VII. Far-reaching Influence of Pseudo-Methodius

One of the most influential books of the Middle Ages, and even beyond, in shaping the ideas of men concerning things to come, appeared under the pen name of “Methodius, bishop of Olympus and Tyrus,” who suffered martyrdom under Diocletian. This little treatise was first printed in Basel in 1498. In the same year a German translation appeared in Memmingen, followed by various editions in both Latin and German in the sixteenth century, and even as late as the seventeenth ^{44E. Sackur, Sibyllinische Texte und Forschungen, pp. 4, 5.}PFF1 582.3

Long before the art of printing was devised this Pseudo-Methodius exercised a tremendous influence. When in 1241 the Tartars stormed over Europe, Thomas of Spoleto recognized in them the Ishmaelites of Methodius. We find traces of “Methodius” in the old oriental literature, in Armenian and Syriac sources, for instance in Solomon of Basra’s Book of the Bee, about 853 ^{45Solomon, bishop of Basra, The Book of the Bee, translated by E. A. Wallis Budge, in Anecdota Oxoniensia, Semitic Series, vol. 1, part 2; see also A. Vassiliev, Anecdota Graeco Byzantina, vol. 1, pp. 33 ff.}” Well we may ask, What is the reason that this little work could hold attention for centuries? The answer is that it predicts the triumphs of Christianity over Islam, and it contains the most concise world history of the time, from Adam to the end, with inclusion of the main prophecies of Daniel, and a detailed eschatology.PFF1 583.1

This little work was obviously composed under the vivid impressions produced by the powerful onslaughts of Islam against the civilized world of Eastern Rome. It is written in Greek, but its writer was probably a Syrian. ^{46Sackur, op. cit., p. 54.} And the time of writing was about a. d. 676-678, or possibly a. d. 682-686. ^{47Ibid., p. 49; see also Bousset, The Antichrist Legend, pp. 50 ff.} It was probably brought to the West by Syrian traders soon after its appearance in the East, because we have early translations of it in Gaul ^{48Sackur, op. cit., p. 56.} At the same time a pseudo-Ephremitic sermon concerning the end of the world, based partly on the Latin translation of Methodius, found extensive circulation in Gaul.PFF1 583.2

1. THE ABODE OF GOG AND MAGOG

Now as to his ideas: After giving a detailed chronology of happenings before the Flood-in which he runs parallel to another Syrian source called The Treasure Cave ^{49Die Schatzhohle, edited with German translation by CarlBerold} -he accepts the four prophetic empires of Daniel, the last of which (the Roman Empire) will remain till the end. In the last days, according to Psalm 68:31, Ethiopia stretches out her hands, and Pseudo-Methodius takes considerable pains to prove how that could come about. He incorporates the Alexander saga-which tells how Alexander, in order to stem the onrush of the wild tribes of the North (the peoples of Gog and Magog)-built mighty iron gates in one of the narrow valleys of the Caucasus. These gates, he contends, will be broken at the end of time, and the hordes of Gog and Magog will stream forth.PFF1 583.3

2. THE PROMINENT FEATURES OF ANTICHRIST

After the Persian Empire has vanished, the Ishmaelites will break forth from Yathrib (i. e., Islam) and will overflow everything. But when the disaster has run its course and the tribulation has reached its height, then the Greek, or Roman, emperor will rouse from his stupor to shake off the fetters of the invaders. Peace will reign again. Towns and cities will be rebuilt and flourish. But now Antichrist will appear. He will be born in Chorazin, educated in Bethsaida, and rule in Capernaum. ^{50Sackur, op. cit., p. 41.} In somewhat similar language this idea had already been expressed in the Arabic-Ethiopic Apocalypse of Peter. This was concluded because those towns had heard the words of Jesus and had seen His signs, and had rejected Him. And Friedlander informs us that these very places were the stronghold of the Minim or Manuth-the antinomian, or free-from-the-law, movement among the Jews in Galilee-a movement which undermined all the precepts of Mosaic Judaism ^{51Friedlander, op. cit., p. 189.} No wonder that even in Jewish thought these places were considered the right breeding ground for such an abomination as the great deceiver.PFF1 584.1

Gog and Magog will be loosed from behind the iron gates of Alexander, we are told, and will come close to Joppa (Jaffa). Then God will intervene, and send one of His angelic princes to smite them forever. We also find in Pseudo-Methodius the idea of the emperor laying down his crown on Golgotha, which found widest acceptance during the Middle Ages. Whenever we consider the influence of eschatological ideas on the people of the Middle Ages, and the development of religious, thought on their lives, we should never omit Pseudo-Methodius. ^{52Sackur, op. cit., pp. 42, 43; see also Latin text in Sackur.}PFF1 584.2