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truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)
Created 5927± 06 19 2023 [2007-09-02]
Updated 5928± 08 12 2024 [2007-10-25]
What values can be gleaned from
the apocryphal book
The Epistles of Paul the Apostle
to Seneca, with Seneca’s to Paul
?
Abstract:
Apocryphal books are
not generally considered reliable as many of them are believed to be
fabrications authored for the purposes of the Roman Catholic Church. However, I
believe one may be wise to assess each one of these books on its own merits
such that one does not risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Thus the
following are considerations that must be taken with a fair grain of salt and
with a thorough consideration of the merits of the details being described:
The first items in this apocryphal book that arouses my
attention are first of all the exact dates given at the end of the last five
chapters of the book:
Dated the fifth of the calends of July, in the fourth consulship of Nero, and Messala.
Dated the xth
of the calends of April, in the consulship of Aprianus and Capito.
Dated the fifth of the calends of April, in
the consulship of Frigius and
Bassus
Dated
vth of the names of July, Leo and
Savinus consuls OR Given
on the day before the nones of June; Leo and Sabinus consuls
Dated on the Calends
of August, in the consulship of Leo and Savinus.
Secondly, Seneca’s
references to the fires in
Thirdly, I find it
quite interesting to note that Seneca was apparently given a copy of a book of
epistles written by Paul, apparently for the purpose of having them read before
the Emperor as part of the Emperor’s assessment of Paul.
All things having been
carefully considered I find that this
particular apocryphal book, “The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with
Seneca’s to Paul” in every detail considered has a strong ring of truth to it
and that the findings there discovered may be, when supported by other sources,
quite helpful in adding more precision to my chronology for a period of time
where I have previously been lacking sufficient source material.
Specifically, these
letters of Paul and Seneca have been instrumental in helping me find a more
correct date for the fires in
Considerations:
Dates:
1. Paul’s
epistle to the Galatians is being referenced in Chapter VII. I have dated its
authorship to Elul,
45 CE, such that it was probably begun before and concluded subsequent to Paul’s
release of bondage, which date I believe is rather firmly based on the facts
and upon the Scriptures.
- The subject matter of
Chapters VII through IX fits very well indeed with the above dating, does it
not? – Perhaps this is evidence of the authenticity of these letters between
Paul and Seneca, or isn’t it?
2. In my list of 1st
century Roman Consuls I do not find “the
fourth consulship of Nero, and Messala.” However, I do find “the third consulship of Nero, and Messala” in 44 CE
(conventional AD 58,) and I find “the
fourth consulship of Nero, and Cornelius Cossus.”
– Could it be that both
those Nero’s 4th consulship was joined first to one and then to the
other among Messala and Cossus?
- If so, then which one
would come first in time?
- Considering that “the
fourth consulship of Nero, and Messala” is further “Dated the fifth of the
calends of July, in the fourth consulship of Nero, and Messala. [June 27,]”
(Chapter X) isn’t it highly likely from the context of these epistles in
conjunction with the above referenced date of Elul, 45 CE that the correct year for Nero’s 4th
consulship is no earlier than 46 CE?
- And isn’t it true
that Nero’s 4th consulship may be exactly correlated with Tacitus’
statement for the year of that consulship: “A comet meantime blazed in the
sky, which in popular opinion always portends revolution to kingdoms” (Tacitus,
Annales XIV:22.) The one and only comet elsewhere recorded during Nero’s
reign, and between the comets in 39 CE and 54 CE is the comet “Beginning
in the lunar month between December 17, 46 CE and January 15, 47 CE (as thus
far understood) and “visible for 20 days” or else for “six months” ” (Samguk
Sagi (1145), p. 149; Ho Peng Yoke (1962), p. 149; I. Hasegawa (1980), p.
66.” (Excerpt from volume 1 of Gary W. Kronk’s Cometography series.)) The only possible
exception being the comet referenced in this passage of Tacitus. However, a
careful study of the Latin original of that passage indicates that what
happened at the end of the year is that the “people talked much” about events
noted over the past few years, and including also the comet above specified:
“XV:47. At
the close of the [Julian] year people talked much about prodigies,
presaging impending evils. Never were lightning flashes more frequent, and a
comet too appeared, for which Nero always made propitiation with noble blood.” (Tacitus
XV:47)
- The comet was seen
beginning some time within said lunar month, whether before or after January 1
I do not know. However, Tacitus is making his comment re this comet within the
first few paragraphs of his history of that consulship so it stands to reason
that this comet event was not something beginning at the tail end of that
consulship.
- Nero had himself from
the beginning of his reign specifically defined that the beginning of the year
should continue to be January 1: “The emperor in the same year asked the Senate
for a statue to his father Domitius, and also that the consular decorations
might be conferred on Asconius Labeo, who had been his guardian. Statues to
himself of solid gold and silver he forbade, in opposition to offers made, and although the Senate passed a vote that the
year should begin with the month of
December, in which he was born, he retained for its commencement, the old
sacred associations of the first of January.”
- Accordingly, there
can be little doubt but that the consulship of “Nero Claudius Caesar
Augustus Germanicus IV & Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Cossus” began on or before
January 1, 47 CE and that it did not end at that date,
regardless of whether or not Paul’s and Seneca’s epistles are authentic, albeit
the latter would both confirm, and be confirmed by, this fact!
- Suetonius makes it
clear that Nero’s 4th consulship lasted six months: “The first of Nero's four consulships lasted for
two months, the third for four, the second and the last for six. He let a year elapse between the first and
second, and between the third and fourth; but not between the second and
third... It became his practice to appoint Consuls
for a period of six months; and should a Consul die before 1 January he
made no substitute appointment, to mark his disapproval of Caninius Rebilus's
one-day consulship.” (Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, p. 217, 218.)
- Accordingly, it may
initially seem as though Paul’s letter (Chapter X,) “Dated the
fifth of the calends of July, in the fourth consulship of Nero, and
Messala. [June 27,]” if indeed it is authentic, should be dated in 47 CE. However, looking
more closely at Tacitus text I recognize that during that 4th
consulship of Nero the Quinquennial games were performed for the first time during
Nero’s reign. But those games are performed in October, not in the spring. If
as Suetonius claims, Nero’s 4th consulship lasted six months it
cannot very well have lasted from October through the next June 27th,
can it? However, if for some reason Nero began his 4th consulship a
few days before July 1 then that consulship may still be considered “six
months” while yet lasting until the end of 46 CE when the comet was first seen.
Accordingly, I find it reasonable to conclude that such was indeed the case.
3. I do find
“the consulship of Aprianus and Capito” in 45 CE (conventional AD 59,) albeit
Tacitus in his Annals places it prior to Nero IV & Cossus.
– This particular
consulship is being associated with the consulship named “Vipstanus and Fonteius” [C. Fonteius Capito & C. Vipsanius Apronianus] by Pliny the Elder
and a detailed description of a solar eclipse that almost certainly did occur
on April 30, [59 CE] as recorded by Pliny the Elder.
- But that astronomical
fact doesn’t prove that said two consulships are one and the same, does it?
Pliny the Elder is addressing his book to Titus, who “began his reign on
June 23, 66 CE, and died September 13, 68 CE,” and said astronomical event accordingly does fit
Pliny the Elder’s words “not many years ago” much better than if his reference
would have been to an event referring to Nero, five Emperors and at least
fourteen years, but more likely twenty plus years, prior to Pliny the Elder’s
authorship!
- The exact date here
given by Seneca, chapter XI, “Dated the xth of the calends of April... [March 23,]” when considered in relationship
to the context of the events as recorded in these letters of Paul and Seneca,
again provides for us a most likely year: I.e. certainly no earlier than the
year following the date of chapter X, i.e. 47 CE, does it not?!
- The main problem I
see with this solution is that if Tacitus is correct in his placement of the
Aprianus and Capito consulship prior to Nero IV, and if also Pliny the Elder is
correctly associating the consulship of Vipstanus and Fonteius with the solar
eclipse in 59 CE, and if these same consular names are associated with the
consulship in Seneca’s letter to Paul in Chapter XI is also correctly placed
subsequent to Nero’s 4th consulship, we then end up with three
consulships using the same or nearly the same names for the Consuls. Is this a
viable solution? Is there an answer to this dilemma? There is:
- Tacitus’ words:
“IN THE year of the
consulship of Caius Vipstanus and Caius Fonteius, Nero deferred no more a long
meditated crime…”
associates said
consulship with Nero’s matricide and all the intricacies therewith associated,
not excluding the three women in Nero’s life figuring at that time most
prominently in this drama, i.e. Agrippina, Nero’s mother and mistress, Octavia,
Nero’s married wife, and Poppaea, Nero’s mistress who was unable to achieve her
desired position while Nero’s mother was still alive. Cf. Tacitus,
Annales XIV:1. Perhaps this
threesome competition between three women is somehow being reflected in three
separate consulships competing for much the same names? [Cf. also Revelation
16:13 and 17:5!]
- Is there anything in
Tacitus’ record of Nero’s 4th consulship that confirms that the
matricide events of the consulship of Aprianus and Capito had already taken
place and did not follow Nero’s 4th consulship? Reading Tacitus’ Annales
XIV:20-29 I do not see any reference to Nero’s matricide or indeed to anything
re the women in his life. Is it possible that, as also implicated by Josephus
re the historians of Nero, the sequence between “the consulship of Aprianus and
Capito” and that of Nero’s 4th consulship have been somehow
interchanged? Or are there indeed three similarly named consulships?
- Considering carefully
the exact words of Tacitus I find that, albeit the fact that it seems generally
that Tacitus are recording the events in a sequential manner from one
consulship to the next, I see no reason why his reference to the prior
consulship of Nero IV (Book XIV:20…) could not be placed in his book subsequent
to the events relating Nero’s matricide, perhaps even by so doing indicating a
certain causal relationship between one event and another. Or is it even
possible that the purpose is to hide such a causal relationship in the life of
Nero? Be that as it may, it seems unlikely that Nero would be in a mindset of
initiating those games within the six months immediately following his
matricide, especially considering what Tacitus is telling us about Nero’s
mindset and his whereabouts following his matricide.
4. I do find
“the consulship of Frigius and Bassus” (chapter XII) as
“Frugi” and “Bassus” in 49/50 CE (conventional AD 64.)
- Considering the
events described in Chapter XII that apparently had not even begun by the time
Chapter XI was written it seems impossible that there is a mere five day
difference (March 23 – March 28) in time between the authorship of these two
chapters, does it not? After all chapter XI and XII are both authored by
Seneca. Thus, I believe we are on fairly safe ground to conclude that Chapter
XII was authored in 50 CE, which places “the consulship of Frigius
and Bassus” in 50 CE and the burning of Rome at July 19, 49CE, if indeed that fire
began on July 19? – thus confirming my prior placement in time of that event.
- A major problem here
is that Tacitus places the fires in
- In the end I find
that it may not be impossible that, due to the destruction of
5. I do find
“Sabinus consul” in 54, 56, 66, and 68 CE (conventional AD 70, 72, 82, and 84
respectively,) however I do not find any consul named Leo.
- Nevertheless, re
“Leo,” there is a consul named “L. Valerius Catulus Messalinus” with “T.
Flavius Domitianus Caesar II” in 57 CE (conventional AD 73.) – Highly unlikely
candidate for this consulship though!
- Also I have no doubt
but that there are a number of consulships missing out of the generally
available lists of consulships, especially for the duration of the reign of
Nero who is said by Suetonius to have had a new set of consuls every
six months whereas most consulship lists have only one consulship for each
calendar year for that time period.
- Considering the exact
dates provided for Chapters XII, XIII, and XIV, i.e. March
28, July 3, and August 1, plus my
finding that Seneca died in October 50 CE, I would consider each and all of
those chapters most likely authored in one and the same year, i.e. in
50 CE.
- Accordingly, I will
tentatively introduce the consulship of Sabinus and Leo
subsequent to Nerva and Vestinus in 50 CE.
- Consistent with all
the events referenced by Tacitus and in the letters between Paul and Seneca I
find that Seneca most likely died in
October 50 CE. - However, per Tacitus XIV:22 & XV:22 and more, I
find that the 1st eruption
of Mt. Vesuvius (if there was an eruption at the time of the earth quake that
occurred at that time) must be moved from my prior assessment of 46 CE to 48 CE
– the year prior to Nero’s fires in Rome!
Obsolete considerations:
Summary of unresolved
problems/questions re these epistles of Paul and Seneca:
1. Are we
dealing with a correct translation from the original Latin text of these epistles,
especially re the date of chapter X?
2. Are the
consulships 1) “Aprianus and Capito,” 2) “Vipstanus and Fonteius, ” and 3) “C. Fonteius Capito & C. Vipsanius Apronianus” correctly named in each
source, especially in the consular lists, and if so are they representing the
same or different consulships in time?
3. Where can
I find original sources for the Roman consulships? Are the names as given by
Suetonius, Pliny, Tacitus, etc. sufficient? Is it possible that so long as the
names are different it does not matter whether the owners of those names are
the same and that it is then ok to have the same pair of living beings being
the consuls for two distinct and separate consulships?
4. How are
the 46/47 comet and Nero’s fire in
5. Is it
possible that Tacitus is referencing a 2nd comet during the reign of
Nero, i.e. after the ones in 39 and 46/47 CE?
Summary:
I find that these epistles of Paul and Seneca may
well be authentic, considering that all the dates and consulships there named
do fit into the present chronology findings and that they do so without
disregarding the texts of Tacitus and Suetonius, or even Pliny.
The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca’s to Paul:
CHAP. I.
Annaeus seneca to paul Greeting.
…
4 We were much
delighted with your book of many Epistles, which you have wrote 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 scarce sufficient to be
instructed and perfected in the knowledge of them. I wish your welfare, my brother.
Farewell.
CHAP. II.
paul to seneca Greeting.
3 I reckon myself very happy in having the judgment of so valuable a person, that you are delighted with my
Epistles:
4
For you would not be
es teemed a censor, a philosopher, or be the tutor of so great a prince, and a master
of every thing. if you were not sincere. I wish you a lasting prosperity.
CHAP. III.
Annaeus
seneca to paul Greeting.
I HAVE completed some volumes, and divided them into their proper parts.
2 I am determined to read them to Oesar, and if any favourable
opportunity happens, you also sha11 be Presmt, when they are read ;
3 But lf that cannot be, I wl11
appoint and give you notice of a day when we wl11 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 Csesar, that you might be convinced of
my affection to you. Farewell, dearest Paul.
CHAP. VII.
Annaeus
seneca to paul Greeting.
I PROFESS myself extremely pleased with the reading your letters to the Galatians, Corin-tians, and people of Achaia.
2 For the Holy Ghost 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
wanting an elegancy of speech agreeable to their majesty.
4
And I must own my brother, 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 mean (innocent) persons to speak by, and
gave him an instance of this in a mean countryman, named
Vatienus, who, when he was in the country of Keate, had two men appeared to
him, called Castor and Pollux, and received a
revelation from the gods. Farewell.
CHAP. IX.
Annaeus
seneca to paul Greeting.
I KNOW that my letter, wherein I acquainted you, that 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 heretofore.
3 Let us therefore begin afresh ; and if any thing heretofore has been imprudently acted, do you forgive.
4 I have sent you a book de copia verborum. Farewell, dearest Paul.
CHAP. X.
paul to seneca Greeting
.
A s 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 honoured 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. [June 27 / ToL]
CHAP. XI.
Annaeus
seneca to paul Greeting.
ALL
happiness to you,
my dearest Paul. If a person so great, and every
way agreeable as you are, become not only a common, but a most
intimate friend to me, how happy will be the case of Seneca!
2
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;
3
Lest I should suspect you intend
not so much to try me, as to banter me; for you know yourself
to be a Roman citizen.
4 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 Aprianus and Capito. [March 23 / ToL]
CHAP. XII.
Annaeus seneca to paul Greeting.
ALL
happiness to you, my dearest Paul.
Do you not suppose 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 to, till at length our misfortunes shall 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
6 The Christians and Jew are indeed commonly
punished for the crime of burning the city; but that impious miscreant who delights in
murders and butcheries, and disguises his yillanies 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.
[March 28 / ToL]
CHAP. XIII.
Annaeus seneca to paul Greeting.
ALL happiness to you, my dearest Paul
2 You have wrote many volumes in an allegorical and mystical style, and therefore such mighty matters and business being committed to you, require lot to be set off with any rhetorical nourishes 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, that so you may the better manage the noble trust
which is reposed in you.
5 Farewell.
Dated vtl[ of the names of July, Leo
and Savinus consuls. [“names” = “nones”? č July 3 / ToL]
CHAP. XIV.
paul to seneca Greeting,
YOUR serious consideration requited with these discoveries, which 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 for ever.
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 art most dear to us. Dated on the Calends of August, in the consulship of Leo and Savinus. [August 1 / ToL]
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