TESTAMENTS OF THE TWELVE

PATRIARCHS, apocalyptic work and pseudonymous, written in the name of the Patriarchs, and in Hebrew, according to Dr. Charles, c. 109-106 B.C. The author, probably a Pharisee, extols the dynasty of John Hyrcanus, but a second writer vehemently attacks the vices of the later Maccabees. Its influence on the New Testament has been considerable; some pa ages. supply close parallels to the teaching of Our Lord, who may have known the book, and it is quoted by St. Paul in Hom. 132, 1 The . 216. The Hebrew original only exists in fragments, but there are Gk. Slavonic, and Armenian versions. MENT OF THE LORD, an early Christian apocryphal book, only fragments of which were known till recently, but now fully Gin Syriac). It purports to have been spoken by Christ in the post-Resurrection period; it is partly eschatological and partly concerned with ecclesiastical discipline; exact date uncertain, but must be II. or III. cent.; first edit. by the Syrian patriarchs, Rahmani, 1899; since then by Eng. scholars, last by Maclean.