| Testament: | Other |
| Description: | 4 Maccabees is a philosophical treatise that explores the supremacy of reason over the passions, using the martyrdoms of Eleazar and the seven brothers as examples. |
| Chapters: | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 |
| Author name: | Unknown |
| Written date: | 1st century AD |
| Location: | Unknown |
| Genre: | Philosophical |
| Chapter count: | 18 |
| Verse count: | 326 |
| Language: | Greek |
| Audience: | Jewish readers |
| Theme: | Martyrdom and reason |
| Key verses: | 4 Macc 1:11-14 |
| Summary: | 4 Maccabees is a philosophical treatise that explores the supremacy of reason and the virtues of religious piety and martyrdom. The text reflects on the events of 2 Maccabees, particularly the martyrdom of Eleazar and the seven brothers, to illustrate the power of reason over passions. The book is an example of Hellenistic Jewish philosophy. |
| Outline: | I. Introduction to Reason and Virtue (1:1-3:18)
II. The Martyrdom of Eleazar (4:1-7:23)
III. The Martyrdom of the Seven Brothers (8:1-18:24) |