Thinking About Canon (Appendix B)

Appendix B

Canonical Use of the Deuterocanonicals in Christian Tradition:

An Example

Those without experience in a tradition which reads from Ben Sira, Wisdom, Baruch, Tobit, 1-2 Maccabees, and other Jewish literature of late Second Temple times according to a lectionary cycle are unlikely to know what it is like to read passages from said literature according to Christian coordinates. A port of entry into this world is provided by Testimonia ad Quirinum. Each string of testimonia listed below, a sample only of the work’s contents, is a tour de force of intertextuality.

The Latin text of Books Two and Three of Testimonia ad Quirinum I draw from is that found in PL 4 (1891) cols 723-810, online here.

Book Two

1.Christum primogenitum esse, et ipsum esse sapientam Dei, per quem omnia facta sunt.

That Christ is the First-born and the Wisdom of God by whom all things were made.

Prov 8:22-31; Ben Sira 24:3-7; Ps 89:27-33; John 17:3-5; Col 1:15, 18; Rev 21:6; 1 Cor 1:22-24.

6. Quod Deus Christus.

That Christ is God.

Gen 35:1; Isa 45:14-16; 40:3-5; Bar 3:35-37; Zech 10:11-12; Hos 11:9-10; Ps 45:6-7; 45:10; 87:5; 68:4; John 1:1; 20:27-29; Rom 9:3-5; Rev 21:6-7; Ps 82:1; 82:6-7; John 10:34-38; Matt 1:23.

14.Quod ipsum sit justus quem Judaei occisuri essent.

That he is the Just One whom the Jews should put to death.

 Wisdom of Solomon 2:12-22; Isa 57:1-2; Exod 23:7; Matt 27:3-4.

Book Three

1. De bono operis et misericordiae.

On the benefit of good works and mercy.

Isa 58:1-9; Job 29:12-13, 15-16; Tobit 2:2; 4:5-11; Prov 19:17; 28:27; 16:6; 25:21; Ben Sira 3:30; Prov 3:28; 21:13; 20:7; Ben Sira 14:11; 29:12; Ps 37:25-26; 41:1; 112:9; Hos 6:6; Matt 5:6, 7; 6:20-21; 13:45-46; 10:42; 5:42; 19:17-21; 25:31-46; Luke 12:33; 11:40-41; 19:8-9; 2 Cor 8:14-15; 9:6-7, 9, 10-11, 12; 1 John 3:17; Luke 14:12-14.

4.In nullo gloriandum, quando nostrum nihil sit.

We are to glory in nothing, since nothing is our own.

John 3:27; 1 Cor 4:7; 1 Sam 2:3-4; 1 Macc 9:12; 2 Macc 2:62-63.

15. Ad hoc tentari homines a Deo ut probentur.

To this end are men tried by God, that they might be proved worthy.

Gen 22:1-2; Deut 13:3; Wisdom of Solomon 3:4-8; 1 Maccabees 2:52.

20. Fondamentum et firmamentum spei et fidei esse timorem.

The foundation and strength of hope and faith is fear.

 Ps 111:10; Ben Sira 1:14; Prov 28:14; Isa 56:2; Gen 22:11-12; Ps 2:11; Deut 4:10; Jer 31:31-41; Rev 11:16-17; 14:16-17; 15:2-4; Susannah 1-3; Song of the Three Youth 14-19; Dan 6:24-28; Mic 6:6-9; 7:14-18; Nah 1:5-7; Hag 1:12; Mal 2:5; Ps 34:9; 19:9.

95. Bonus convivendum, malos autem vitandos.

We are to keep company with the good, but avoid the bad.

Prov 24:15; Ben Sira 9:16; 6:16; 9:13; 25:9; 28:24; Ps 18:25-26; 1 Cor 15:33.

109. Infirmos visitandos.

We are to visit the sick.

Ben Sira 7:39; Matt 25:36.