some kind of overarching purpose such as attacking a particular heresy (cf. 3 Corinthians) or promoting Paul’s apostolic status (cf. the correspondence of Paul and Seneca). It may be that this particular letter was forged by a proto-orthodox author precisely in order to counter the
Marcionite
Letter to the Laodiceans.

By compiling a number of Pauline commonplaces, the author could claim that this, rather than the heretical forgery of Marcion’s followers, was actually the letter Paul had mentioned at the end of his epistle to the Colossians.

It is difficult to determine when this letter was written, but most scholars would date it to the second or third centuries.

1See further, Ehrman,
Lost
Christianities
, 213–15. 2On the life and teachings of Marcion, see Ehrman,
Lost
Christianities
, 103–09.

Translation by J. K. Elliott,
Apocryphal
New
Testament
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993) 546; used with permission.

165

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NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS

1
Paul, an apostle not of men and not

9
And his mercy will work in you, that

through man, but through Jesus Christ, to

you may have the same love and be of

the brethren who are in Laodicea:

one mind.
10
Therefore, beloved, as you

2
Grace to you and peace from God the