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Theophilus to Autolycus

Chapter XXIII.--Prophets More Ancient Than Greek Writers.

So then let what has been said suffice for the testimony of the Phoenicians and Egyptians, and for the account of our chronology given by the writers Manetho the Egyptian, and Menander the Ephesian, and also Josephus, who wrote the Jewish war, which they waged with the Romans. For from these very old records it is proved that the writings of the rest are more recent than the writings given to us through Moses, yes, and than the subsequent prophets. For the last of the prophets, who was called Zechariah, was contemporary with the reign of Darius. But even the lawgivers themselves are all found to have legislated subsequently to that period. For if one were to mention Solon the Athenian, he lived in the days of the kings Cyrus and Darius, in the time of the prophet Zechariah first mentioned, who was by many years the last of the prophets. ¹ Or if you mention the lawgivers Lycurgus, or Draco, or Minos, Josephus tells us in his writings that the sacred books take precedence of them in antiquity, since even before the reign of Jupiter over the Cretans, and before the Trojan war, the writings of the divine law which has been given to us through Moses were in existence. And that we may give a more accurate exhibition of eras and dates, we will, God helping us, now give an account not only of the dates after the deluge, but also of those before it, so as to reckon the whole number of all the years, as far as possible; tracing up to the very beginning of the creation of the world, which Moses the servant of God recorded through the Holy Spirit. For having first spoken of what concerned the creation and genesis of the world, and of the first man, and all that happened after in the order of events, he signified also the years that elapsed before the deluge. And I pray for favour from the only God, that I may accurately speak the whole truth according to His will, that you and every one who reads this work may be guided by His truth and favour. I will then begin first with the recorded genealogies, and I begin my narration with the first man. ²

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À Autolyque

XXIII.

Nous nous contenterons, pour établir l'antiquité de nos livres saints, des témoignages que nous venons de rapporter.de l'Égyptien Manéthos, de l'Éphésien Ménandre, et même de Josèphe, qui a écrit la guerre des Juifs contre les Romains. II est clair, d'après ces anciens auteurs, que tous les autres, qui sont venus après eux, sont infiniment postérieurs à Moïse et aux prophètes eux-mêmes ; car le dernier des prophètes fut Zacharie, qui vécut sous le règne de Darius. Or, tous les législateurs ont donné leurs lois après lui. En effet, lui opposera-t-on l'Athénien Solon ? Mais il vivait du temps de Cyrus et de Darius ; il fut le contemporain de Zacharie, et postérieur encore à ce prophète de plusieurs années. Lui opposera-t-on Lycurgue, Dracon, ou Minos ? Mais ils sont évidemment moins anciens que nos saints livres, comme nous le rapporte Josèphe, puisque les écrits de Moïse ont précédé la guerre de Troie, et Jupiter roi de Crète. Cependant, afin de démontrer clairement l'ordre des temps et des années, je ne me contenterai pas d'avoir énuméré les faits postérieurs au déluge, je veux encore remonter à ceux qui l'ont précédé depuis la création du monde décrite par Moïse sous l'inspiration divine. La seule grâce que je demande à Dieu, c'est de bien exposer la vérité, afin que vous, et tous ceux qui liront ce livre, vous ayez pour guide la vérité même et la grâce divine. Je commencerai donc par exposer les généalogies, en remontant au premier homme.