The Lost Books of the Bible

CHAP. VIII.

1926 anthology with historical English translations and Crane introduction William Wake and Frank Crane

CHAP. VIII.

Of the circumcision of the ears; and how in the first institution of circumcision Abraham, mystically foretold Christ by name.

AND therefore the Scripture again speaks concerning our ears, that God has circumcised them, together with our hearts For thus saith the Lord by the holy prophets:[661] By the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.

2 And again,[662] whey who are afar off, shall hear and understand what things I have done. And again,[663] Circumcise your hearts, saith the Lord.

3 And again he saith,[664] Hear O Israel! For thus saith the Lord thy God. And again the Spirit of God prophesieth, saying:[665] Who is there that would live for ever,[666] let him hear the voice of my Son.

4 And again,[667] Hear, O Heaven and give ear O Earth! Because the Lord has spoken these things for a witness.

5 And again he saith[668] Hear the word of the Lord, ye princes of the people. And again[669] Hear O Children! The voice of one crying in the wilderness.

6 Wherefore he has circumcised our ears that we should hear his word, and believe. But as for that circumcision, in which the Jews trust, it is abolished. For the circumcision of which God spake, was not of the flesh;

7 But they have transgressed his commands, because the evil[670] one hath deceived them. For thus God bespeaks them;[671] Thus saith the Lord your God (Here I find the new law) Sow not among thorns; but circumcise yourselves to the Lord your God. And what doth he mean by this saying? Hearken unto your Lord.

8 And again he saith,[672] Circumcise the hardness of your heart, and harden not your neck. And again,[673] Behold, saith the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised, (they have not lost their fore-skin): but this people is uncircumcised in heart.

9 But you will say[674] the Jews were circumcised for a sign.[675] And so are all the Syrians and Arabians, and all the idolatrous priests: but are they therefore of the covenant of Israel? And even the Egyptians themselves are circumcised.

10 Understand therefore, children, these things more fully, that Abraham, who was the first that brought in circumcision, looking forward in the Spirit to Jesus, circumcised, having received the mystery of three letters.

11 For the Scripture says that Abraham circumcised three hundred and eighteen men of his house.[676] But what therefore was the mystery that was made known unto him?

12 Mark, first the eighteen, and next the three hundred. For the numeral letters of ten and eight are I H. And these denote Jesus.

13 And because the cross was that by which we were to find grace; therefore he adds, three hundred; the note of which is T (the figure of his cross). Wherefore by two letters he signified Jesus, and by the third his cross.

14 He who has put the engrafted gift of his doctrine within us, knows that I never taught to any one a more[677] certain truth; but I trust that ye are worthy of it.