[3590] We have adopted the reading of one V. ms., apecharesato. It means more than is in the text--that God used the wicked in a way in which they would not be naturally used; lit., "abused," or "misused." The other mss. and the Coptic read apecharisato, "gave His gifts to the wicked for prophecy." Whiston has tried to make sense by giving a new meaning to apecharisato, "taking away His grace from the wicked."
[3591] Luke x. 16.
[3592] The Coptic and one V. ms. omit from the commencement of the chapter to "deacons." The V. ms. has: "Peter, the chief of the apostles, proclaimed the Gospel to Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, and finally in Rome, where he was crucified by the prefect in the reign of Nero, and where also he is buried."
[3593] From this to the end of ch. xxvi., only small portions of what is now in the received text occur in the Coptic version. The Oxford ms. is also deficient. It has only a portion of the fifth, nothing of ch. vi. to xvi., and only a single sentence in ch. xxii. The portions in Coptic are printed in italics.
[3594] Omitted in one V. ms.
[3595] Matt. xviii. 16.
[3596] The Coptic has, "let the bishop pray for him."
[3597] 2 Cor. i. 3.
[3598] Ps. cxiii. 5.
[3599] One V. ms. reads, "with whom."
[3600] The Coptic inserts, "let the holy Gospels be read."
[3601] The Coptic reads "Gospel" instead of "Law."
[3602] One V. ms. has the following note: "Andrew the brother of Peter preaches the Gospel to the Scythians, Sogdiani, and Thracians, who on account of preaching Christ is crowned with the martyrdom of the cross by Ægæa the proconsul, and was buried in Patræ. Afterwards he was removed to Constantinople by the Emperor Constantine."
[3603] The Oxford ms. has this chapter in an abbreviated form as in the parallel columns.
[3604] 2 Cor. vii. 1, vi. 6; Ps. cxxi. 8.
[3605] One V. ms. has proboleus, "the sender forth," or "producer," instead of "God."
[3606] Ps. li. 10.
[3607] Mark v. 9; Zech. iii. 2.
[3608] Matt. xii. 29; Luke x. 19.
[3609] Job xl. 24, LXX.
[3610] Luke x. 18
[3611] Ps. cvi. 9; Isa. li. 10; Ps. xcvii. 5; Isa. lxiv. 1, Ps. cxvii. 2, viii. 2, xcvii. 4, civ. 32; Nah. i. 4, 3; Job ix. 8, LXX.
[3612] [Comp. note 1, p. 477, book vii. chap. xliii.--R.]
[3613] Isa. i. 16.
[3614] Rom. xvi. 20.
[3615] Col. ii. 13, 14.
[3616] Phil. iv. 3.
[3617] 2 Cor. vii. 1.
[3618] Prov. xx. 9.
[3619] Luke xv. 7.
[3620] The V. mss. read, "restore them to their former position, and give then the joy," etc.
[3621] Ps. li. 12.
[3622] The V. mss. add, "in their footsteps, but may be deemed worthy to be admitted," etc.
[3623] Ezek. xviii. and xxxiii.
[3624] Jonah iii.; 1 Tim. ii. 4.
[3625] Luke xv.
[3626] [Ps. cxxx. 3, 4.--R.]
[3627] [This is "James, the Lord's brother;" Gal. i. 19. An incidental proof of the Eastern and Ante-Nicene origin of book viii. also.--R.]
[3628] Matt. xix. 29.
[3629] The V. mss. insert, "whom Thou hast selected out of myriads."
[3630] John x. 29.
[3631] John xvii. 17.
[3632] Ps. lxiv. 1; xci. 5, 6.
[3633] The meaning in Coptic seems to be uncertain.
[3634] The Coptic reads, "sub-deacons."
[3635] One V. ms. gives the following note: "James the son of Zebedee, brother of John, preached the Gospel in Judea, was slain with the sword by Herod the tetrarch, and lies in Cæsarea."
[3636] [N.B.--No non-communicating attendance permitted.]
[3637] The Coptic adds, "over the oblation, that the Holy Spirit may descend upon it, making the bread the body of Christ, and the cup the blood of Christ; and prayers being ended." It then goes on with the words in italics in ch. xiii.
[3638] The common text has, "before all the people," omitted by one V. ms.
[3639] Eph. iii. 15.
[3640] Col. i. 15; Isa. ix. 6, LXX.
[3641] Gen. i.; 4 Esd. xvi. 60; Ps. civ. 2.
[3642] Job xxxviii.
[3643] Jer. v. 22.
[3644] Gen. i. 26.
[3645] Gen. ii. 8.
[3646] Gen. iv.
[3647] Ecclus. xlix. 16.
[3648] Gen. iv. and v.
[3649] Gen. vi. and vii.
[3650] 1 Pet. iii. 20.
[3651] Gen. xix.; Wisd. x. 6; Ps. cvii. 34
[3652] Gen. xii., etc.
[3653] Gen. xlvi. 27, LXX.
[3654] Ex. 1, etc.
[3655] See Isa. viii. 20, LXX.
[3656] Josh. iii. 10, etc.
[3657] Ps. lxxiv. 15
[3658] Josh. vi
[3659] Isa. vi. 2
[3660] Dan. vii. 10
[3661] Isa. vi. 3; Rom. i. 25.
[3662] Ps. cv. 16.
[3663] John xvii. 6, 4.
[3664] 1 Cor. xi. 23.
[3665] Matt. xxvi.; Mark xiv.; Luke xxii.
[3666] 1 Tim. ii. 2.
[3667] 1 Pet. ii. 9.
[3668] Ps. cxxxvi. 25.
[3669] 1 Tim. ii. 2.
[3670] This is not a fair translation of the Greek which, as the text stands, does not make sense. One V. ms. reads, "Let us beseech in behalf of one another."
[3671] 2 Cor. vii. 1.
[3672] Luke ii. 14; Matt. xxi. 9.
[3673] The Coptic adds, "the rest of the clergy in their order."
[3674] The Coptic has, "and let them sing psalms during the distribution, until the whole congregation has received it."
[3675] The Coptic has, "let all the women receive it also."
[3676] The Coptic, "these His holy and immortal mysteries, which are numbered in heaven."
[3677] The Coptic has, "the Lord."
[3678] 1 Tim. vi. 16.
[3679] Ps. cxxi. 8.
[3680] The Coptic adds: "And let the presbyters and deacons watch the few fragments that are left, that they may perceive that there is nothing superfluous; lest they fall into the great judgment, like the sons of Aaron and Eli, whom the Holy Spirit destroyed, because they did not refrain from despising the sacrifice of the Lord: how much more those who despise the body and blood of the Lord, thinking that to be merely material food which they receive, and not spiritual!"
[3681] The Coptic inserts, "when they have been blessed."
Sec. III.--Ordination and Duties of the Clergy.
Concerning the Ordination of Presbyters--The Constitution of John, Who Was Beloved by the Lord.
XVI. Concerning the ordination of presbyters, I [3682] who am loved by the Lord make this constitution for you the bishops: When thou ordainest a presbyter, O bishop, lay thy hand upon his head, in the presence of the presbyters and deacons, [3683] and pray, saying: O Lord Almighty, our God, who hast created all things by Christ, and dost in like manner take care of the whole world by Him; for He who had power to make different creatures, has also power to take care of them, according to their different natures; on which account, O God, Thou takest care of immortal beings by bare preservation, but of those that are mortal by succession--of the soul by the provision of laws, of the body by the supply of its wants. Do Thou therefore now also look down upon Thy holy Church, and increase the same, and multiply those that preside in it, and grant them power, that they may labour both in word and work for the edification of Thy people. Do Thou now also look down upon this Thy servant, who is put into the presbytery by the vote and determination of the whole clergy; and do Thou replenish him with the Spirit of grace and counsel, to assist and govern Thy people with a pure heart, in the same manner as Thou didst look down upon Thy chosen people, and didst command Moses to choose elders, whom Thou didst fill with Thy Spirit. [3684] Do Thou also now, O Lord, grant this, and preserve in us the Spirit of Thy grace, that this person, being filled with the gifts of healing and the word of teaching, may in meekness instruct Thy people, and sincerely serve Thee with a pure mind and a willing soul, and may fully discharge the holy ministrations for Thy people, through Thy Christ, with whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, for ever. Amen.
Concerning the Ordination of Deacons--The Constitution of Philip.
XVII. Concerning the ordination of deacons, I Philip [3685] make this constitution: Thou shalt ordain a deacon, O bishop, by laying thy hands upon him in the presence of the whole presbytery, and of the deacons, and shall pray, and say:--
The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deacon.
XVIII. O God Almighty, the true and faithful God, who art rich unto all that call upon Thee in truth, who art fearful in counsels, and wise in understanding, who art powerful and great, hear our prayer, O Lord, and let Thine ears receive our supplication, and "cause the light of Thy countenance to shine upon this Thy servant," who is to be ordained for Thee to the office of a deacon; and replenish him with Thy Holy Spirit, and with power, as Thou didst replenish Stephen, who was Thy martyr, and follower of the sufferings of Thy Christ. [3686] Do Thou render him worthy to discharge acceptably the ministration of a deacon, steadily, unblameably, and without reproof, that thereby he may attain an higher degree, through the mediation of Thy only begotten Son, with whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee and the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
Concerning the Deaconess--The Constitution of Bartholomew.
XIX. Concerning a deaconess, I Bartholomew [3687] make this constitution: O bishop, thou shalt lay thy hands upon her in the presence of the presbytery, and of the deacons and deaconesses, and shall say:--
The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deaconess.
XX. O Eternal God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of man and of woman, who didst replenish with the Spirit Miriam, and Deborah, and Anna, and Huldah; [3688] who didst not disdain that Thy only begotten Son should be born of a woman; who also in the tabernacle of the testimony, and in the temple, didst ordain women to be keepers of Thy holy gates,--do Thou now also look down upon this Thy servant, who is to be ordained to the office of a deaconess, and grant her Thy Holy Spirit, and "cleanse her from all filthiness of flesh and spirit," [3689] that she may worthily discharge the work which is committed to her to Thy glory, and the praise of Thy Christ, with whom glory and adoration be to Thee and the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
Concerning the Sub-Deacons--The Constitution of Thomas.
XXI. Concerning the sub-deacons, I Thomas [3690] make this constitution for you the bishops: [3691] When thou dost ordain a sub-deacon, [3692] O bishop, thou shalt lay thy hands upon him, and say: O Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things that are therein; who also in the tabernacle of the testimony didst appoint overseers and keepers of Thy holy vessels; [3693] do Thou now look down upon this Thy servant, appointed a sub-deacon; and grant him the Holy Spirit, that he may worthily handle the vessels of Thy ministry, and do Thy will always, through Thy Christ, with whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee and to the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
Concerning the Readers--The Constitution of Matthew.
XXII. Concerning readers, [3694] I Matthew, also called Levi, who was once a tax-gatherer, make a constitution: Ordain a reader by laying thy hands upon him, and pray unto God, and say: O Eternal God, who art plenteous in mercy and compassions, who hast made manifest the constitution of the world by Thy operations therein, and keepest the number of Thine elect, do Thou also now look down upon Thy servant, who is to be entrusted to read Thy Holy Scriptures to Thy people, and give him Thy Holy Spirit, the prophetic Spirit. Thou who didst instruct Esdras Thy servant to read Thy laws to the people, [3695] do Thou now also at our prayers instruct Thy servant, and grant that he may without blame perfect the work committed to him, and thereby be declared worthy of an higher degree, through Christ, with whom glory and worship be to Thee and to the Holy Ghost for ever. Amen.
Concerning the Confessors--The Constitution of James the Son of Alpheus.
XXIII. And I James, the son of Alphæus, make a constitution in regard to confessors: A confessor is not ordained; for he is so by choice and patience, and is worthy of great honour, as having confessed the name of God, and of His Christ, before nations and kings. But if there be occasion, he is to be ordained [3696] either a bishop, priest, or deacon. But if any one of the confessors who is not ordained snatches to himself any such dignity upon account of his confession, let the same person be deprived and rejected; for he is not in such an office, since he has denied the constitution of Christ, and is "worse than an infidel." [3697]
The Same Apostle's Constitution Concerning Virgins.