The Fourth Book of the Maccabees appears in
an appendix to the Greek Septuagint.
It is considered to be apocrypha
by most church traditions. It is
preserved here for its supplementary
historical value.

1 As I am going to demonstrate a most
philosophical proposition, namely, that religious reasoning is absolute master of the
emotions. I would willingly advise you to
give the utmost heed to philosophy.

2 For reasonisnecessary to everyone as a
step to science. Inaddition, it embraces the
praise of self-control, the highest virtue.

3 If, then, reasoning appears to hold the
mastery over the emotions which stand in
the way of temperance, such as gluttony
and lust,

4 it surely also and manifestly rules over
the affections which are contrary to justice,
such as malice, and of those which
are hindrances to courage, such as wrath,
pain, and fear.

5 Perhaps some may ask, “How is it, then,
that reasoning, if it rules the emotions,
isn’t also master of forgetfulness and
ignorance?” They attempt a ridiculous argument.

6 For reasoning does not rule over its
own emotions, but over those that are
contrary to justice, courage, temperance, and
self-control; and yet over these, so as to
withstand, without destroying them.

7 I might prove to you from many other
considerations, that religious reasoning is
sole master of the emotions;

8 but I willprove it withthe greatestforce
from the fortitude of Eleazar, and seven
kindred, and their mother, who suffered
death in defense of virtue.

9 For all these, treating pains with contempt
even to death, by this contempt, demonstrated
that reasoning has command over the emotions.

10 For their virtues, then, it is right that I
should commend those men whodied with
their mother at this time on behalf of
nobility and goodness; and for their honors, I
may count them blessed.

11 For they, winning admiration not only
from men in general, but even from the
persecutors, for their courage and endurance,
became the means ofthe destruction of
the tyranny against their nation,
having conquered the tyrant by their
endurance, so that by them their
country was purified.

12 But we may now at once enter upon
the question, having commenced, as is our
custom, with laying down the doctrine,
and so proceed to the account of these
people, giving glory to the all-wise God.

13 Therefore the question whether reasoning
is absolute master of the emotions.

14 Let’s determine, then, what reasoning
is and what emotion is, and how many
forms of emotion there are, and whether
reasoning rules over all of these.

15 Reasoning is intellect accompanied by
a life of righteousness, putting foremost
the consideration of wisdom.

16 Wisdom is a knowledge of divine and
human things, and of their causes.

17 This is contained in the education of
the law, by means of which we learn divine
things reverently and human things profitably.