"The Book of Tobit" In It's Entirety! My Favorite Old Testament Book (It's in Our Catholic & Orthodox Bibles)

The Book of Tobit

From the  Apocryphal OT Literature Page [External Link]

Tob.1 


1] The book of the acts of Tobit the son of Tobiel, son of Ananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, of the descendants of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali, 
[2] who in the days of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, was taken into captivity from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh Naphtali in Galilee above Asher. 
[3] I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. 
[4] Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a young man, the whole tribe of Naphtali my forefather deserted the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated and established for all generations for ever. 
[5] All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my forefather. 
[6] But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained for all Israel by an everlasting decree. Taking the first fruits and the tithes of my produce and the first shearings, I would give these to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar. 
[7] Of all my produce I would give a tenth to the sons of Levi who ministered at Jerusalem; a second tenth I would sell, and I would go and spend the proceeds each year at Jerusalem; 
[8] the third tenth I would give to those to whom it was my duty, as Deborah my father's mother had commanded me, for I was left an orphan by my father. 
[9] When I became a man I married Anna, a member of our family, and by her I became the father of Tobias. 
[10] Now when I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my brethren and my relatives ate the food of the Gentiles; 
[11] but I kept myself from eating it, 
[12] because I remembered God with all my heart. 
[13] Then the Most High gave me favor and good appearance in the sight of Shalmaneser, and I was his buyer of provisions. 
[14] So I used to go into Media, and once at Rages in Media I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias. 
[15] But when Shalmaneser died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place; and under him the highways were unsafe, so that I could no longer go into Media. 
[16] In the days of Shalmaneser I performed many acts of charity to my brethren. 
[17] I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nineveh, I would bury him. 
[18] And if Sennacherib the king put to death any who came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he put many to death. When the bodies were sought by the king, they were not found. 
[19] Then one of the men of Nineveh went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them; so I hid myself. When I learned that I was being searched for, to be put to death, I left home in fear. 
[20] Then all my property was confiscated and nothing was left to me except my wife Anna and my son Tobias. 
[21] But not fifty days passed before two of Sennacherib's sons killed him, and they fled to the mountains of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon, his son, reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahikar, the son of my brother Anael, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the entire administration. 
[22] Ahikar interceded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Now Ahikar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administration of the accounts, for Esarhaddon had appointed him second to himself. He was my nephew. 

Tob.2 


[1] When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. 
[2] Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, "Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you." 
[3] But he came back and said, "Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place." 
[4] So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body to a place of shelter until sunset. 
[5] And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. 
[6] Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said, "Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your festivities into lamentation." And I wept. 
[7] When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body. 
[8] And my neighbors laughed at me and said, "He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!" 
[9] On the same night I returned from burying him, and because I was defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered. 
[10] I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and their fresh droppings fell into my open eyes and white films formed on my eyes. I went to physicians, but they did not help me. Ahikar, however, took care of me until he went to Elymais. 
[11] Then my wife Anna earned money at women's work. 
[12] She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her wages, they also gave her a kid; 
[13] and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, "Where did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for it is not right to eat what is stolen." 
[14] And she said, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, "Where are your charities and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!" 

Tob.3 


[1] Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying, 
[2] "Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all they ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever. 
[3] Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed before thee. 
[4] For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed. 
[5] And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. For we did not walk in truth before thee. 
[6] And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me." 
[7] On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by her father's maids, 
[8] because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmodeus had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids said to her, "Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from any of them. 
[9] Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!" 
[10] When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, "I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave. 
[11] So she prayed by her window and said, "Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever. 
[12] And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward thee. 
[13] Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no more. 
[14] Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man, 
[15] and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father's only child, and he has no child to be his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman's son for whom I should keep myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I live? But if it be not pleasing to thee to take my life, command that respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear reproach no more." 
[16] The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God. 
[17] And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room. 

Tob.4 


[1] On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself; 
[2] "I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias so that I may explain to him about the money before I die?" 
[3] So he called him and said, "My son, when I die, bury me, and do not neglect your mother. Honor her all the days of your life; do what is pleasing to her, and do not grieve her. 
[4] Remember, my son, that she faced many dangers for you while you were yet unborn. When she dies bury her beside me in the same grave. 
[5] "Remember the Lord our God all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing. 
[6] For if you do what is true, your ways will prosper through your deeds. 
[7] Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 
[8] If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 
[9] So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 
[10] For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness; 
[11] and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High. 
[12] "Beware, my son, of all immorality. First of all take a wife from among the descendants of your fathers and do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of old, all took wives from among their brethren. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land. 
[13] So now, my son, love your brethren, and in your heart do not disdain your brethren and the sons and daughters of your people by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion; and in shiftlessness there is loss and great want, because shiftlessness is the mother of famine. 
[14] Do not hold over till the next day the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him at once; and if you serve God you will receive payment. "Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and be disciplined in all your conduct. 
[15] And what you hate, do not do to any one. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way. 
[16] Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus to charity, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you made it. 
[17] Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners. 
[18] Seek advice from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel. 
[19] Bless the Lord God on every occasion; ask him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none of the nations has understanding; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and according to his will he humbles whomever he wishes. "So, my son, remember my commands, and do not let them be blotted out of your mind. 
[20] And now let me explain to you about the ten talents of silver which I left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. 
[21] Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great wealth if you fear God and refrain from every sin and do what is pleasing in his sight." 

Tob.5 


[1] Then Tobias answered him, "Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me; 
[2] but how can I obtain the money when I do not know the man?" 
[3] Then Tobit gave him the receipt, and said to him, "Find a man to go with you and I will pay him wages as long as I live; and go and get the money." 
[4] So he went to look for a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel, 
[5] but Tobias did not know it. Tobias said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages in Media? Are you acquainted with that region?"
[6] The angel replied, "I will go with you; I am familiar with the way, and I have stayed with our brother Gabael." 
[7] Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I shall tell my father." 
[8] And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay." So he went in and said to his father, "I have found some one to go with me." He said, "Call him to me, so that I may learn to what tribe he belongs, and whether he is a reliable man to go with you." 
[9] So Tobias invited him in; he entered and they greeted each other. 
[10] Then Tobit said to him, "My brother, to what tribe and family do you belong? Tell me. " 
[11] But he answered, "Are you looking for a tribe and a family or for a man whom you will pay to go with your son?" And Tobit said to him, "I should like to know, my brother, your people and your name." 
[12] He replied, "I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias, one of your relatives." 
[13] Then Tobit said to him, "You are welcome, my brother. Do not be angry with me because I tried to learn your tribe and family. You are a relative of mine, of a good and noble lineage. For I used to know Ananias and Jathan, the sons of the great Shemaiah, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship and offered the first-born of our flocks and the tithes of our produce. They did not go astray in the error of our brethren. My brother, you come of good stock. 
[14] But tell me, what wages am I to pay you -- a drachma a day, and expenses for yourself as for my son? 
[15] And besides, I will add to your wages if you both return safe and sound." So they agreed to these terms. 
[16] Then he said to Tobias, "Get ready for the journey, and good success to you both." So his son made the preparations for the journey. And his father said to him, "Go with this man; God who dwells in heaven will prosper your way, and may his angel attend you." So they both went out and departed, and the young man's dog was with them. 
[17] But Anna, his mother, began to weep, and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hands as he goes in and out before us? 
[18] Do not add money to money, but consider it as rubbish as compared to our child. 
[19] For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us." 
[20] And Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him. 
[21] For a good angel will go with him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back safe and sound." Tob 5:[22] So she stopped weeping. 

Tob.6 


[1] Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there. 
[2] Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man; 
[3] and the angel said to him, "Catch the fish." So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land. 
[4] Then the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely." 
[5] So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish. And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbatana. 
[6] Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?" 
[7] He replied, "As for the heart and liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again.
[8] And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured." 
[9] When they approached Ecbatana, 
[10] the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage, 
[11] because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman. 
[12] The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Raguel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance." 
[13] Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber. 
[14] Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them." 
[15] But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage. 
[16] When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke. 
[17] Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her." When Tobias heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her. 

Tob.7 


[1] When they reached Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, Sarah met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought them into the house. 
[2] Then Raguel said to his wife Edna, "How much the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!" 
[3] And Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brethren?" They answered him, "We belong to the sons of Naphtali, who are captives in Nineveh." 
[4] So he said to them, "Do you know our brother Tobit?" And they said, "Yes, we do." And he asked them, "Is he in good health?" 
[5] They replied, "He is alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is my father." 
[6] Then Raguel sprang up and kissed him and wept. 
[7] And he blessed him and exclaimed, "Son of that good and noble man!" When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept. 
[8] And his wife Edna and his daughter Sarah wept. They received them very warmly; and they killed a ram from the flock and set large servings of food before them. Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, speak of those things which you talked about on the journey, and let the matter be settled." 
[9] So he communicated the proposal to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat, drink, and be merry; 
[10] for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you. 
[11] I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry." And Tobias said, "I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me." 
[12] So Raguel said, "Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best." 
[13] Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias to be his wife, saying, "Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father." And he blessed them. 
[14] Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it. 
[15] Then they began to eat. 
[16] And Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it." 
[17] so she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl began to weep. But the mother comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her, 
[18] "Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter." 

Tob.8 


[1] When they had finished eating, they escorted Tobias in to her. 
[2] As he went he remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the live ashes of incense and put the heart and liver of the fish upon them and made a smoke. 
[3] And when the demon smelled the odor he fled to the remotest parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him. 
[4] When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the bed and said, "Sister, get up, and let us pray that the Lord may have mercy upon us." 
[5] And Tobias began to pray, "Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed be thy holy and glorious name for ever. Let the heavens and all thy creatures bless thee. 
[6] Thou madest Adam and gavest him Eve his wife as a helper and support. From them the race of mankind has sprung. Thou didst say, `It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.' 
[7] And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find mercy and may grow old together with her." 
[8] And she said with him, "Amen." 
[9] Then they both went to sleep for the night. But Raguel arose and went and dug a grave, 
[10] with the thought, "Perhaps he too will die." 
[11] Then Raguel went into his house 
[12] and said to his wife Edna, "Send one of the maids to see whether he is alive; and if he is not, let us bury him without any one knowing about it." 
[13] So the maid opened the door and went in, and found them both asleep. 
[14] And she came out and told them that he was alive. 
[15] Then Raguel blessed God and said, "Blessed art thou, O God, with every pure and holy blessing. Let thy saints and all thy creatures bless thee; let all thy angels and thy chosen people bless thee for ever. 
[16] Blessed art thou, because thou hast made me glad. It has not happened to me as I expected; but thou hast treated us according to thy great mercy. 
[17] Blessed art thou, because thou hast had compassion on two only children. Show them mercy, O Lord; and bring their lives to fulfilment in health and happiness and mercy." 
[18] Then he ordered his servants to fill in the grave. 
[19] After this he gave a wedding feast for them which lasted fourteen days. 
[20] And before the days of the feast were over, Raguel declared by oath to Tobias that he should not leave until the fourteen days of the wedding feast were ended, 
[21] that then he should take half of Raguel's property and return in safety to his father, and that the rest would be his "when my wife and I die." 

Tob.9 


[1] Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him, 
[2] "Brother Azarias, take a servant and two camels with you and go to Gabael at Rages in Media and get the money for me; and bring him to the wedding feast. 
[3] For Raguel has sworn that I should not leave; 
[4] but my father is counting the days, and if I delay long he will be greatly distressed." 
[5] So Raphael made the journey and stayed over night with Gabael. He gave him the receipt, and Gabael brought out the money bags with their seals intact and gave them to him. 
[6] In the morning they both got up early and came to the wedding feast. And Gabael blessed Tobias and his wife. 

Tob.10 


[1] Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the journey had expired and they did not arrive, 
[2] he said, "Is it possible that he has been detained? Or is it possible that Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?" 
[3] And he was greatly distressed. 
[4] And his wife said to him, "The lad has perished; his long delay proves it." Then she began to mourn for him, and said, 
[5] "Am I not distressed, my child, that I let you go, you who are the light of my eyes?" 
[6] But Tobit said to her, "Be still and stop worrying; he is well." 
[7] And she answered him, "Be still and stop deceiving me; my child has perished." And she went out every day to the road by which they had left; she ate nothing in the daytime, and throughout the nights she never stopped mourning for her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding feast had expired which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there. At that time Tobias said to Raguel, "Send me back, for my father and mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again." 
[8] But his father-in-law said to him, "Stay with me, and I will send messengers to your father, and they will inform him how things are with you." 
[9] Tobias replied, "No, send me back to my father." 
[10] So Raguel arose and gave him his wife Sarah and half of his property in slaves, cattle, and money. 
[11] And when he had blessed them he sent them away, saying, "The God of heaven will prosper you, my children, before I die." 
[12] He said also to his daughter, "Honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of you. " And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, "The Lord of heaven bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her." 

Tob.11 


[1] After this Tobias went on his way, praising God because he had made his journey a success. And he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna. So he continued on his way until they came near to Nineveh. 
[2] Then Raphael said to Tobias, "Are you not aware, brother, of how you left your father? 
[3] Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house. 
[4] And take the gall of the fish with you." So they went their way, and the dog went along behind them. 
[5] Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. 
[6] And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, "Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!" 
[7] Raphael said, "I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. 
[8] You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you." 
[9] Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, "I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die." And they both wept. 
[10] Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him 
[11] and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his father's eyes, saying, "Be of good cheer, father." 
[12] And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them, 
[13] and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes. 
[14] Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, "Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all thy holy angels. 
[15] For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see my son Tobias!" And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media. 
[16] Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see. 
[17] And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, "Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother." So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nineveh. 
[18] Ahikar and his nephew Nadab came, 
[19] and Tobias' marriage was celebrated for seven days with great festivity. 

Tob.12 


[1] Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more." 
[2] He replied, "Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I have brought back. 
[3] For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the money for me, and he also healed you." 
[4] The old man said, "He deserves it." 
[5] So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you two have brought back." 
[6] Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: "Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. 
[7] It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. 
[8] Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. 
[9] For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fulness of life; 
[10] but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives. 
[11] "I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.' 
[12] And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. 
[13] When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. 
[14] So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 
[15] I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One." 
[16] They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid. 
[17] But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. 
[18] For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever. 
[19] All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. 
[20] And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened." 
[21] Then they stood up; but they saw him no more. 
[22] So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them. 

Tob.13 


[1] Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said: 
"Blessed is God who lives for ever, and blessed is his kingdom. 
[2] For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; he leads down to Hades, and brings up again, and there is no one who can escape his hand. 
[3] Acknowledge him before the nations, O sons of Israel; for he has scattered us among them. 
[4] Make his greatness known there, and exalt him in the presence of all the living; because he is our Lord and God, he is our Father for ever. 
[5] He will afflict us for our iniquities; and again he will show mercy, and will gather us from all the nations among whom you have been scattered. 
[6] If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do what is true before him, then he will turn to you and will not hide his face from you. But see what he will do with you; give thanks to him with your full voice. Praise the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages. I give him thanks in the land of my captivity, and I show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners. Turn back, you sinners, and do right before him; who knows if he will accept you and have mercy on you? 
[7] I exalt my God; my soul exalts the King of heaven, and will rejoice in his majesty. 
[8] Let all men speak, and give him thanks in Jerusalem. 
[9] O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will afflict you for the deeds of your sons, but again he will show mercy to the sons of the righteous. 
[10] Give thanks worthily to the Lord, and praise the King of the ages, that his tent may be raised for you again with joy. May he cheer those within you who are captives, and love those within you who are distressed, to all generations for ever. 
[11] Many nations will come from afar to the name of the Lord God, bearing gifts in their hands, gifts for the King of heaven. Generations of generations will give you joyful praise. 
[12] Cursed are all who hate you; blessed for ever will be all who love you. 
[13] Rejoice and be glad for the sons of the righteous; for they will be gathered together, and will praise the Lord of the righteous. 
[14] How blessed are those who love you! They will rejoice in your peace. Blessed are those who grieved over all your afflictions; for they will rejoice for you upon seeing all your glory, and they will be made glad for ever. 
[15] Let my soul praise God the great King. 
[16] For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires and emeralds, her walls with precious stones, and her towers and battlements with pure gold. 
[17] The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl and ruby and stones of Ophir; 
[18] all her lanes will cry `Hallelujah!' and will give praise, saying, `Blessed is God, who has exalted you for ever.'" 

Tob.14 


[1] Here Tobit ended his words of praise. 
[2] He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and after eight years he regained it. He gave alms, and he continued to fear the Lord God and to praise him. 
[3] When he had grown very old he called his son and grandsons, and said to him, "My son, take your sons; behold, I have grown old and am about to depart this life. 
[4] Go to Media, my son, for I fully believe what Jonah the prophet said about Nineveh, that it will be overthrown. But in Media there will be peace for a time. Our brethren will be scattered over the earth from the good land, and Jerusalem will be desolate. The house of God in it will be burned down and will be in ruins for a time. 
[5] But God will again have mercy on them, and bring them back into their land; and they will rebuild the house of God, though it will not be like the former one until the times of the age are completed. After this they will return from the places of their captivity, and will rebuild Jerusalem in splendor. And the house of God will be rebuilt there with a glorious building for all generations for ever, just as the prophets said of it. 
[6] Then all the Gentiles will turn to fear the Lord God in truth, and will bury their idols. 
[7] All the Gentiles will praise the Lord, and his people will give thanks to God, and the Lord will exalt his people. And all who love the Lord God in truth and righteousness will rejoice, showing mercy to our brethren. 
[8] "So now, my son, leave Nineveh, because what the prophet Jonah said will surely happen. 
[9] But keep the law and the commandments, and be merciful and just, so that it may be well with you. 
[10] Bury me properly, and your mother with me. And do not live in Nineveh any longer. See, my son, what Nadab did to Ahikar who had reared him, how he brought him from light into darkness, and with what he repaid him. But Ahikar was saved, and the other received repayment as he himself went down into the darkness. Ahikar gave alms and escaped the deathtrap which Nadab had set for him; but Nadab fell into the trap and perished. 
[11] So now, my children, consider what almsgiving accomplishes and how righteousness delivers." As he said this he died in his bed. He was a hundred and fifty-eight years old; and Tobias gave him a magnificent funeral. 
[12] And when Anna died he buried her with his father. Then Tobias returned with his wife and his sons to Ecbatana, to Raguel his father-in-law. 
[13] He grew old with honor, and he gave his father-in-law and mother-in-law magnificent funerals. He inherited their property and that of his father Tobit. 
[14] He died in Ecbatana of Media at the age of a hundred and twenty-seven years. 
[15] But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which Nebuchadnezzar and Ahasuerus had captured. Before his death he rejoiced over Nineveh

"The Real Garden of Eden"

" Christianity Was In India 2000 yrs Ago " Great Theories Here--

Listen up! This is an excellent documentary proposing that Jesus Christ, Son of God, spent several years of His life in the areas of China, India, Tibet, Nepal, etc. Learning & teaching with different sages & mystics & "wise-men." There ARE many, many people who earnestly believe that Jesus did some extensive traveling between the ages of 12 & 30. I'm not saying He did or didn't go to these countries. But I do love watching these kinds of stories & reading books on this subject. I am a Catholic Christian who goes to Mass every Sunday, but I refuse to be closed-minded about other people's beliefs & views or stories such as this. Check it out for yourself & make up your own mind. Follow your heart. Always use love.

" ConsciousMate: The Nag Hammadi Library "

 ConsciousMate is a fantastic website/blog!!!  HAD to post this link up here! Get into it!


ConsciousMate: The Nag Hammadi Library (link)   

**The canon of the Ethiopian Bible**

The Bible 

The Holy Scriptures are one of the two great foundations of the faith and here is what our church holds and teaches concerning it. The word of God is not contained in the Bible alone, it is to be found in tradition as well. The Sacred Scriptures are the written word of God who is the author of the Old and New Testaments containing nothing but perfect truth in faith and morals. But God’s word is not contained only in them, there is an unwritten word of God also, which we call apostolic tradition. We receive the one and other with equal veneration.

The canon of the Ethiopic Bible differs both in the Old and New Testament from that of any other churches.
List all books. As a whole, books written in the Geez language and on parchment are numerous. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has 46 books of the Old Testament and 35 books of the New Testament that will bring the total of canonized books of the Bible to 81.

These are the following

A. The Holy Books of the Old Testament

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Ruth
9. I and II Samuel
10. I and II Kings
11. I Chronicles
12. II Chronicles
13. Jublee
14. Enoch
15. Ezra and Nehemia
16. Ezra (2nd) and Ezra Sutuel
17. Tobit
18. Judith
19. Esther
20. I Maccabees
21. II and III Maccabees
22. Job
23. Psalms
24. Proverbs
25. Tegsats (Reproof)
26. Metsihafe Tibeb (the books of wisdom)
27. Ecclesiastes
28. The Song of Songs
29. Isaiah
30. Jeremiah
31. Ezekiel
32. Daniel
33. Hosea
34. Amos
35. Micah
36. Joel
37. Obadiah
38. Jonah
39. Nahum
40. Habakkuk
41. Zephaniah
42. Haggai
43. Zechariah
44. Malachi
45. Book of Joshua the son of Sirac
46. The Book of Josephas the Son of Bengorion

B. The holy books of the New Testament

1. Matthew
2. Mark
3. Luke
4. John
5. The Acts
6. Romans
7. I Corinthians
8. II Corinthians
9. Galatians
10. Ephesians
11. Philippians
12. Colossians
13. I Thessalonians
14. II Thessalonians
15. I Timothy
16. II Timothy
17. Titus
18. Philemon
19. Hebrews
20. I Peter
21. II Peter
22. I John
23. II John
24. III John
25. James
26. Jude
27. Revelation
28. Sirate Tsion (the book of order)
29. Tizaz (the book of Herald)
30. Gitsew
31. Abtilis
32. The I book of Dominos
33. The II book of Dominos
34. The book of Clement
35. Didascalia

The Ethiopic version of the Old and New Testament was made from the Septuagint. It includes the book of Enoch, Baruch, and the third and fourth Esdras. In the international Bible studies there are certain books belonging to the class usually designated pseudepigraphic. The whole Christendom and whole-learned world owes a debt of gratitude to the church of Ethiopia for the preservation of those documents.

Among these books is the book of Enoch which throws so much light on Jewish thought on various points during the centuries immediately preceding the Christian era. The book of Jubilee (Kufale, i.e. Division) otherwise known as the Little Genesis has also been preserved entire only in the Ethiopic version. The preservation of yet one more book in its entity, namely, the Ascension of Isaiah, is to be remembered to the credit of the Ethiopic Church.

But books, which should be considered for higher education and could be prepared carefully in order to suit modern thinking, are the following.

1. Theological books such as the following

- Haymanote Abew or the Faith of the Fathers in which other writings of the Apostolic Fathers and also of the Eastern Orthodox Church fathers are to be found.
- Works of St. Cyril and many other writers.
- The exegesis of the letter to the Hebrews by St. John Chrysostom.
- The pastoral work of St. John Chrysostom.
- Severious of Asmunage – a collection of twelve exegetical works, which prove the teaching concerning God.
- A book that proves the existence of God Hilawae – Melekote
- The book of Hawi, which proves the teaching concerning God.
- Book of the mystery by Abba Georgis containing arguments and evidence about the mysteries.
- Religious documentary book by Jacob of Elbaredia.
- The true faith (written during the reign of Zera Yacob)
- The five pillars of the Sacraments (as Catechism).

M E I L A D

2. Books that have the orders of the church

- The liturgical book with the 14 Anaphora
- Ghitsacwa –Lectionaries or a list of annual reading of the scriptures during the liturgical service and other prayer hours.
- The book of the Sacrament of Matrimony (Metsehafe Teklil)
- The book of Baptism
- The book of Ordination
- The book of Covenant
- The prayer book for the dead
- The prayer book of the Incense
- The book of Canon
- The prayer book of purification

3. Books on Church administration and on counseling

- A big book on the Synod of the Apostles in four parts
- The Didache and Abthulis
- The book on the Synod of Nicea
- The book on the Synod of Galatia
- The book on the Synod of Antioch
- The book on the Synod of Lethokia
- The book on the Synod of Kerthica
- The book on the Synod of Esrskousia
- The book on the Synod of Srethia
- The book of Fetha Negast
- Spiritual Medicine (Fewse Menfsawi)
- Exegesis on the meeting of clergy (Tikbe Kahenat)

4. Scared books

Most of these books are written in sections or parts for bindings, these are

- The old & The New Testaments
- The Books of the scholars of the Church
- Metsehafe Menequsat (book of the Monks)

5. Hymn books, mostly by St. Yared
- Digua
- Thesome Digua
- Mieraf
- Zimare
- Mewasiet
- Zik
- Mezmur
- Liturgy (Kedasie)
- Saatat (of ABBA Giorgis)

6. Books on Calendar

- Book of Abushakir
- Sid, the Son of Batrik
- Mark son of Kenbar
- Leader of Blind – by Demetros
- Mathematics concerning calendar by the Monastery of Bizen

7. Historical Books

- First writing on Zion
- Biography (Gedle) of Lalibela
- History of the Kings of Axum
- History of the Kings of Zagwe
- On the treasure of the kings
- On the honor of the Kings
- Tefut
- Biography (Gedle) of Tekla Haimanot
- George the son of Amid
- History of Alexander
- Works of the brothers – Part II
- Books on preaching

8. Compositions (works) on the virgins (celibates)

- Writings (compositions) on the woman who anointed Jesus
- Compositions (writings) on the Samaritan woman
- Writings on the birth of Christ
- Writings on Epiphany
- Writings on the Resurrection etc.

9. Writings that describe the biography of the martyrs

Biography and works of St. George
“ “ “ St. Kopnious
“ “ “ St. Irenaeus
“ “ “ St. Gelwdewos
“ “ “ Forty soldiers of Heaven

10. Different philosophical books

- Wogris the Wise (philosopher)
- Angare Felasfa (collections from philosophers)
- Thoughts and commentary of Zera Yacob of Axum

11. Books on the tradition and culture of the country

- On old age and adolescence
- Customs and traditions of Ethiopia

12. Books on nature and science

- Books on nature and science Part II and I
- Aximaros
- Phisalgos on animals and others

13. Books, which show writings of compositions

- The composition or writing of one of the criminals (outlaws), who was hanged with Jesus
- On the Miracles of St. Mary and many other apocryphal books are to be found.

14. Ancient grammatical books

There are very many grammatical books written by different people and found at different places in the world. The above noted are but a very few examples from among the different books numbered by the thousands that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church has. In the past, at present and even in the future either in the church or at the schools what the church uses for educational services was and will not be outside of these books.

In the past, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church had not much opportunity to expand and propagate the above, noted doctrine and orders of the church inside and outside the nation; this is because of the different circumstances prevailing in the surroundings of the country. Because of the advent of European Colonialism upon its neighboring African countries and the great monetary support that other religious groups received to convert Africans. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church had no other choice but to defend on and preserve all here Christian legacy. Henceforth, she was unable to raise her apostolic voice louder among her African brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, the sense of freedom that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church maintained for centuries being, the torch of freedom to all Africa has enabled Africans to be aware of their freedom.

In this 20th century, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is conducting many apostolic missions – that is organizing church councils and founding clergy training programs within the country; and carrying on her apostolic missionary activities.

CANON LAW
The canons, regulations of Christian instruction and worship of the Ethiopian Church, are contained in the Sinodos and Didascalia, two compilations of ancient church canons, dating from the second period of Ethiopic literature. These canons are closely associated with the New Testament.

The Sinodos, classed as part of Ethiopic New Testament, is composed of various elements: Constitutions of Apostles, the Statutes of the Apostles, the Canons of the Apostles, the canons of Various councils-Nicaea, Gangra, Sardica, Antioch, New-Caesarca, Aneyra, Laodienea – and various theological and pastoml treatises. Eight books make up the Sinodos. Sinodos is the Corpus juris Ecclesiastic of the Church. The various discourses and treaties included in this Corpus are:

1. An exposition of the dialogue ascribed to St. John Chrysostom.
2. On the Essence of the Holy Trinity.
3. On the fear of God.
4. On the ancient people and a refutation of the Jews.
5. A discourse of St. Gregory of Armenia against the Jews.
6. Hortatory discourse to believers who desire to walk in the paths of wisdom and knowledge.
7. Hortatory discourse to believers who desire to walk in the paths of wisdom and knowledge.
8. The discourse of the Nicene Fathers on the Holy Trinity.
9. The penitential canons of our Lord to Peter.

The Didascalia a document well known in the Christian Church originally composed in Greek probably in the middle of the third century, a discourse on Church life and society. The whole work was afterwards, somewhere in the fourth century, incorporated in the Apostolic Constitutions. It has Latin, Arabic and Syriac versions, which differ among themselves and from the Ethiopic version with regard to the subject matter. The Ethiopia Didascalia contains the first seven books of the Apostolic Constitutions and it represents a form intermediate between the shorter Syriac Didascalia and the complete work of Apostolic Constitutions.

Briefly the contents of the document are: Questions of morality, the duty of studying the Scriptures and observance of the Seventh Commandment, mutual duties of husband and wife, offices and duties of Christian ministers; the duties of widows; the method of baptism, laymen not to baptize; vows of virginity; the duties of the faithful towards the martyrs; observance of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy week and method of calculating the date of Easter; warning against heresy; respect to be shown to the faithful departed; prayers to be used on specified and unspecified occasions.

“Glory be to the Almighty God,” Amen.

Source

A short history, faith and order of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, published by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Holy Synod, Addis Ababa 1983.

Edited by Aymero W and Joachim M., The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, published by the Ethiopian Orthodox mission, Addis Ababa 1970.

THE ACTS OF PAUL AND THECLA (Apocryphal New Testament Biblical Literature)

 

 

 

 

THE ACTS OF PAUL AND THECLA

 

 

 

CHAPTER 1
1. Demas and Hermogenes become Paul's companions. 4. Paul visits Onesiphorus. 8. Demas and Hermogenes become envious. 11. Paul preaches to the household of Onesiphorus. 12. His sermon.

1. When Paul went up to Iconium after his flight from Antioch, Demas and Hermogenes became his companions, who were then full of hypocrisy.

There are two Antiochs in the New Testament: Antioch in Syria, east of the Mediterranean, and Antioch in Pisidia (modern Turkey). Paul's flight mentioned here was from the latter, during his first missionary journey: "And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium." (Acts 13:49-51)

Jesus instructed his disciples that when persecuted in one place, to shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against them. See Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5. Fleeing rejection was not cowardice, but obedience to Christ: "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another..." (Matthew 10:23)

Iconium, located off the Roman military highway between Antioch and Lystra, was the capital of Lycaonia in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and had a large Jewish population. The city twice figured dramatically in Paul's missionary word. At Lystra, a small mountain town that served as a Roman garrison, he was stoned at the instigation of persecutors from Iconium, but returned there.

Compare with: "And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel in that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:19.

Iconium was young Timothy's home town. On Paul's second missionary journey, at Derbe and Lystra he found Timothy, who "was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium." (Acts 16:2)

On Paul's third missionary journey, he again passed through Iconium, but nothing notable is mentioned in the New Testament, except "And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time [there], he departed, and went over [all] the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples." (Acts 18:22,23)

In his epistle to Timothy, Paul again mentions the town: "Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:11)

Demas and Hermogenes (of whom it is said in the very first verse that they "were then filled with hypocrisy") present a sobering note to Paul's ministry. Although they were privileged to travel with him as trusted co-laborers (Demas is mentioned in the same breath as Luke and Mark), within a few years both proved to be false disciples.

See how highly they were esteemed in Paul's epistles to Philemon (written about A.D. 61-62) and to the Colossians (written about A.D. 61-63): "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlaborers." (Philemon 24); "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." (Colossians 4:14)

Notice their disgrace in Paul's second epistle to Timothy, written about A.D. 65-67: "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." (2 Timothy 1:15); "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica..." (2 Timothy 4:10)

2. But Paul looked only at the goodness of God and did them no harm, but loved them greatly.
3. Accordingly, he endeavored to make agreeable to them all the oracles and doctrines of Christ, and the design of the Gospel of God's well-beloved Son, instructing them in the knowledge of Christ as it was revealed to him.
4. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And a certain man named Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul was coming to Iconium, went out speedily together with his wife Lectra and his sons Simmia and Zeno, to meet him and invite him to their house.
5. For Titus had given them a description of Paul's personage, for as yet they did not know him in person but were only acquainted with his character.
6. They went in the king's highway to Lystra and stood there waiting for him, comparing all who passed by with that description which Titus had given them.
7. At length they saw a man coming (namely Paul), of a small stature with meeting eyebrows, bald [or shaved] head, bow- legged, strongly built, hollow-eyed, with a large crooked nose; he was full of grace, for sometimes he appeared as a man, sometimes he had the countenance of an angel. And Paul saw Onesiphorus and was glad.

At Lystra, Barnabas apparently had an impressive stature and is thus viewed as Zeus, chief of the Greek gods, whereas Paul took the initiative in speaking and is thus viewed as Hermes, the gods' messenger. (Acts 14:12) In the King James Version, Zeus is called Jupiter, and Hermes called Mercury.

8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And Onesiphorus said: Hail, servant of the blessed God. Paul replied, The grace of God be with you and your family.
9. But Demas and Hermogenes were moved with envy, and under a show of great religion, Demas said, And are not we also servants of the blessed God? Why did you not salute us?
10. Onesiphorus replied, Because I have not perceived in you the fruits of righteousness; nevertheless, if you are of that sort, you shall be welcome to my house also.

Onesiphorus proved to be a true friend to Paul. Compare with: "The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found [me]. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.... Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus." (2 Timothy 1:16-18; 4:19)

11. Then Paul went to the house of Onesiphorus, and there was great joy among the family on that account; and they employed themselves in prayer, breaking bread, and hearing Paul preach the word of God concerning temperance and the resurrection, in the following manner:
12. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
13. Blessed are they who keep their flesh undefiled, for they shall be the temple of God.
14. Blessed are the temperate, for God will reveal himself to them.
15. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Blessed are they that abandon their secular enjoyments, for they shall be accepted of God.
16. Blessed are they who have wives, as though they had them not, for they shall be made angels of God.

Paul believed the end of the age was imminent and therefore it was better to minimize obligations in this age (without being irresponsible) in order to better serve Christ and be prepared for the age to come. Compare with: "But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none." (1 Corinthians 7:29)

17. Blessed are they who tremble at the word of God, for they shall be comforted.
18. Blessed are they who keep their baptism pure, for they shall find peace with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
19. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Blessed are they who pursue the doctrine of Jesus Christ, for they shall be called the sons of the Most High.
20. Blessed are they who observe the instructions of Jesus Christ, for they shall dwell in eternal light.
21. Blessed are they, who for the love of Christ abandon the glories of the world, for they shall judge angels, and be placed at the right hand of Christ, and shall not suffer the bitterness of the last judgment.
22. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Blessed are the bodies and souls of virgins, for they are acceptable to God and shall not lose the reward of their virginity, for the word of their Father shall prove effectual to their salvation in the day of his Son, and they shall enjoy rest forevermore.

The emphasis on younger women's continued virginity in order to serve God must be understood in the context of the unremitting threat of severe persecutions in uncertain times and the belief that the end of the age was at hand.

CHAPTER 2
1. Thecla listens anxiously to Paul's preaching. 5. Thamyris, her admirer, concerts with Theoclia her mother to dissuade her, 12. in vain. 14. Demas and Hermogenes vilify Paul to Thamyris.

1. While Paul was preaching this sermon in the church which was in the house of Onesiphorus, a certain virgin named Thecla (whose mother's name was Theoclia, and who was betrothed to a man named Thamyris) sat at a certain window in her house.

Compare "the church which was in the house of Onesiphorus" with "to the church in thy house" in Philemon 2.

2. From where, by the advantage of a window in the house where Paul was, she both night and day heard Paul's sermons concerning God, concerning charity, concerning faith in Christ, and concerning prayer;

Verses 11-22 in chapter 1 was only a sample of Paul's teaching; he kept at it nearly nonstop "night and day."

3. Nor would she depart from the window till with exceeding joy she was subdued to the doctrines of faith.
4. At length, when she saw many women and virgins going in to Paul, she earnestly desired that she might be thought worthy to appear in his presence and hear the word of Christ; for she had not yet seen Paul's person, but only heard his sermons.
5. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] But when she would not be prevailed upon to depart from the window, her mother sent to Thamyris, who came with the greatest pleasure, as he hoped now to marry her. Accordingly he said to Theoclia, Where is my Thecla?
6. Theoclia replied, Thamyris, I have something very strange to tell you. Thecla, for the space of three days, will not move from the window not so much as to eat or drink, but is so intent in hearing the artful and delusive discourses of a certain foreigner, that I am completely astonished, Thamyris, that a young woman of her known modesty will suffer herself to be so prevailed upon.
7. For that man has disturbed the whole city of Iconium, and even your Thecla, among others. All the women and young men flock to him to receive his doctrine; who, besides all the rest, tells them that there is but one God who alone is to be worshipped, and that we ought to live in chastity.
8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Notwithstanding this, my daughter Thecla, like a spider's web fastened to the window, is captivated by the discourses of Paul, and attends upon them with prodigious eagerness and vast delight; and thus, by attending to what he says, the young woman is seduced. Now you go and speak to her, for she is betrothed to you.
9. Accordingly Thamyris went, and saluted her with care not to surprise her, and said, Thecla, my spouse, why are you sitting in this melancholy posture? What strange impressions are made upon you? Turn to Thamyris, and blush.
10. Her mother also spoke to her after the same manner and said, Child, why do you sit so melancholy, like one astonished, and make no reply?
11. Then they wept exceedingly: Thamyris, that he had lost his future spouse; Theoclia, that she had lost her daughter; and the maids, that they had lost their mistress; and there was universal mourning in the family.
12. But all these things made no impression on Thecla to incline her so much as to turn and take notice of them, for she continued to contemplate on the discourses of Paul.
13. Then Thamyris ran into the street to observe who they were who went in to Paul and came out from him; and he saw two men engaged in a very warm dispute, and said to them;

Why were these two false disciples "engaged in a very warm dispute?" Evidently they not only disagreed with Paul, but planned to undermine him by misrepresenting his message.

14. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Sirs, what business have you here? And who is that man within, belonging to you, who deludes the minds of men, both young men and virgins, persuading them that they ought not to marry but continue as they are?
15. I promise to give you a considerable sum if you will give me a just account of him, for I am the chief person of this city.
16. Demas and Hermogenes replied, We cannot so exactly tell who he is, but we know that he deprives young men of their intended wives, and virgins of their intended husbands, by teaching, There can be no future resurrection, unless you continue in chastity and do not defile your flesh.

This was a wonderful opportunity for Demas and Hermogenes to witness to their Christian faith, if they had any; instead, they deliberately distort Paul's true message, which is recorded in I Corinthians 7.

CHAPTER 3
1. They betray Paul. 7. Thamyris and officers arrest him.

1. Then Thamyris said, Come along with me to my house and refresh yourselves. So they went to a very splendid entertainment where there was wine in abundance and very rich provision.
2. They were brought to a table richly spread, and made to drink plentifully by Thamyris, on account of the love he had for Thecla and his desire to marry her.
3. Then Thamyris said, I desire you would inform me what the doctrines of this Paul are, that I may understand them; for I have no small concern about Thecla, seeing she so delights in that stranger's discourses that I am in danger of losing my intended wife.
4. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Then Demas and Hermogenes together answered and said, Let him be brought before the governor Castellius as one who endeavors to persuade the people into the new religion of the Christians, and he, according to the order of Caesar, will put him to death, by which means you will obtain your wife;
5. While we at the same time will teach her that the resurrection that he speaks of is already come and consists in our having children, and that we then arose again when we came to the knowledge of God.

The two counterfeit disciples now sink to teaching false doctrine. Compare with the spreading cancer Paul warned of a few years later: "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:17, 18)

6. Upon getting this account from them, Thamyris was filled with hot resentment,
7. And rising early in the morning he went to the house of Onesiphorus, attended by the magistrates, the jailor, and a great multitude of people with staves, and said to Paul;
8. You have perverted the city of Iconium, and among the rest, Thecla, who is betrothed to me, so that now she will not marry me. You must therefore go with us to the governor Castellius.
9. And all the multitude cried out, Away with this impostor, for he has perverted the minds of our wives, and all the people pay attention to him.

The word for "imposter" also may mean "magician," one who deceives by enchantment.

CHAPTER 4
1. Paul accused before the governor by Thamyris. 5. Defends himself. 9. Is committed to prison, 10. and visited by Thecla.

1. Then Thamyris stood before the governor's judgment-seat and spoke with a loud voice in the following manner.
2. O governor, I know not where this man comes from, but he is one who teaches that matrimony is unlawful. Command him therefore to declare before you for what reason he publishes such doctrines.
3. While he was saying thus, Demas and Hermogenes whispered to Thamyris and said: Say that he is a Christian, and he will presently be put to death.

Now they degenerate into accomplices of murder. Apparently Paul never learned of the depth of their depravity, or he would not have been so circumspect in 2 Timothy 1:15, 4:10.

4. But the governor was more deliberate, and calling to Paul, he said, Who are you? What do you teach? They seem to lay gross crimes to your charge.
5. Paul then spoke with a loud voice saying, As I am now called to give an account of my doctrines, O governor, I desire your audience.
6. That God, who is a God of vengeance, and who stands in need of nothing but the salvation of his creatures, has sent me to reclaim them from their wickedness and corruptions, from all sinful pleasures, and from death; and to persuade them to sin no more.
7. On this account, God sent his Son Jesus Christ, whom I preach, and in whom I instruct men to place their hopes as that only person who had such compassion on the deluded world, that it might not be condemned, O governor, but have faith, the fear of God, the knowledge of religion, and the love of truth.
8. So that if I only teach those things which I have received by revelation from God, where is my crime?
9. When the governor heard this, he ordered Paul to be bound and to be put in prison till he could be more at leisure to hear him more fully.
10. But in the night, Thecla took off her earrings and gave them to the turnkey of the prison, who then opened the doors to her and let her in;

On the value of earrings, see Genesis 24:22.

11. And when she made a present of a silver looking-glass to the jailor, she was allowed to go into the room where Paul was; then she sat down at his feet and heard from him the great things of God.
12. And as she perceived Paul not to be afraid of suffering, but that by divine assistance he behaved himself with courage, her faith so far increased that she kissed his chains.

CHAPTER 5
1. Thecla sought and found by her relations. 4. She is brought with Paul before the governor. 9. She is ordered to be burned, and Paul to be whipped. 15. Thecla miraculously saved.

1. At length Thecla was missed and sought for by the family and by Thamyris in every street as though she had been lost, but one of the porter's fellow-servants told them that she had gone out in the night.
2. Then they examined the porter and he told them that she was gone to the prison to the strange man.
3. They therefore went according to his direction and found her there; and when they came out, they got a mob together and went and told the governor all that happened.
4. Then he ordered Paul to be brought before his judgment- seat.
5. Thecla in the meantime lay wallowing on the ground in the prison, in that same place where Paul had sat to teach her. Then the governor also ordered her to be brought before his judgment-seat. She received the summons with joy and went.
6. When Paul was brought there, the mob cried out with more vehemence, He is a magician, so let him die.
7. Nevertheless the governor attended with pleasure upon Paul's discourses of the holy works of Christ, and after calling together a council, he summoned Thecla and said to her, Why do you not, according to the law of the Iconians, marry Thamyris?
8. She stood still with her eyes fixed upon Paul, and finding she made no reply, Theoclia her mother cried out, Let the unjust creature be burned; let her be burned in the midst of the theatre for refusing Thamyris, so all women may learn from her to avoid such practices.

A chilling insight into the mentality of those times.

9. Then the governor was exceedingly concerned and ordered Paul to be whipped out of the city and Thecla to be burned.
10. So the governor arose and went immediately into the amphitheater; and all the people went forth to see the dismal sight.
11. But Thecla, just as a lamb in the wilderness looks every way to see his shepherd, looked around for Paul;
12. And as she was looking upon the multitude, she saw the Lord Jesus in the likeness of Paul, and said to herself, Paul has come to see me in my distressed circumstances. And she fixed her eyes upon him, but he instantly ascended up to heaven while she looked on him.
13. Then the young men and women brought wood and straw for the burning of Thecla; who, being brought naked to the stake, extorted tears from the governor, who was surprised to see the greatness of her beauty.
14. And when they had placed the wood in order, the people commanded her to go upon it, and she did so, first making the sign of the cross.

The symbolic gesture of "making the sign of the cross" has been commonplace in one form or another since gospel times. The Gospel of Nicodemus 12:24 says that Charinus and Lenthius (the resurrected sons of Simeon) "made the sign of the cross with their fingers on their tongues." Secret believers isolated in hostile places put their hand before their face, breathed into it and moved it in a cross-like pattern.

The ritual as we know soon was part of church services, done at specified times by the officiating minister (bishop or priest) and by the congregation in response to prayers. By tradition, the minister thus blesses the congregation and things; the individual thus blesses himself or herself.

The clergy always makes the horizontal gesture from right to left. In the Western Church, the congregation when blessed that way mirrored this by making their horizontal motion from left to right. However, the individual Christian of the Eastern Church still follows the earliest convention by touching the forehead, the heart, and then the right and left shoulder. The symbolism in the Orthodox Church of touching the right shoulder first is because the repentant thief was crucified on Christ's right, and the sign is used with the "Jesus Prayer," or "God, be merciful to me a sinner." (Later devotional writers criticized the careless way believers made the sign.)

Making the sign of the cross is not mentioned in the New Testament because there was no need to state the obvious. Christians greeted each other by kissing the cheeks alternately three times, and this is the meaning of the "holy kiss" or "kiss of charity" mentioned in Romans 16:16, 2 Corinthians 13:12, I Thessalonians 5:26, and 1 Peter 5:14. (You may notice in TV news clips this same practice between Eastern Europeans.)

That Thecla is recorded here making the sign of the cross signifying her faith "in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" shows it was practiced by Paul and the church meeting in the home of Onesiphorus.

15. Then the people set fire to the pile; though the flame was exceeding large, it did not touch her, for God took compassion on her and caused a great eruption from the earth beneath, and a cloud from above to pour down great quantities of rain and hail;
16. So that by the rupture of the earth, very many were in great danger and some were killed, but the fire was extinguished and Thecla preserved.

Compare with those who by faith "quenched the violence of fire," mentioned in Hebrews 11:34.

CHAPTER 6
1. Paul with Onesiphorus in a cave. 7. Thecla discovers Paul; 12. offers to follow him; 13. he exhorts her not to for fear of fornication.

1. In the meantime Paul, together with Onesiphorus, his wife and children, was keeping a fast in a certain cave which was in the road from Iconium to Daphne.
2. And when they had fasted for several days, the children said to Paul, Father, we are hungry and have nothing with which to buy bread; for Onesiphorus had left all his substance to follow Paul with this family.
3. Then Paul, taking off his coat, said to the boy, Go, child, and buy bread, and bring it back.
4. But while the boy was buying the bread, he saw his neighbor Thecla and was surprised, and said to her, Thecla, where are you going?
5. She replied, I am in search of Paul, having been delivered from the flames.
6. Then the boy said, I will take you to him, for he is greatly concerned on your account, and has been in prayer and fasting these six days.
7. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] When Thecla came to the cave, she found Paul upon his knees praying and saying, O Lord Jesus Christ, grant that the fire may not touch Thecla, but be her helper, for she is your servant.
8. Thecla, standing behind him, cried out in the following words: O sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the Father of your beloved and holy Son, I praise you that you have preserved me from the fire to see Paul again.
9. Paul then arose and when he saw her, said, O God, who searches the heart, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, I praise you that you have answered my prayer.
10. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And there prevailed among them in the cave an entire affection to each other; Paul, Onesiphorus, and all that were with them were filled with joy.
11. They had five loaves, with some herbs and water, and they solaced each other in reflections upon the holy works of Christ.
12. Then said Thecla to Paul, If you be pleased with it, I will follow you wherever you go.
13. He replied to her, Persons are now much given to fornication, and you being handsome, I am afraid you might meet with greater temptation than the former one, and would not withstand it, but be overcome.

After her miraculous deliverance, Paul surely must not concerned that Thecla's faith will succumb to her own sexual temptation, but he is used to being waylaid by robbers (see 2 Corinthians 11:26) and fears she may get raped. He seems to considers that a worse "temptation" (trial or testing) than the "former one" of being burned alive!

14. Thecla replied, Grant me only the seal of Christ, and no temptation shall affect me.
15. Paul answered, Thecla, wait with patience, and you will receive the gift of Christ.

This "seal" or "gift of Christ" cannot be understood except by referring to a traditional Apostolic practice. When people at Pentecost asked Peter how they might receive salvation, he said: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:28)

When Philip, the deacon and evangelist, preached in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8) and many believed and were baptized (Acts 8:12), the apostles came and later confirmed these new believers with the gift of the Holy Spirit though the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17).

When Paul met some disciples of John the Baptist who had not been present when Peter spoke at Pentecost (Acts 19:1-7), they believed in Christ, "were baptized" (Acts 19:5) and "the Holy Spirit came upon them" (Acts 19:6), again through the hands of an apostle.

From earliest times the sacrament of baptism was followed by the sacrament of "chrismation" (anointing), in which the officiating clergyman anoints the candidate with holy "chrism" (oil consecrated by a bishop for anointing) in the sign of the cross: on the brow, and on the eyes, and the nostrils, and the lips, and on both ears, and the breast, and the hands, and the feet, saying each time: "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Ephesians 2:8, 9 states: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast," but every believer is expected to participate fully in the life of the church, including appropriate sacraments. Only in an emergency does the Church allow baptism to be performed by a layman; chrismation (called Confirmation in the Western Church) is always performed by clergy, and with an adult sponsor (godparent) from the congregation, in the presence of the faithful as witnesses.

Paul, momentarily living in a cave, naturally considered it best for Thecla to be baptized and chrismated in the usual way.

CHAPTER 7
1. Paul and Thecla go to Antioch. 2. Alexander, a magistrate, falls in love with Thecla; 4. kisses her by force: 5. she resists him, 6. is carried before the governor and condemned to be thrown to wild beasts.

1. Then Paul sent back Onesiphorus and his family to their own home, and taking Thecla along with him, he went to Antioch;

In light of the next verse, apparently the Antioch in Syria, not Pisidia, is meant, although that seems hardly to fit the story.

2. And as soon as they came into the city, a certain Syrian named Alexander, a magistrate in the city, who had done many considerable services for the city during his magistracy, saw Thecla and fell in love with her, and endeavored by many rich presents to engage Paul in his interest.
3. But Paul told him, I do not know the woman of whom you speak, nor does she belong to me.

Paul's behavior seems inexplicable, even reprehensible, unless it represented some cultural factor we cannot fathom. However, it is fair to note that Abraham tried to pass his wife Sarah off as his sister (Genesis 12:13-20), and Isaac did the same with his wife Rebecca (Genesis 26:7-11).

4. But he, being a person of great power in Antioch, seized her in the street and kissed her; which Thecla would not bear, but looking about for Paul, cried out in a distressed loud tone, Force me not, who am a stranger; force me not, who am a servant of God; I am one of the principal persons of Iconium, and was obliged to leave that city because I would not be married to Thamyris.
5. Then she laid hold on Alexander, tore his coat, and took his crown off his head, and made him appear ridiculous before all the people.
6. But Alexander, partly because he loved her and partly being ashamed of what had been done, led her to the governor; and upon her confession of what she had done, he condemned her to be thrown among the beasts.

Something is lacking here in the old Greek manuscript, but it is supplied out of the old Latin version in the Bodleian Library, rather than out of Simeon Mataphrastes, a writer of the eleventh century.

CHAPTER 8
2. Thecla entertained by Trifina; 3. brought out to the wild beasts; a she-lion licks her feet. 5. Trifina, upon a vision of her deceased daughter, adopts Thecla, 11. who is taken to the amphitheater again.

1. When the people saw this, they said: The judgments passed in this city are unjust. But Thecla desired only the favor of the governor that her chastity might not be attacked, but preserved till she should be cast to the beasts.
2. The governor then inquired who would lodge her, and a certain very rich widow named Trifina, whose daughter was lately dead, asked that she might have the keeping of her; and she began to treat her in her house as her own daughter.
3. At length a day came when the beasts were to be brought forth to be seen, and Thecla was brought to the amphitheater in the presence of a multitude of spectators, and put into a den in which was an exceeding fierce she-lion.
4. Trifina, without any surprise, accompanied Thecla, and the she-lion licked the feet of Thecla. The title written which denoted her crime was Sacrilege. Then the woman [Trifina] cried out, O God, the judgments of this city are unrighteous.
5. After the beasts had been shown, Trifina took Thecla home with her, and they went to bed. And behold, the daughter of Trifina, who was dead, appeared to her mother and said: Mother, let the young woman Thecla be reputed by you as your daughter in my place, and ask her to pray for me, that I may be translated to a state of happiness.
6. Upon which Trifina, with a mournful air, said, My daughter Falconilla has appeared to me and ordered me to receive you in her place; wherefore I desire, Thecla, that you would pray for my daughter that she may be translated into a state of happiness and to life eternal.
7. When Thecla heard this, she immediately prayed to the Lord and said: O Lord God of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High, grant that her daughter Falconilla may live forever. Trifina hearing this groaned again and said, O unrighteous judgments! O unreasonable wickedness that such a creature should again be cast to the beasts!
8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] At daybreak the next morning, Alexander came to Trifina's house and said, The governor and the people are waiting; bring the criminal forth.
9. But Trifina ran in so violently upon him that he was affrighted and ran away. Trifina was one of the royal family; and she thus expressed her sorrow and said: Alas! I have trouble in my house on two accounts, and there is no one who will relieve me, either for the loss of my daughter, or for being unable to save Thecla. But now, O Lord God, you be the helper of Thecla your servant.
10. While she was thus engaged, the governor sent one of his own officers to bring Thecla. Trifina took her by the hand, and going with her, said: I went with Falconilla to her grave and now must go with Thecla to the beasts.
11. When Thecla heard this, she prayed weeping and said: O Lord God, whom I have made my confidence and refuge, reward Trifina for her compassion to me and for preserving my chastity.
12. Upon this there was a great noise in the amphitheater: the beasts roared, and the people cried out, Bring in the criminal.
13. But the woman [Trifina] cried out and said: Let the whole city suffer for such crimes; and order all of us, O governor, to the same punishment. O unjust judgment! O cruel sight!
14. Others said, Let the whole city be destroyed for this vile action. Kill us all, O governor. O cruel sight! O unrighteous judgment!

Trifina's cry is echoed by other sympathetic women. This is both surprising and unsurprising in a city where a woman could be thrown to wild beasts simply for refusing an official's unwanted advances.

CHAPTER 9
1. Thecla thrown naked to the wild beasts; 2. they all refuse to attack her; 8. throws herself into pit of water. 10. Other wild beasts refuse her. 11. She is tied to wild bulls. 13. She is miraculously saved, 21. released, 24. and entertained by Trifina.

1. Then Thecla was taken out of the hand of Trifina, stripped naked, had an encircling cloth put on, and was thrown into the place appointed for fighting with the beasts. Then the lions and the bears were let loose upon her.
2. But a she-lion, which was of all the most fierce, ran to Thecla and fell down at her feet. At that, the multitude of women shouted aloud.
3. Then a she-bear ran fiercely toward her; but the she- lion met the bear and tore it to pieces.
4. Again, a he-lion who had been accustomed to devour men, and which belonged to Alexander, ran toward her; but the she-lion encountered the he-lion, and they killed each other.
5. Then the women had a greater concern because the she- lion that had helped Thecla was dead.
6. Afterwards they brought out many other wild beasts, but Thecla stood with her hands stretched towards heaven and prayed. When she finished praying, she turned about and saw a pit of water and said, Now is a proper time for me to be baptized.
7. Accordingly she threw herself into the water and said, In your name, O my Lord Jesus Christ, I am this last day baptized. Upon seeing this, the women and the people cried out and said, Do not throw yourself into the water. And the governor himself cried out to think that the sea-calves were likely to devour so much beauty.
8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Notwithstanding all this, Thecla threw herself into the water in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9. But when the sea-calves saw the lightning and fire, they were killed and floated dead on the surface of the water, and a cloud of fire surrounded Thecla so the beasts could not come near her, and the people could not see her nakedness.
10. Yet they turned other wild beasts upon her, at which the women made a very mournful outcry. Some of them scattered spikenard, others cassia, others amomus, others ointment; so that the quantity of ointment was large in proportion to the number of people; and upon this all the beasts lay as though they had been fast asleep and did not touch Thecla.

Amomus is a sort of spikenard, or the herb of Jerusalem, or ladies-rose. The account becomes more fantastic than before.

11. Whereupon Alexander said to the governor, I have some very terrible bulls; let us bind her to them. To which the governor, with concern, replied, You may do what you think fit.
12. Then they put a cord around Thecla's waist, which bound also her feet, and with it tied her to the bulls, to whose privy- parts they applied red-hot irons so that they, being even more tormented, might more violently drag Thecla about till they had killed her.
13. The bulls accordingly tore about, making a most hideous noise; but the flame which was about Thecla burned off the cords which were fastened to the members of the bulls, and she stood in the middle of the arena as unconcerned as if she had not been bound.
14. But in the meantime Trifina, who sat upon one of the benches, fainted away and died; then the whole city was greatly concerned.
15. And Alexander himself was afraid and implored the governor, saying: I entreat you, have compassion on me and the city, and release this woman who has fought with the beasts; for fear that both you and I, and the whole city be destroyed:
16. For if Caesar should have any account of what has now taken place, he certainly will immediately destroy the city because Trifina, a person of royal extract and a relation of his, is dead upon her seat.
17. Then the governor called Thecla from among the beasts to him and said to her, Who are you? And what are your circumstances, that not one of the beasts will touch you?
18. Thecla replied to him, I am a servant of the living God, and as to my state, I am a believer on Jesus Christ his Son, in whom God is well pleased. For that reason none of the beasts could touch me.
19. He alone is the way to eternal salvation and the foundation of eternal life. He is a refuge to those who are in distress, a support to the afflicted, a hope and defence to those who are hopeless, and in a word, all those who do not believe on him shall not live, but suffer eternal death.
20. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] When the governor heard these things, he ordered her clothes to be brought and said to her, Put on your clothes.
21. Thecla replied, May that God who clothed me when I was naked among the beasts, in the day of judgment clothe your soul with the robe of salvation. Then she took her clothes and put them on; then the governor immediately published an order in these words: I release to you Thecla the servant of God.
22. Then the women cried out together with a loud voice, and with one accord gave praise unto God and said: There is but one God, who is the God of Thecla; the one God who has delivered Thecla.
23. Their voices were so loud that the whole city seemed to be shaken, and Trifina herself heard the glad tidings and arose again, and ran with the multitude to meet Thecla; and embracing her, said: Now I believe there will be a resurrection of the dead; now I am persuaded that my daughter is alive. Come home with me, my daughter Thecla, and I will turn over all that I have to you.
24. So Thecla went with Trifina and was entertained there a few days, teaching her the word of the Lord, whereby many young women were converted. So there was great joy in the family of Trifina.
25. But Thecla longed to see Paul, and inquired and sent everywhere to find him; and when at length she was informed that he was at Myra in Lycia, she took with her many young men and women. She dressed herself in the habit of a man and went to him in Myra in Lycia. There she found Paul preaching the word of God, and she stood by him amid the throng.

CHAPTER 10
1. Thecla visits Paul. 6. She visits Onesiphorus. 8. She visits her mother 9. who repulses her. 12. She is tempted by the devil; she works miracles.

1. It was no small surprise to Paul when he saw her and the people with her, for he imagined some fresh trial was coming upon them;
2. When Thecla perceived this, she said to him: I have been baptized, O Paul, for he who assists you in preaching, has assisted me to be baptized.
3. Then Paul took her and led her to the house of Hermes, and Thecla related to Paul all that had befallen her in Antioch, insomuch that Paul was greatly amazed, and all who heard were confirmed in the faith and prayed for Thecla's happiness.
4. Then Thecla arose and said to Paul, I am going to Iconium. Paul replied to her, Go and teach the word of the Lord.
5. But Trifina had sent large sums of money to Paul, and also clothing by the hands of Thecla, for the relief of the poor.
6. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] So Thecla went to Iconium. When she came to the house of Onesiphorus, she fell down upon the floor where Paul had sat and preached, and, mixing tears with her prayers, she praised and glorified God in the following words:
7. O Lord the God of this house, in which I was first enlightened by you; O Jesus, son of the living God, who was my helper before the governor, my helper in the fire, and my helper among the beasts; you alone are God forever and ever. Amen.
8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] On her return, Thecla found Thamyris dead, but her mother living. So she called on her mother and said: Theoclia, my mother, is it possible for you to be brought to a belief that there is but one Lord God who dwells in the heavens? If you desire great riches, God will give them to you by me; if you want your daughter again, here I am.
9. These and many other things she represented to her mother, endeavoring to persuade her, but her mother Theoclia gave no credit to the things which were said by the martyr Thecla.
10. Thecla perceived that she discoursed to no purpose, so she signed her whole body with the sign of the cross, left the house and went to Daphne. When she arrived there, she went to the cave where she had found Paul with Onesiphorus, fell down on the ground, and wept before God.
11. When she departed from there, she went to Seleucia and enlightened many in the knowledge of Christ.

Seleucia was near Antioch in Syria.

12. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And a bright cloud conducted her in her journey.
13. And after she had arrived at Seleucia, she went to a place out of the city about the distance of a furlong, because she was afraid of the inhabitants because they were worshippers of idols.

A furlong was a Stadion, one-eighth of a Roman mile, or in modern terms, 606 feet.

14. And she was led by the cloud into a mountain called Calamon, or Rodeon. There she abode many years and underwent a great many grievous temptations of the devil, which she bore in a becoming manner by the assistance which she had from Christ.
15. At length certain gentlewomen heard of the virgin Thecla and went to her to be instructed by her in the oracles of God, and many of them abandoned this world and led a monastic life with her.
16. A good report was spread everywhere of Thecla, and she wrought several miraculous cures, so that all the city and adjacent countries brought their sick to that mountain, and before they came as far as the door of the cave, they were instantly cured of whatever they had.
17. The unclean spirits were cast out, making a noise; all received their sick made whole and glorified God, who had bestowed such power on the virgin Thecla;
18. Insomuch that the physicians of Seleucia were now of no more account and lost all the profit of their trade because no one regarded them; this so filled them with envy that they began to contrive what methods to take with this servant of Christ.

CHAPTER 11
1. Thecla is threatened with rape. 12. She escapes by a rock opening, 17. and closing miraculously.

1. The devil then suggested bad advice to their minds on a day they met to consult. They reasoned among each other thus: The virgin is a priestess of the great goddess Diana, and whatever she requests from her is granted, because she is a virgin and is therefore beloved by all the gods.

Paul also had his problems with followers of "the great goddess" Diana (in Greek she is called Artemis) "whom all Asia and the world worshippeth." See Acts 19:23-41.

2. Let us procure some rakish fellows, and after we have made them sufficiently drunk and given them a good sum of money, let us order them to go and debauch this virgin, promising them, if they do it, a larger reward.
3. (For they thus concluded among themselves, that if they were able to debauch her, the gods would no more regard her, nor Diana cure the sick for her.)
4. They proceeded according to this resolution, and the fellows went to the mountain, and as fierce as lions to the cave, they knocked at the door.
5. The holy martyr Thecla, relying upon the God in whom she believed, opened the door, although she was before apprized of their design, and said to them, Young men, what is your business?
6. They replied, Is there anyone within whose name is Thecla? She answered, What do you want with her? They said, We intend to lie with her.
7. The blessed Thecla answered: Though I am a humble old woman, I am the servant of my Lord Jesus Christ; and though you have a vile design against me, you will not be able to accomplish it. They replied: It is impossible for us not to be able to do with you what we intend.
8. And while they were saying this, they laid hold on her by main force and would have raped her. Then she with the greatest mildness said to them: Young men, have patience and see the glory of the Lord.
9. And while they held her, she looked up to heaven and said: O God most reverend, to whom none can be likened; who makes yourself glorious over your enemies; who delivered me from the fire, and did not give me up to Thamyris, or give me up to Alexander; who delivered me from the wild beasts; who did preserve me in the deep waters; who have everywhere been my helper and have glorified your name in me;
10. Now also deliver me from the hands of these wicked and unreasonable men, nor suffer them to debauch my chastity which I have always preserved for your honor; for I love you and long for you, and worship you, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forevermore. Amen.
11. Then came a voice from heaven saying, Fear not, Thecla, my faithful servant, for I am with you. Look and see the place which is opened for you; there your eternal abode shall be, and there you will receive the beatific vision.
12. The blessed Thecla looked and saw the rock opened to as large a degree as that a man might enter in. She did as he was commanded, bravely fled from the vile crew, and went into the rock, which instantly closed so that there was not a crack visible where it had opened.
13. The men stood perfectly astonished at so prodigious a miracle and had no power to detain the servant of God, but only caught hold of her veil, or hood, and tore off a piece of it;
14. And even that was by the permission of God, for the confirmation of their faith who should come to visit this venerable place, and to convey blessings in succeeding ages to those who would believe on our Lord Jesus Christ from a pure heart.
15. Thus suffered that first martyr and apostle of God, the virgin Thecla, who came from Iconium at eighteen years of age; afterwards, partly in journeys and travels, and partly in a monastic life in the cave, she lived seventy-two years, so that she was ninety years old when the Lord translated her.
16. Thus ends her life.
17. The day which is kept sacred to her memory is the twenty-fourth of September, to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forevermore. Amen.

Tertullian (A.D. 160-230) says that the Acts of Paul and Thecla were forged by a presbyter of Asia, who "confessed that he did it out of respect for Paul," and Pope Gelasius, in his Decree against apocryphal books, inserted it among them.

Notwithstanding this, a large part of the history was credited, and looked upon as genuine among the primitive Christians. Cyprian, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Austin, Gregory Nazianzen, Chrysostom, and Severus Sulpitius, who all lived within the fourth century, mention Thecla, or refer to her history.

Basil of Seleucia wrote her acts, sufferings, and victories in verse; and Euagrius Scholasticus, an ecclesiastical historian about 590, relates that "after the Emperor Zeno had abdicated his empire, and Basilik had taken possession of it, he had a vision of the holy and excellent martyr Thecla, who promised him the restoration of his empire; for which, when it was brought about, he erected and dedicated a most noble and sumptuous temple to this famous martyr Thecla, at Seleucia, a city of Isauria, and bestowed upon it very noble endowments, which are preserved even till this day."

Cardinal Baronius, Locrinus, Archbishop Wake, and also the learned Grabe, who edited the Septuagint and revived the Acts of Paul and Thecla, considered them as having been written in the Apostolic age and containing nothing disagreeing from the opinions and belief of those times, and for the most part as a genuine and authentic history.

What is presented here is not the original book of the early Christians; but however that may be, it is a translation from the Greek manuscript in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, which Dr. Mills copied and transmitted to Dr. Grabe.

Regardless of the merits of this book, we should remember that Thecla was a real person in Apostolic times, and for her story to have been so widely believed and written about, she indeed must have been a remarkably holy and outstanding woman.