4 Maccabees

Deuterocanon · 5 sections · scripture: World English Bible

Not a history but a philosophical speech. Its author announces his subject in the first sentence: he is going to prove a most philosophical proposition, namely, that religious reasoning is absolute master of the emotions.

From the commentary's introduction to 4 Maccabees, written by an AI. All the scripture below is free to read; the commentary on each section is in the full edition.

1. Not an Eradicator, but an Antagonist": The Argument, and Its First Examples 4 Maccabees 1–3
2. Let My Blood Be a Purification for Them": The Temple, the Tyrant, and Eleazar 4 Maccabees 4–7
3. How Sweet Is Every Form of Death": The Seven Brothers 4 Maccabees 8–12
4. Religion More Desirable to a Mother Than Children": The Brothers' Bond, and the Mother's Choice 4 Maccabees 13–15
5. Those Who Die for God, Live to God": The Mother's Words, and the End of the Book 4 Maccabees 16–18

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