1
Since, then, the seven brothers despised sufferings even unto death, everyone must concede that devout reason is sovereign over the emotions.
2
For if they had been slaves to their emotions and had eaten defiling food, we would say that they had been conquered by these emotions.
3
But in fact it was not so. Instead, by reason, which is praised before God, they prevailed over their emotions.
4
The supremacy of the mind over these cannot be overlooked, for the brothers mastered both emotions and pains.
5
How then can one fail to confess the sovereignty of right reason over emotion in those who were not turned back by fiery agonies?
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.