The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

VIII. Polychronius-Follower of Porphyry’s “Antiochus” Theory

POLYCHRONIUS (c. 374-430), bishop of Apamea, in Syria, was an admirer of Porphyry, following his “Antiochus Epiphanes” theory of the fourth beast-the acceptance of which was then confined to a few writers in Syria. ¹⁰⁶ Little is known of his life and influence. As a monk he was noted for his zeal, self-abnegation, and meditative life. He had a liberal education, and knew Greek and Hebrew. He held to the full canon of the sacred books. Valuable fragments of his writings have been preserved to us in a Catena, or collection (Greek, chain), of extracts on Job, edited by Junius, and one on Daniel in a Vatican manuscript from numerous early ecclesiastical writers, including Polychronius. PFF1 430.2

His interpretation of Daniel departs from the historic positions of the early church to follow the pagan Porphyry to a great extent. Thus the deflecting influences which had earlier attacked Christianity are successfully at work in the church, to be passed on to later times. PFF1 430.3

1. CONFINES IRON EMPIRE TO ALEXANDER’S SUCCESSORS

In his comments on Daniel 2, Polyehronius is unequivocal in making the first three kingdoms Babylon, Persia, Alexander’s empire; the fourth he applies to the successors of Alexander and the stone kingdom to the church. ¹⁰⁷ PFF1 430.4

2. ENDS DIFFERENT SERIES WITH ANTIOCHUS IN CHAPTER 7

In Daniel 7 the series is slightly different: the four beasts are Babylon, Media, Persia, and Alexander’s empire, and the little horn is Antiochus. ¹⁰⁸ PFF1 431.1

“Behold another little horn came up in the midst of them. He speaks of the renowned Antiochus, who was the eleventh from Alexander.... PFF1 431.2

“Three of the first horns were plucked up. He is master of the three remaining kings. For when he ruled over Asia, he had the power over the Persians also and the Egyptians and the Jews. This one had succeeded to Seleucus the king of Asia. The book ot Maccabees is a witness of these things. Wherefore I wonder why, contrary to so plain history, Apolinarius attempts to distort these words to the coming of Antichrist.” ¹⁰⁹ PFF1 431.3

3. THREE AND A HALF TIMES EQUATED WITH ANTIOCHUS’ 2300 DAYS

Polychronius applies the specifications to Antiochus’ persecution of the Jews and the changing of their laws, ¹¹⁰ and the three and half times to three years and six months, Jewish time, which he equates with the 2300 evenings and mornings counted as 1150 whole days. His curious computation, how ever, aside from the fact that it substitutes three and a fourth for three and a half years, distorts Jewish time, for the Jewish year is not always 354 days; a leap month is introduced every second or third year, to keep the lunar year approximately in step with the sun. PFF1 431.4

4. RAM AND HE-GOAT ARE PERSIA AND GRECIA

The ram’s two horns are Media and Persia, and the rough goat is Alexander. ¹¹¹ PFF1 431.5

5. 70 WEEKS ARE 490 YEARS TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

Polychronius clearly applies the year-day principle to the three component parts of the seventy weeks. Commenting on the seven weeks, Polychronius says forty-nine years, from the first year of Darius the Mede to the sixth year of Darius (Hystaspes) compassed the building of the temple, and the sixty-two prophetic weeks—beginning after a gap-run from the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes I to the thirty-second year of Herod, or 483 years from the building of the walls of the city to the advent of Christ. ¹¹² The one week then begins, and Christ confirms the covenant on the half week. ¹¹³ PFF1 431.6

6. RESURRECTION OF DEAD (Daniel 12) IS SPIRITUALIZED

Polychronius dissents from the common opinion on Daniel’s resurrection statement. PFF1 432.1

“Many who sleep in the mounds of the earth shall be raised up. I have indeed learned from many that these words are explained concerning the resurrection. But it is not easy to give assent to the common opinion, but regard for the truth must always be maintained. For the Scripture often calls the dead those who are in the condition of captives.” ¹¹⁴ PFF1 432.2