The Apocalypse of Sedrach: God’s Will and the Fall of Adam

Apocalypse of Sedrach 5:1-7, translated by S. Agourides, in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, edited by James H. Charlesworth, vol. 1 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1983).

Sedrach said to him, “It was by your will that Adam was deceived, my Master. You commanded your angels to worship Adam, but he who was first among the angels disobeyed your order and did not worship him; and so you banished him, because he transgressed your commandment and did not come forth (to worship) the creation of your hands. If you loved man, why did you not kill the devil, the artificer of all iniquity? Who can fight against an invisible spirit? He enters the hearts of men like a smoke and teaches them all kinds of sin. He even fights against you, the immortal God, and so what can pitiful man do against him? Yet have mercy, Master, and destroy punishment; otherwise receive me also with the sinners, for if you will not be merciful with the sinners, where are your mercies and where is your compassion, O Lord?”

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