Several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of these Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity. Salmeron cites them to prove that Seneca was one of Car's household, referred to by Paul, Philip. iv. 22, as saluting the brethren at Philippi. In Jerome's enumeration of illustrious men, he places Seneca, on account of these Epistles, amongst the ecclesiastical and holy writers of the Christian Church. Sixtus Senensis has published them in his Bibliotheque, pp. 89, 90; and it is from thence that the present translation is made. Baronius, Bellarmine, Dr. Cave, Spanheim, and others, contend that they are not genuine.

1. Izincwadi zikaPawulu
umphostoli eSeneca,
nezikaSeneca eziya
kuPawulu
ISAHLUKO 1
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Ngithi, wena Pawulu, ubikile wena ngenkulumo eyenzeke izolo
phakathi kwami noLuciliyu wami, ukuzenzisa nezinye izindaba;
ngoba kwakukhona labanye babafundi bakho kanye lathi;
2 Ngoba kwathi sesidlulele ezivandeni zaseSalusiya, ababedabula
kizo labo, sebethanda ukuphambuka ngenye indlela,
ngokusincenga kwethu bahlanganyela lathi.
3 Ngithanda ukuba nikholwe, ukuthi sikufisa kakhulu
ukukhuluma kwenu;
4 Sajabula kakhulu ngencwadi yakho yezincwadi eziningi,
ozibhalele imizi nemizi emikhulu yezifunda, futhi zineziyalezo
ezimangalisayo zokuziphatha okuhle:
5 Imizwa enjalo, njengoba ngicabanga ukuthi wawungeyena
umqambi wayo, kodwa kuphela ithuluzi lokudlulisa, nakuba
ngezinye izikhathi kokubili umbhali kanye nethuluzi.
6 Ngokuba bunjalo ubungako balezo zimfundiso, nobukhulu bazo,
engicabanga ukuthi iminyaka yomuntu incane ngokwanele ukuba
afundiswe futhi apheleliswe ekwazini kwazo. Ngikufisela
inhlalakahle mfowethu. Ukuvalelisa.
ISAHLUKO 2
UPawuli uya eSeneca Ngiyabingelela.
1 Ngiyemukele incwadi yakho izolo ngokuthokoza,
ebengingayibhala masinyane impendulo yayo, ukube belikhona
ijaha ebengihlose ukulithumela kini;
2 Ngokuba niyazi ukuthi nini, futhi ngobani, ngaziphi izinkathi,
futhi kubani ngimelwe ukuletha konke engikuthumayo.
3 Ngakho-ke ngithanda ukuba ningangithwesi ngobudedengu,
uma ngilindele umuntu olungileyo;
4 Ngizibona ngithokoza kakhulu ngokukwahlulelwa komuntu
oqakatheke kangaka, ukuthi lithokoze ngezincwadi zami;
5 Ngokuba ubungeke uthiwe ungumhloli wezincwadi, isazi
sefilosofi, noma umfundisi wesikhulu esingaka, nomnumzane
wakho konke, uma ungaqotho. Ngikufisela impumelelo engapheli.
ISAHLUKO 3
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Sengiyiqedile eminye imiqulu, ngayihlukanisa yaba izingxenye
zayo ezifanele.
2 Ngizimisele ukuyifundela uKesari; njalo uba kuvela ithuba
elihle, lizakuba khona lani, nxa lifundwa;
3 Kodwa uma lokho kungeke kwenzeke, ngizoqoka futhi
nginazise ngosuku, lapho siyofunda ndawonye umdlalo.
4 Nganquma, uma ngingahle, ngizwe kini kuqala, ngaphambi
kokuba ngikumemezele kuKesari, ukuze nazi ngothando lwami
kini. Hamba kahle, othandekayo uPaul.
ISAHLUKO 4
UPawuli uya eSeneca Ngiyabingelela.
1 Njalo lapho ngifunda izincwadi zenu, ngibona sengathi nikhona
nami; futhi ngempela angicabangi okunye, ngaphandle kokuthi
uhlale unathi.
2 Ngakho-ke nxa niqala ukuza, sizobonana masinyane.
Nginifisela impumelelo.
ISAHLUKO 5
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1Sikhathazeke kakhulu ngokungabi khona kwenu isikhathi eside.
2 Kuyini lokhu, kumbe yiziphi izindaba ezivimba ukufika
kwakho?
3 Uma nesaba intukuthelo kaKesari, ngokuba niyishiyile inkolo
yenu yakuqala, naguqula nabanye, ninakho ukunincenga, ukuthi
ukwenza kwenu kanjalo akuveli ekuphambukeni, kodwa kube
ngukwahlulela. Ukuvalelisa.
ISAHLUKO 6
UPawulu eSeneca noLucilius Ngiyabingelela.
1 Mayelana lalezozinto elangibhalela ngazo kakungifanelanga
ukuthi ngikhulume utho ngosiba loyinki;
2 Ikakhulukazi njengoba ngazi ukuthi kukhona eduze kwakho,
kanye nami, labo abayoqonda incazelo yami.
3 Kumelwe kukhokhwe ukuhlonipha kubo bonke abantu, futhi
ikakhulu njengoba bevame ukuxabana.
4 Futhi uma sibonisa umoya ozithobayo, siyonqoba
ngokuphumelelayo kukho konke, uma kunjalo, labo abakwaziyo
ukubona futhi bavume ukuthi bonile. Ukuvalelisa.
ISAHLUKO 7
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Ngithi mina ngokwami ngithokozile ngokufundwa
kwezincwadi zenu kwabaseGalathiya, nabaseKorinte, nabase-
Akhaya.
2 Ngokuba uMoya oNgcwele uye wabakhulula ngani lezo mizwa
ephakeme kakhulu, ephakemeyo, efanele ukutuswa konke,
nangaphezu kokuzenzela nina.
3 Ngakho-ke bengingathanda ukuthi, lapho ubhala izinto
ezingavamile kangaka, kungabikho ukuntula inkulumo enhle
evumelana nobukhosi babo.
4 Futhi kumelwe ngibe ngowami umfowethu, ukuze ngingaze
nginifihlele lutho ngokungethembeki, futhi ngibe
ngongathembeki kunembeza wami siqu, ukuthi umbusi ujabule
kakhulu ngemizwa yezincwadi zenu;
5 Ngoba lapho esizwa ukuqalisa kwabo kufundwa, wathi:
Wamangala ukuthola imibono enjalo kumuntu ongafundanga.
6 Ngaphendula ngathi, ONkulunkulu ngezinye izikhathi
babesebenzisa abantu abangenacala ukukhuluma ngabo, futhi
bamnika isibonelo salokhu kumuntu wezwe elibi, uVatienus,
okwathi, esezweni laseReate, kwavela amadoda amabili. kuye,
okuthiwa uCastor noPollux, futhi wathola isambulo esivela
konkulunkulu. Ukuvalelisa.
ISAHLUKO 8
UPawuli uya eSeneca Ngiyabingelela.
1 Nakuba ngazi ukuthi inkosi ithanda inkolo yethu, nokho
ngivumele ukuba nginicebise ngokuhlupheka kwenu
ngokusenzela umusa.
2 Ngicabanga ukuthi ngempela ningene emzamweni oyingozi
kakhulu, lapho nimemezela kumbusi lokho okuphambene
kakhulu nenkolo yakhe, nendlela yokukhulekela; njengoba
ekhonza onkulunkulu bezizwe.
3 Angazi ukuthi wawunakanani, lapho umtshela lokho; kodwa
ngicabanga ukuthi ukwenze ngokungihlonipha okukhulu kakhulu.
4 Kodwa ngifisa ukuthi esikhathini esizayo lingenzi njalo; ngoba
bekufanele liqaphele, hlezi ngokutshengisa uthando lwakho kimi,
ukhube inkosi yakho;
5 Intukuthelo yakhe ayiyikusilimaza, uma eqhubeka
engowezizwe; futhi ukuthukuthela kwakhe akuyikuba yinkonzo
kithi;
6 Futhi uba unkosikazi enza ngokufanele isimilo sakhe,
kayikuthukuthela; kodwa uma enza njengowesifazane,
uyophathwa kabi. Ukuvalelisa.
ISAHLUKO 9
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Ngiyazi ukuthi incwadi enganazisa kuyo, engazifunda kuMbusi
izincwadi zenu, ayisho lutho ngalutho olukuzo;
2 Eziphambukisa ngamandla izingqondo zabantu emikhubeni
yabo yangaphambili kanye nezenzo zabo, kangangoba

2. bengilokhu ngimangele, futhi ngiqiniseke ngokugcwele ngakho
ngezimpikiswano eziningi ngaphambili.
3 Ngakho-ke ake siqale kabusha; futhi uma kukhona okwenziwa
ngokungafanele ngaphambili, thethelelani.
4 Ngikuthumelele incwadi ethi de copia verborum. Hamba kahle,
othandekayo uPaul.
ISAHLUKO 10
UPawuli uya eSeneca Ngiyabingelela.
1 Njalo nxa nginilobela, ngibeka ibizo lami phambi kwenu,
ngenza ulutho olubi kimi; futhi ngokuphambene nenkolo yethu:
2 Ngoba ngifanele, njengokutsho kwami kanengi, ukuba ngibe
yikho konke kubo bonke, njalo ngihloniphe imfanelo yenu,
umthetho wamaRoma ohlonitshwa ngayo wonke amalunga
ebandla; okungukuthi, ukubeka igama lami ekugcineni
embhalweni weNcwadi, ukuze ekugcineni ngingaphoqelekile
ngokukhululeka nangehlazo ukwenza lokho ebengihlale
ngithambekele ukukwenza. Hamba kahle, nkosi ehlonishwa
kakhulu. Yakhiwe ngomhla wesihlanu wamakhalenda kaJulayi,
ku-consulship yesine kaNero, kanye ne-Messala.
ISAHLUKO 11
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Intokozo yoke kuwe, Pawula othandekayo.
2 Uma umuntu omkhulu kangaka, futhi ngazo zonke izindlela
evumelana njengawe, akabi nje ovamile, kodwa abe umngane
oseduze kakhulu kimi, yeka indlela okuyojabula ngayo indaba
kaSeneca!
3 Ngakho-ke wena, ophakeme kangaka, nophakemeyo kuze kube
manje kunabo bonke, ngisho nomkhulu kunabo bonke,
ungacabangi ukuthi awufanele ukubizwa kuqala embhalweni
weNcwadi;
4 funa ngicabange ukuthi anihlosile ukungilinga nokungithethisa;
ngoba uyazazi ukuthi uyisakhamuzi saseRoma.
5 Futhi ngingafisa ukuba kuleso simo noma isikhundla okuso,
nokuthi ubukuleso simo engikuso. Hamba kahle, othandekayo
uPaul. Idethi yesi-xth yamakhalenda ka-April, ku-consulship ye-
Aprianus ne-Capito.
ISAHLUKO 12
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Intokozo yoke kuwe, Pawula othandekayo. Anicabangi yini
ukuthi ngikhathazeke kakhulu futhi ngidabukile ukuthi
ubumsulwa benu buzokuletha ezinhluphekweni?
2 Futhi ukuthi bonke abantu kufanele bacabange ukuthi nina
maKristu yizigebengu ezingaka, futhi nicabange wonke amashwa
ehlela umuzi, ukuba abangelwe yinina?
3 Kodwa masilithwale icala ngokubekezela, sinxuse ubumsulwa
bethu enkantolo engenhla, okuwukuphela kwayo inhlanhla yethu
enzima ezosivumela ukuba sibhekane nayo, kuze kube yilapho
amashwa ethu egcina ejabule okungenakuguqulwa.
4 Izinkathi zangaphambili ziye zaveza omashiqela u-Alexander
indodana kaFiliphu, noDiyonisiyu; eyethu nayo isikhiqize uCaius
Cæsar; okuthambekela kwabo kwakuyimithetho yabo kuphela.
5 Mayelana nokushiswa njalo kwedolobha laseRoma, imbangela
iyabonakala; futhi uma umuntu esimweni sami esingesihle
engavunyelwa ukuba akhulume, futhi umuntu engase amemezele
lezi zinto ezimnyama ngaphandle kwengozi, wonke umuntu
kufanele ayibone yonke le ndaba.
6 AmaKristu namaJuda ngempela ajeziselwa icala lokushiswa
komuzi; kodwa lowo muntu omubi, othanda ukubulala
nokubulala, futhi afihle izenzo zakhe ezimbi ngamanga,
umiselwe, noma ugodliwe, kuze kufike isikhathi sakhe esifanele.
7 Futhi njengalokhu impilo yabo bonke abahle isihlatshelwe
esikhundleni salowomuntu oyedwa owenza okubi, kanjalo lo
uyakunikelwa ngenxa yabaningi, ashiswe ngomlilo esikhundleni
sabo bonke.
8 Izindlu eziyikhulu namashumi amathathu nambili, nezigcawu
ezine noma iziqhingi zashiswa ngezinsuku eziyisithupha;
eyesikhombisa yaqeda ukushiswa. Nginifisela injabulo nonke.
9 Yakhiwa ngomhla wesihlanu wamakhalenda ka-Ephreli, ku-
consulship kaFrigius noBassus.
ISAHLUKO 13
U-Annæus Seneca kuPawulu Ngiyabingelela.
1 Intokozo yoke kuwe, Pawula othandekayo.
2 Ubhale imiqulu eminingi ngendlela engokomfanekiso
nengaqondakali, ngakho-ke izindaba ezinamandla kanjalo
nebhizinisi elinikelwe kuwena, akudingi ukuthi kuqhutshekwe
nanoma yikuphi ukuchuma kwenkulumo echumayo, kodwa
kuphela ngobuhle obuthile obufanele.
3 Ngiyakhumbula nivame ukusho, ukuthi abaningi ngokuthinta
isitayela esinjalo benza kabi izikhonzi zabo, futhi balahlekelwa
amandla ezindaba abaziphatha ngazo.
4 Kodwa kulokhu ngithanda ukuba ningibheke, okungukuthi,
ukuba nihloniphe isiLatini esiqinisileyo, nikhethe amazwi
alungileyo, ukuze niphathe kangcono ukwethenjwa okubekwe
kini.
5 Ukuvalelisa. Idethi vth yamagama kaJulayi, Leo kanye ne-
Savinus consuls.
ISAHLUKO 14
UPawuli uya eSeneca Ngiyabingelela.
1 Ukucabangela kwenu okujulile kwavuza ngalezi zinto
ezitholwe uBunkulunkulu ezinike abambalwa.
2 Ngalokho ngiyaqinisekiswa ukuthi ngihlwanyela imbewu
enamandla kakhulu emhlabathini ovundile, hhayi noma yini
engase ibole, kodwa izwi likaNkulunkulu elihlala njalo,
eliyokhula futhi lithele izithelo kuze kube phakade.
3 Lokho okuzuzile ngokuhlakanipha kwakho kuyakuhlala
kungaboli kuze kube phakade.
4 Kholwani ukuthi kufanele nixwaye izinkolelo-ze zamaJuda
nabezizwe.
5 Izinto enizifikele ngezinga elithile, nizazise ngokuhlakanipha
kuMbusi, nomndeni wakhe, nakubangane abathembekileyo;
6 Futhi noma imizwa yenu ibonakala ingeyiyo, futhi ingaqondwa
yiyo, njengoba abaningi babo bengayikunaka izinkulumo zenu,
kodwa izwi likaNkulunkulu kanye elifakwe phakathi kwabo
liyobenza ekugcineni babe abantu abasha, abafisa kuNkulunkulu.
7 Hamba kahle Seneca, esimthanda kakhulu. Yakhiwe ku-
Calends ka-August, ku-consulship ka-Leo no-Savinus.