Philonis Judaei Paralipomena Armena

The soul, according to one meaning, is first, and is the beginning, like the leader of the chorus. But noble and good men say that the tree of life in man is the best of the virtues, piety, by which alone the mind especially attains immortality. 1

XI. This certainly sets forth more clearly that which is desired from the letter, bringing forward an allegory. It is, therefore, figuratively declared to be prudence; which is the intelligence of knowledge, by which good and beautiful things are known, and evil and foul things, and everything that is once in opposition. Of which some are of a superior class, and some are of a worse class. Now, the wisdom which is in this world is not God Himself, but is truly the work of God; it sees and examines nature. But that which is in man sees things mixed together with dim eyes; for it is weak at seeing and understanding each one clearly and purely, separately and specifically. Wherefore, the kind of deception is mixed with human wisdom. Just as to the eyes, shadows are often an impediment to seeing the shining light, for as the eye stands in...

the middle, in a certain way, is primary, and is the beginning, like the leader of the chorus. But nevertheless, the best men have called the tree of life in man the best of virtues, piety, by which alone the mind rather attains immortality. 1

XI. THIS certainly shows the sentence desired from the letter more perspicuously in sight, preferring allegory. It is, therefore, figuratively declared to be prudence; which is the intelligence of knowledge, by which good and beautiful things are known, and evil 4 and foul things, and all things mutually contrary to each other: of which some are of a superior class, and some of a worse class. Therefore, the wisdom which is in this world is not God Himself, but truly the work of God; that (wisdom) perceives and investigates nature. But that which is in man, he sees perversely and confusedly with sub-obscure eyes; for it is found weak for sincerely and more clearly seeing and understanding each thing one by one: hence, the genus of deception is mixed with human wisdom. Just as to the eyes also, more often than not, certain shadows are a hindrance for intuiting the bright light: for as the eye is in...

1. I cannot praise enough the moral senses repeatedly used by the author, so that I easily believe this will be a special comfort to kind readers. Led by this spirit, St. Ambrose also made these his own in his Book on Paradise, c. 1, saying: "Videtur paradisus anima esse... in qua erat etiam lignum vitae, hoc est sapientia" (Paradise seems to be the soul... in which there was also the tree of life, which is wisdom). 2. Thus word for word also in the Greek text and St. Augustine, Book 1. Locut., sufficiently obscure: which is explained thus in the version of the Armenian Scripture: "the tree of knowing the knowledge of good and evil." 3. Manuscript B: "Ea scilicet (sententia), quae secundum litteram est, nos fugit; et allegoria apparet, quae est theoria incorporea" (That which is according to the letter flees us; and the allegory appears, which is the incorporeal theory). 4. Manuscript C: "improba" (wicked), or vile, filthy.