Eusebius: Proof of the Gospel
also called: Demonstration Evangelicatranslated to english by J Ferrar
we can read:
Eusebius, Proof of the Gospel, by J Ferrar
Book I chapter 6 page 40.
[Eusebius:] And as it stands on high, hear what it says
as it proclaims the law, which suits not Jews alone, but
Greeks and barbarians, and all nations under the sun :
[Jesus (?):] "O man! and all the human race! the Law of
Moses, beginning from one race of men, first called the
whole race of the Jews, because of the promise given
to their holy forefathers, to the knowledge of the one
God, and released its servants from bitter slavery to the
demons.
But I am the herald to all men and to the
nations of the whole world of a loftier knowledge of
God and holiness ; I call them to live according to the
ideals of those of Abraham's day, and men still more
ancient of pre-Mosaic date, with whom many of all races
are recorded to have shone in holiness as lights in the
world."
And again :
"The Law of Moses required all who desired to be
holy to Speed from all directions to one definite place;
but I, giving freedom to all, teach men not to look for
God in a corner of the earth, nor in mountains, nor in
temples made with hands, but that each should worship
and adore Him at home."
And again :
"The old law commanded that God should be worshipped
by the sacrifice of slain beasts, of incense
and fire and divers other similar external purifications.
But I, introducing the rites of the soul, command
that God should be glorified with a clean heart and a
pure mind, in purity and a life of virtue, and by true
and holy teaching."
And again:
"Moses forbade the men of his time who were defiled
with blood to kill; but I lay down a more perfect law
for those who have him for a schoolmaster and have
kept the earlier commandment - when I ordain that
men must not be slaves to anger." (Cf. Matthew 5.22)
And once more :
"The Law of Moses enacted to adulterers and the
impure that they must not commit adultery, or indulge
in vice, or pursue unnatural pleasures, and made death
the penalty of transgression; but I do not wish my
disciples even to look upon a woman with lustful desire." (Cf. Matthew 5.28)
And again, it said:
"Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform
unto the Lord thine oaths; but I say unto you, Swear
not at all, but let your communication be Yea, yea ; Nay,
nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (Cf. Matthew 5.33)
And again, it commanded resistance against the unjust,
and reprisal, when it said :
"An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth ; but
I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever
shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the
other also. And he who will sue thee at the law, and
take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."
(Cf. Matthew 5.38-40)
And again:
"It exhorts to love your friend, and to hate your
enemies ; but I in my excess of goodwill and forbearance
lay down the law :
Pray for persecutors, that you may be children
of your Father in heaven, who letteth his sun rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and the unjust."(Cf. Matthew 5.44)
[?:] And, moreover, the Mosaic Law was suited to the
hardness of heart of the vulgar, gave ordinances corresponding
to those under the rule of sense, and provided a form of
religion, reduced and inferior to the old.
"But I summon all to the holy and godly life of the holy men
of the earlier days. "
And in fine, it promises, as to children, a land flowing
with milk and honey:
"while I make citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven
those who are worthy to enter therein."
[Eusebius:] Such was the message to all nations given by the word
of the new covenant by the teaching of Christ. And the
Christ of God bade His disciples teach them to all nations,
saying :
[Jesus:] "Go ye into all the world, and make disciples of all
the nations . . . teaching them to observe whatsoever
I commanded you." (Cf. Matthew 28.19)
And in giving them to all men both Greeks and Barbarians
to keep He clearly revealed the nature of Christianity, the
nature of Christians, and the nature of the Teacher of the
words and instruction, our Lord and Saviour the Christ of
God Himself.
(...)
[Luiz 2015:]
I spent many hours attempting to find a copy of the greek version of this Eusebius book,
Proof of the Gospel, but no success so far.
I want to investigate this that looks like a quotation of some words of the Lord Jesus
that are not in the modern Bibles.
If someone knows more about that please help.
