1 The argument is exceedingly ridiculous, for reasoning doesn’t appear to rule over its own affections, but over those of the body, (WEB) 2 in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to it. (WEB) 3 One may not be able to root out anger from the soul, but it is possible to withstand anger. (WEB) 4 Any one of you may not be able to eradicate malice, but reasoning has force to work with you to prevent you yielding to malice. (WEB) 5 For reasoning is not an eradicator, but an antagonist of the emotions. (WEB) 6 This may be more clearly comprehended from the thirst of King David. (WEB) 7 For after David had been attacking the Philistines the whole day, he with the soldiers of his nation killed many of them; (WEB) 8 then when evening came, sweating and very weary, he came to the royal tent, around which the entire army of our ancestors was encamped. (WEB) 9 Now all the rest of them were at supper; (WEB) 10 but the king, being very much thirsty, although he had numerous springs, could not by their means quench his thirst; (WEB) 11 but a certain irrational longing for the water in the enemy’s camp grew stronger and fiercer upon him, undid and consumed him. (WEB) 12 Therefore his bodyguards being troubled at this longing of the king, two valiant young soldiers, respecting the desire of the king, fully armed themselves, and taking a pitcher, got over the ramparts of the enemies. (WEB) 13 Unperceived by the guardians of the gate, they went throughout the whole camp of the enemy in quest. (WEB) 14 Having boldly discovered the fountain, they filled out of it the drink for the king. (WEB) 15 But he, though parched with thirst, reasoned that a drink regarded of equal value to blood would be terribly dangerous to his soul. (WEB) 16 Therefore, setting up reasoning in opposition to his desire, he poured out the drink to God. (WEB) 17 For the temperate mind has power to conquer the pressure of the emotions, to quench the fires of excitement, (WEB) 18 and to wrestle down the pains of the body, however excessive, and through the excellency of reasoning, to spurn all the assaults of the emotions. (WEB) 19 But the occasion now invites us to give an illustration of temperate reasoning from history. (WEB) 20 For at a time when our fathers were in possession of undisturbed peace through obedience to the law and were prosperous, so that Seleucus Nicanor, the king of Asia, both assigned them money for divine service, and accepted their form of government, (WEB) 21 then certain people, bringing in new things contrary to the public harmony, in various ways fell into calamities. (WEB)
4 Maccabees 3:1–21
Semantically similar passages
4 Maccabees 13:1–3
1 If then, the seven kindred despised troubles even to death, it is admitted on all sides that righteous reasoning is absolute master over the emotions. (WEB) 2 For just as if they had eaten of the unholy as slaves to the emotions, we would have said that they had been… (WEB) 3 … (WEB)
4 Maccabees 7:21–23
21 since what person, walking religiously by the whole rule of philosophy, and believing in God, (WEB) 22 and knowing that it is a blessed thing to endure all kinds of hardships for virtue, would not, for the sake of religion, master his emotion? (WEB) 23 For only the wise and brav… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 2:3–5
3 For, although young, and ripe for sexual intercourse, he nullified by reasoning the stimulus of his emotions. (WEB) 4 It isn’t merely the stimulus of sensual indulgence, but that of every desire, that reasoning is able to master. (WEB) 5 For instance, the law says, “You shall… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 2:19–21
19 For why else did our most wise father Jacob blame Simeon and Levi for having irrationally slain the whole race of the Shechemites, saying, “Cursed be their anger!”? (WEB) 20 For if reasoning didn’t possess the power of subduing angry affections, he would not have said… (WEB) 21 … (WEB)
4 Maccabees 1:8–10
8 but I will prove it with the greatest force from the fortitude of Eleazar, and seven kindred, and their mother, who suffered death in defense of virtue. (WEB) 9 For all these, treating pains with contempt even to death, by this contempt, demonstrated that reasoning ha… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 13:15–17
15 for great is the trial of soul and danger of eternal torment laid up for those who transgress the commandment of God. (WEB) 16 Let’s arm ourselves, therefore, in the self-control, which is divine reasoning. (WEB) 17 If we suffer like this, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will receive… (WEB)
Wisdom of Solomon 16:22–24
22 But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains; (WEB) 23 and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgo… (WEB)
2 Maccabees 6:19–21
19 But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with defilement, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat out the flesh, (WEB) 20 as men ought to come who are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is i… (WEB)
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