Epiphan, the philosopher

1. One of them, who had previously exchanged words with Hiram about the expressions 'infinity', 'eternity' and so on and who was called Epiphan, now said to Hiram, "Well, that would be a genuine little Persian trick that he has succeeded with very well! But there is just one thing that I do not understand, and that is this: Where did Aziona get the delicious wine and the valuable jar?"

2. Hiram says, "Yes, my friend Epiphan, I tell you, those are sheer miracles of will of the One who has just washed Himself with wine! Didn't you hear what He said to Aziona in answer when he asked Him whether He needed water?"

3. Epiphan says, "Yes, I heard it; but it had entirely the character of an Indo-Persian magician! For they also understand how to pretend to be the creator of fire, water and this and that thing with the greatest, most powerful phrases to the laymen, and then stride forward in a nimbus that even Zeus would hardly create if he existed and walked on the Earth. Well, you saw it yourself in Memphis, with what terrible pathos the magicians there made their predictions! In the end they had even nailed our reason almost three quarters, and we ourselves had already almost begun to worship them. Whoever knows how to produce something extraordinary can speak with a clear conscience; and for him that will be no less the case! What is striking here now, however, is the wine, as I have just remarked. Where did Aziona get it from?"

4. Hiram says, "I wanted to say that to you earlier; but you got there before me. Look, this man here, who said to Aziona: All the waters of the Earth and also of the heavens are from Me; how should I use it to wash?, created the wine simply through His will from the water, and now even out of the air; for He had emptied this container before entirely! And now, what do you say to that?"

5. Epiphan says, "Yes, if that is so, it is indeed very much! Indeed certain Indian magicians are supposed to have an extraordinary power in their will and glances, so that they can bewitch the wildest animals in an instant to such an extent that they must stand still on one spot as if lifeless and allow whatever such a magician wants to be done to them; they are also supposed to be able to command the winds, clouds and lightning effectively! That has thus been seen before. Well, whether they can also make the best wine from water or air, I truly do not know; only one knows as much about the old magicians indeed that they were able to turn water into blood and rain into sheer frogs and snakes. In itself, that requires indeed a strong faith; for we have never seen such a thing. But this one we have seen ourselves, so we can likewise think: If that is possible, then the other can also have been possible. We will not judge this any further. Aziona is coming already with the morning meal, and we are already quite hungry, and so we will put the further discussions off until later!"

6. Then everyone was called to the meal. Everyone gathers around the extended table and begins at My command to tuck in actively and to eat. The fish are soon eaten up and next bread and wine are served.

7. When the neighbors, who were still uninformed, taste the extremely tasty bread and the likewise excellent wine, they really become alert, and Epiphan says with an investigative manner: Well, now I am beginning to believe myself that we are dealing with no ordinary and natural magic; for such a thing has never been heard of by man, as far as I with my rather extensive knowledge can tell! Ah, the wine is indeed endlessly good!"

8. I say, "It is just right that you used the expression 'endless'! For you already accused Hiram of having a sun-burnt brain, because he began to speak to you about the fact that the power of My will is an eternally effective one, working through the whole infinity of space and all eternity of time, and how all power, all light and all life is united in Me, and how then also everything that fills the endless space spiritually and naturally came forth only from Me. What are you now thinking about it? What do you understand under the expressions: infinity, eternity, space, time, power, light and life?

9. For do you know, dear friend, if someone says to someone else that he has a sun-burnt brain if he occupies himself with such great and ambiguous expressions in relation to an extraordinary person, then one must have even better expressions about it; for only then can one say to one's neighbor that he is crazy, if one has better insight into the issue oneself. Therefore tell Me now what you think about the previously-mentioned expressions!"

10. Epiphan becomes somewhat embarrassed at this question of Mine, but nonetheless he soon controls himself and says, "Yes, good master, to give someone clear words about it should be indeed one of the greatest impossibilities for every mortal man; for here it indeed literally truly depends on the fact that no one can give another what he does not possess himself!

11. How can the limited, small man ever understand the endless space? He may penetrate in all directions the depths of eternal space very much with his train of thought, but nonetheless he remains always on the same spot in comparison with the unlimited entirety of space, which is nonetheless as much as nothing in comparison with the entirety of the eternally endless space; and likewise a person can never measure time forwards or backwards because he is also just as limited in his future, being and past as in space.

12. It is an old matter of experience that one can say something about a limited space and about a measured, limited time; for the limited can understand something similar indeed, but never anything which is dissimilar to the highest degree. And it is almost the same with the comprehension of the expressions power, light and life. Indeed man possesses a power, a light and a life; but beyond that no wise man has ever has ever been able to give a clear and exhaustively comprehensive definition about it until now, and thus neither can I since I am indeed everything but a wise man. You, good master, have asked me, and I have answered you. If you can give us a fully satisfactory solution about these expressions, however, we would be very grateful to you for it."