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The Fourth Book of Esdras is reckoned among the most
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beautiful productions of Jewish literature. Widely known
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in the early Christian ages and frequently quoted by the
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Fathers (especially St. Ambrose), it may be said to have
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framed the popular belief of the Middle Ages concerning
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the last things.
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The liturgical use shows its popularity. The second
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chapter has furnished the verse Requiem oeternam to
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the Office of the Dead (24-25), the response Lux
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perpetua lucebit sanctis tuis of the Office of the
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Martyrs during Easter time (35), the introit Accipite
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jucunditatem for Whit-Tuesday (36-37), the words Modo
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coronantur of the Office of the Apostles (45); in like
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manner the verse Crastine die for Christmas eve, is
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borrowed from xvi, 53.
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However beautiful and popular the book, its origin is
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shrouded in mystery. The introductory and concluding
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chapters, containing evident traces of Christianity,
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are assigned to the third century (about A.D. 201-268).
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The main portion (iii-xiv) is undoubtedly the work of a
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Jew -- whether Roman, or Alexandrian, or Palestinian,
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no one can tell; as to its date, authors are most widely
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at variance, and all dates have been suggested, from 30
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B.C. to A.D. 218; scholars, however, seem to rally more
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and more around the year A.D. 97.
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CHARLES L. SOUVAY
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Transcribed by Sean Hyland
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Contributed By:
Kevin Knight/New Advent.Org
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