Eusebius, who first mentions the correspondence, says nothing of the miraculous portrait. I have no doubt the letters are spurious, but they are sufficiently ancient to deserve a place in this collection. They were incorporated in an account of the introduction of the Gospel to Edessa, part of which is preserved by Eusebius, and a further portion exists in a Syriac MS. in the British Museum. This MS. is probably of the sixth century, and among other things contains a letter which Abgar is said to have written to Tiberius, and the alleged reply of Tiberius. The document was published by Canon Cureton,[1] and contains valuable historical matter, mixed up with fables.
(2.) The Letter of Jesus to Abgar. — This is inseparably connected with the preceding, and was probably, like it, first written in Syriac by some Edessene Christian in the third century. There is some variation in the copies of these letters, which exist in Syriac, Greek, Arabic, etc.[2]
- ↑ "Ancient Syriac Documents relative to the Earliest Establishment of Christianity in Edessa, and the neighbouring Countries, from the Year after Our Lord's Ascension, to the beginning of the Fourth Century. Discovered, Edited, Translated, and Annotated by W. Cureton, D.D., Canon of Westminster." 4to. London, 1864.
- ↑ De Dieu supplies an Arabic copy of the Letter of Christ to Abgar, differing exceedingly from those in ordinary circulation, but I have not
