The Ancient Witnesses

160 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

Kingdom of God that will be established in the future, then the throne of David and the Temple of Jerusalem are signs of His rule in the midst of his people.” 18 Preacher nodded. “The books of the Kings…” continued Mentor until Cesar interrupted, “Do you mean First and Second Kings from the Old Testament?” “We have Four Books of the Kings,” replied Mentor. “Don’t forget,” said Father Greg, “in the Septuagint— the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by many of the Fathers— First and Second Samuel was called First and Second Kings , and our 1 and 2 Kings became Third and Fourth Kings . “The books of the Kings,” Mentor continued, “make clear that the Lord reigned in the midst of a faithless people. Yet, in his faithfulness he promised an ultimate King in the line of David, and he continually sent his servants the prophets to warn the people. As our brother Irenaeus has written, Here in Jerusalem, the prophets were sent from God by the Holy Spirit, teaching the people and turning them to the Almighty, the God of their fathers… ”. 19 Joseph saluted and Mentor called on him. “The role of the prophets seems pretty straightforward,” said Joseph, but what about the priests and kings?”

18 Based on Suzanne de Dietrich, God’s unfolding purpose; a guide to the study of the Bible (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960), 85.

19 Irenaeus, The Demonstration of Apostolic Preaching (30). Translation by Armitage Robinson, (ed), St. Irenaeus, The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, translated from the Armenian with an Introduction and Notes (London: Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and New York: MacMillan Co), 1920.