ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT OF FRAGMENTS OF NUMENIUS.

I. FROM THE TREATISE ON THE GOOD.

FIRST BOOK.

(GOD AS IMPROVER OF MATTER.)

(This consists of a dialogue between a philosopher and a stranger; see 29. 18. The first fragment begins in the middle of a sentence.)

9a. NUMENIUS IS A COMPARATIVE STUDENT OF RELIGION.

Philosopher: Regarding this matter, he will have to teach and interpret in the (best) Platonic tradition and combine it with the teachings of Pythagoras. Only in so far as they agree with Plato should he cite the famous nations, quoting the mysteries, teachings, and concepts of the Brahmins, Hebrews, Magi, and Egyptians.

9b. NUMENIUS INVESTIGATES COMPARATIVELY AND ALLEGORICALLY.

How much less of a partisan is the Pythagorean Numenius than Celsus? Numenius has demonstrated through many proofs that he is highly esteemed, in that he investigated various opinions and gathered from many sources what seemed to him true. In the first book of his treatise On the Good, he also mentions the Hebrews among the nations that believed God was incorporeal, not hesitating to quote the expressions of the prophets and interpret them allegorically.

13. PLATO AS A GREEK MOSES.

Numenius, the Pythagorean philosopher, states outright: "What else is Plato than a Moses who speaks Greek?" Original: "τί γάρ ἐστι Πλάτων ἢ Μωσῆς Ἀττικίζων;"