CHAPTER 1
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. I suppose, Paul, you have been informed of that
conversation which passed yesterday between me and my Lucilius,
concerning hypocrisy and other subjects; for there were some of
your disciples in company with us;
2. For when we were retired into the Sallustian gardens,
through which they were also passing and would have gone another
way, by our persuasion they joined company with us.
3. I desire you to believe that we much wish for your
conversation:
4. We were much delighted with your book of many Epistles,
which you have written to some cities and chief towns of
provinces, and contain wonderful instructions for moral conduct:
5. Such sentiments, as I suppose you were not the author
of, but only the instrument of conveying, though sometimes both
the author and the instrument.
6. For such is the sublimity of those doctrines, and their
grandeur, that I suppose the age of a man is scarcely sufficient
to be instructed and perfected in the knowledge of them. I wish
your welfare, my brother. Farewell.
CHAPTER 2
Paul to Seneca, Greeting.
1. I received your letter yesterday with pleasure: to which
I could immediately have written an answer, had the young man
been at home, whom I intended to have sent to you:
2. For you know when, and by whom, at what seasons, and to
whom I must deliver everything I send.
3. I desire therefore you would not charge me with
negligence, if I wait for a proper person.
4. I reckon myself very happy in having the judgment of so
valuable a person, that you are delighted with my Epistles:
5. For you would not be esteemed a censor, a philosopher,
or be the tutor of so great a prince, and a master of everything,
if you were not sincere. I wish you a lasting prosperity.
Salmeron cites these letters to prove that Seneca was one of Caesar's household, referred to by Paul (Philippians 4:22), as saluting the brethren at Philippi.
In Jerome's enumeration of illustrious men, he places Seneca, on account of these Epistles, among the ecclesiastical and holy writers of the Christian Church.
CHAPTER 3
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. I have completed some volumes and divided them into
their proper parts.
2. I am determined to read them to Caesar, and if any
favorable opportunity happens, you also shall be present when
they are read;
3. But if that cannot be, I will appoint and give you
notice of a day when we will together read over the performance.
4. I had determined, if I could with safety, first to have
your opinion of it before I published it to Caesar, that you
might be convinced of my affection to you. Farewell, dearest
Paul.
CHAPTER 4
Paul to Seneca, Greeting.
1. As often as I read your letters, I imagine you present
with me; nor indeed to do I think any other, than that you are
always with us.
2. As soon therefore as you begin to come, we shall
presently see each other. I wish you all prosperity.
CHAPTER 5
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. We are very much concerned at your too long absence from
us.
2. What is it, or what affairs are they, which obstruct
your coming?
3. If you fear the anger of Caesar, because you have
abandoned your former religion, and made proselytes also of
others, you have this to plead, that your acting thus proceeded
not from inconstancy, but judgment. Farewell.
CHAPTER 6
Paul to Seneca and Lucilius, Greeting.
1. Concerning those things about which you wrote to me, it
is not proper for me to mention anything with pen and ink: the
one of which leaves marks, and the other evidently declares
things.
2. Especially since I know that there are near you, as well
as me, those who will understand my meaning.
3. Deference is to be paid to all men, and so much the
more, as they are more likely to take occasions of quarrelling.
4. And if we show a submissive temper, we shall overcome
effectually in all points, if so be they are capable of seeing
and acknowledging themselves to have been in the wrong. Farewell.
CHAPTER 7
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. I profess myself extremely pleased with the reading your
letters to the Galatians, Corinthians, and the people of Achaia.
2. For the Holy Spirit has in them by you delivered those
sentiments which are very lofty, sublime, deserving of all
respect, and beyond your own invention.
3. I could wish therefore, that when you are writing things
so extraordinary, there might not be lacking an elegancy of
speech agreeable to their majesty.
4. And I must admit, my brother, so that I may not at once
dishonestly conceal anything from you and be unfaithful to my own
conscience, that the emperor is extremely pleased with the
sentiments of your Epistles;
5. For when he heard the beginning of them read, he
declared that he was surprised to find such notions in a person
who had not had a regular education.
6. To which I replied, that the gods sometimes made use of
humble (innocent) persons to speak by, and gave him an instance
of this in a simple countryman, named Vatienus, who, when he was
in the country of Reate, had two men appear to him, called Castor
and Pollux, and received a revelation from the gods. Farewell.
CHAPTER 8
Paul to Seneca, Greeting.
1. Although I know the emperor is both an admirer and
favorer of our (religion), yet permit me to advise you against
your suffering any injury, (by showing favor to us).
2. I think indeed you ventured upon a very dangerous
attempt, when you would declare (to the emperor) that which is so
very contrary to his religion and way of worship, seeing he is a
worshipper of the heathen gods.
3. I know not what you particularly had in view when you
told him of this, but I suppose you did it out of a too great
respect for me.
4. But I desire that for the future you would not do so;
for you need to be careful, for fear that by showing your
affection for me, you could offend your master:
5. His anger indeed will do us no harm, if he continue a
heathen; nor will his not being angry be of any service to us:
6. And if the empress act worthy of her character, she will
not be angry, but if she acts as a woman, she will be affronted.
Farewell.
CHAPTER 9
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. I know that my letter, wherein I acquainted you, what I
had read to the Emperor your Epistles, does not so much affect
you as the nature of the things (contained in them),
2. Which do so powerfully divert men's minds from their
former manners and practices that I have always been surprised,
and have been fully convinced of it by many arguments until now.
3. Let us therefore begin afresh; and if anything before
has been imprudently acted, please forgive.
4. I have sent you a book de copia verborum. Farewell,
dearest Paul.
CHAPTER 10
Paul to Seneca, Greeting.
1. As often as I write to you, and place my name before
yours, I do a thing both disagreeable to myself and contrary to
our religion.
2. For I ought, as I have often declared, to become all
things to all men, and to have that regard to your quality, which
the Roman law has honored all senators with; namely, to put my
name last in the (inscription of the) Epistle, that I may not at
length with uneasiness and shame be obliged to do that which it
was always my inclination to do. Farewell, most respected
master. Dated the fifth of the calends of July, in the fourth
consulship of Nero, and Messala.
CHAPTER 11
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. All happiness to you, my dearest Paul.
2. If a person so great, and in every way as agreeable as
you are, become not only common, but a most intimate friend to
me, how happy will be the case of Seneca!
3. You therefore, who are so eminent and so far exalted
above all, even the greatest, do not think yourself unfit to be
first named in the inscription of an Epistle.
4. For fear that I should suspect you intend not so much to
test me, as to banter me; for you know yourself to be a Roman
citizen.
5. And I could wish to be in that circumstance or station
which you are, and that you were in the same that I am.
Farewell, dearest Paul. Dated the Xth of the calends of April,
in the consulship of Apriann and Capito.
CHAPTER 12
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. All happiness to you, my dearest Paul. Do you not
suppose that I am extremely concerned and grieved that your
innocence should bring you into sufferings?
2. And that all the people should suppose you (Christians)
so criminal, and imagine all the misfortunes that happen to the
city, to be caused by you?
3. But let us bear the charge with a patient temper,
appealing (for our innocence) to the court (above), which is the
only one our hard fortune will allow us to address, till at
length our misfortunes will end in unalterable happiness.
4. Former ages have produced (tyrants) Alexander the son of
Philip, and Dionysius; ours also has produced Caius Caesar; whose
inclinations were their only laws.
5. As to the frequent burnings of the city of Rome, the
cause is manifest; and if a person in my mean circumstances might
be allowed to speak, and one might declare those dark things
without danger, everyone should see the whole of the matter.
6. The Christians and Jews are indeed commonly punished for
the crime of burning the city; but that impious miscreant who
delights in murders and butcheries, and disguises his villainies
with lies, is appointed to, or reserved till, his proper time.
7. And as the life of every excellent person is now
sacrificed instead of that one person (who is the author of the
mischief), so this one shall be sacrificed for many, and he shall
be devoted to be burnt with fire instead of all.
8. One hundred and thirty-two houses, and four whole
squares (or islands) were burnt down in six days: the seventh put
an end to the burning. I wish you all happiness.
9. Dated the fifth of the calends of April, in the
consulship of Frigius and Bassus.
CHAPTER 13
Annaeus Seneca to Paul, Greeting.
1. All happiness to you, my dearest Paul.
2. You have written many volumes in an allegorical and
mystical style, and therefore such mighty matters and business
being committed to you, require not to be set off with any
rhetorical flourishes of speech, but only with some proper
elegance.
3. I remember you often say, that many by affecting such a
style do injury to their subjects, and lose the force of the
matters they treat of.
4. But in this I desire you to regard me, namely, to have
respect to true Latin, and to choose just words, so you may the
better manage the noble trust which is reposed in you.
5. Farewell. Dated Vth of the names of July, Leo and
Savinus consuls.
CHAPTER 14
Paul to Seneca, Greeting.
1. Your serious consideration repaid [me] with these
discoveries that the Divine Being has granted but to few.
2. I am thereby assured that I sow the most strong seed in
a fertile soil, not anything material, which is subject to
corruption, but the durable word of God, which shall increase and
bring forth fruit to eternity.
3. That which by your wisdom you have attained to, shall
abide without decay forever.
4. Believe that you ought to avoid the superstitions of
Jews and Gentiles.
5. The things which you have in some measure arrived to,
prudently make known to the emperor, his family, and to faithful
friends;
6. And though your sentiments will seem disagreeable and
not be comprehended by them, seeing most of them will not regard
your discourses, yet the Word of God once infused into them will
at length make them become new men, aspiring towards God.
7. Farewell Seneca, who are most dear to us. Dated on the
calends of August, in the consulship of Leo and Savinus.
Several very learned writers have entertained a favorable opinion of these Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity.
Sixtus Senensis published them in his Bibliotheque, pp. 89, 90; and it is from this that the present translation is made.
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