Full Description
In this first translation of Sylvain Maréchal's Bible commentary, Sheila Delany offers an important document in the history of modern European secularization and rationalist Bible criticism. Editor of one of France's best-known radical journals, Révolutions de Paris, and author in many genres—drama, poetry, journalism, treatise—Maréchal (1750-1803) embraced the revolutionary egalitarian ideas of François-Noël "Gracchus" Babeuf. As an atheist, he witnessed with dismay the advent of Napoleon and the post-revolutionary return of Catholic fervor. For and Against the Bible was his protest, his reminder of what the nation had endured and of what, at the opening of the nineteenth century, it might still accomplish. Delany's introduction and annotated English translation will be of importance to all interested in Jewish or Christian Bible studies, history of Bible criticism, eighteenth century European rationalism, French atheism, modern European secularism.
Contents
Preface XI
Acknowledgments XII
Translator's Note XIII
Introduction
For and Against the Bible
Epistle to Ministers of All Religions
Post-script
Addendum
Part 1: Jewish Scripture
Nature is a Book Superior to the Bible.
The Old Testament
IGenesis: First Book of the Pentateuch of Moses
IIExodus
IIILeviticus
IVNumbers
VDeuteronomy
VIJoshua, or Jesus the Liberator
VIIJudges
VIIIRuth
IXThe First Book of Kingdoms, or Kings: First Book of Samuel
XThe Second Book of Kingdoms or Kings: Book 2 of Samuel
XIKings: Book III
XIIKings, Book IV
XIIIParalipomenon: Book I, Chronicles
XIVParalipomenon: Chronicles, Book II
XVEzra: First Book
XVINehemiah: Book II of Ezra
XVIITobias
XVIIIJudith
XIXEsther
XXJob
XXIThe Psalms of David
XXIIProverbs, or the Wisdom of Solomon
XXIIIThe Parables of Solomon
XXIVEcclesiastes, or the Preacher
XXVThe Song of Songs or the Song Par Excellence of Solomon
XXVIWisdom
XXVIIThe Ecclesiasticus of Jesus, Son of Sirach
XXVIIIIsaiah
XXIXJeremiah
XXXLamentations of Jeremiah
XXXIBaruch
XXXIIEzekiel
XXXIIIDaniel
XXXIVHosea
XXXVJoel
XXXVIAmos
XXXVIIObadiah
XXXVIIIJonah
XXXIXMicah
XLNahum
XLIHabakkuk
XLIISophonius
XLIIIHaggai
XLIVZachary
XLVMalachi
N.B. Extract from the Catechism of Curé Meslier
XLVIMaccabees, or the Murderers: Book I
XLVIIMaccabees, or the Murderers: Book II
N.B. Extract from the Catechism of Curé Meslier
Part 2: Christian Scripture
The New Testament
IThe Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Matthew
IIHoly Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Saint Mark
IIIThe Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Saint Luke
IVHoly Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Saint John
VActs of the Apostles
VIEpistle of Saint Paul to the Romans
VIIFirst Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
VIIISecond Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
IXEpistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians
XEpistle of S. Paul to the Ephesians
XIEpistle of S. Paul to the Philippians
XIIEpistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians
XIIIFirst Epistle of S. Paul to the Thessalonians
XIVSecond Epistle from the Same to the Same
XVFirst Epistle of S. Paul to Timothy
XVISecond Epistle of S. Paul to Timothy
XVIIEpistle of S. Paul to Titus
XVIIIEpistle of S. Paul to Philemon
XIXEpistle of S. Paul to the Hebrews
XXEpistle of S. Paul to Seneca the Philosopher
XXIThe Catholic Letter of S. James the Minor and the Just
XXIIThe Two Catholic Epistles of Saint Peter
XXIIIThe Three Catholic Epistles of Saint John
XXIVCatholic Epistle of S. Jude, Called the Zealous
XXVThe Apocalypse of S. John
XXVIPrayer of Manasses, King of Judah
XXVIIEpistles of the Virgin Mary
XXVIIITestament of the Holy Virgin
N.B. Extract from the Catechism of the Curé Meslier
XXIXCollection of Ancient Gospels or Monuments of the 1st Century of Christianity, Taken from Fabricius, Grabius and Other Scholars; by Father B****, London, 1769, 284 Pages
Part 3: Result of Reading the Bible
Result of Reading the Bible
Post-script
Bibliography
Index
