CPG 3672
Author Apollinaris
Greek Text Lietzmann, Apollinaris von Laodicea und seine Schule: Texte und Untersuchungen, 265-266.
Note Porphyry argued against Jerome that he should not have included Daniel in his translation of the Old Testament since it was originally composed in Greek. Jerome relates that both Eusebius and Apollinaris gave the argument paraphrased in Fragment 166 to refute Porphyry’s use of the Greekisms found in certain portions of the Septuagint version of Daniel. Fragment 167 is, according to Jerome, a word for word Latin translation of Apollinaris’ interpretation of the 70 weeks.

Fragment 166: The stories of “Susanna” and “Bel and the Dragon” are not contained in the Hebrew but are part of the prophecy of Habakkuk, the son of Joshua, of the tribe of Levi.

Fragment 167: The sins and all the vices arising from sins are to be confined within 490 years. After this good will come and the world will be reconciled to God at the coming of Christ, his Son. For from the going out of the Word when Christ was born from the Virgin Mary until the 49th year, that is, the end of the 7 weeks, he waited for repentance from the Jews. But afterward, from the 8th year of Claudius Caesar, the Romans took up arms against the Jews. For according to the evangelist Luke the Lord began to preach the gospel in the 30th year in the flesh and according to the evangelist John he completed 2 years between 3 Passovers. And the years of Tiberius from that point on are counted as 6, the years of Gaius Caesar, known as Caligula, as 4, and those of Claudius as 8. This comes to 49 years, which makes for 7 weeks of years. But when 434 years have passed after this, that is, 62 sevens, then Elijah will come, according to the speech of the Savior Lord, to restore the heart of the fathers to their sons. In that last week Jerusalem and the temple will be built up in 3 1/2 years. And the Antichrist will come and, as the Apostle said, sit in the temple of God. And he will be killed by the Spirit of the Savior Lord after he has battled against the saints. And so it will happen that the middle of the week will confirm the covenant of God with the saints. It also will announce the stopping of sacrifices under the Antichrist as he places the abomination of desolation, that is, the idol and statue of his own god, in the temple. And there will be the final devastation and the condemnation of the Jewish people who despised the truth of Christ and received the lies of the Antichrist. . . . I take this interpretation of the times because Africanus, the author of the Chronology, testifies that the final week happens at the end of the world. And it is impossible for these periods which are joined to be divided. Rather, all the times must be connected to each other in keeping with the prophecy of Daniel.

Translated by AMJ

Last updated: 8-16-2013

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