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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Abgar</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/abgar.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/genesis/1-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/a/abgar.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Abgar</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/naves/a/abez--a_city_of_issachar.htm" title="Abez: A City of Issachar">◄</a> Abgar <a href="/topical/a/abgarus.htm" title="Abgarus">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Abgar is a name associated with a series of kings who ruled the small kingdom of Osroene, with its capital at Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey), during the first few centuries AD. The most notable of these rulers is Abgar V, also known as Abgar Ukkama or Abgar the Black, who is traditionally believed to have reigned from approximately AD 4 to AD 50. The historical and legendary accounts of Abgar V are intertwined with early Christian traditions, particularly concerning his purported correspondence with Jesus Christ.<br><br><b>Historical Context</b><br><br>Osroene was a small, semi-independent kingdom located in the region of Mesopotamia, strategically positioned between the Roman and Parthian Empires. The kingdom was known for its cultural and religious diversity, serving as a crossroads for various influences, including Hellenistic, Semitic, and later, Christian traditions.<br><br><b>Abgar V and Christianity</b><br><br>The most famous tradition associated with Abgar V is the legend of his correspondence with Jesus. According to early Christian writings, particularly the "Doctrine of Addai" and the writings of Eusebius of Caesarea, Abgar V, suffering from an illness, wrote a letter to Jesus, acknowledging Him as the Son of God and requesting healing. In response, Jesus allegedly sent a letter back, promising that after His ascension, He would send one of His disciples to heal Abgar and bring salvation to his household.<br><br>Eusebius, in his "Ecclesiastical History" (Book I, Chapter 13), provides a detailed account of this correspondence, claiming to have seen the letters in the archives of Edessa. The authenticity of these letters has been a subject of debate among scholars, with many considering them apocryphal. Nevertheless, the account reflects the early spread of Christianity into the region and the interest of local rulers in the new faith.<br><br><b>The Conversion of Edessa</b><br><br>The tradition further holds that Thaddeus (Addai), one of the seventy disciples, was sent to Edessa after Jesus' ascension. Thaddeus is said to have healed Abgar and converted him and many of his subjects to Christianity, establishing Edessa as one of the first Christian states. This narrative underscores the significance of Edessa as a center of early Christianity and its role in the dissemination of the faith in the East.<br><br><b>Legacy</b><br><br>The Abgar legend has had a lasting impact on Christian tradition, particularly in the Syriac-speaking churches. The account of Abgar's conversion and the establishment of Christianity in Edessa is celebrated in various liturgical texts and has contributed to the city's reputation as a bastion of early Christian thought and culture.<br><br>While the historical accuracy of the Abgar-Jesus correspondence remains uncertain, the narrative highlights the early interactions between Christianity and the political entities of the Near East. The figure of Abgar V serves as a symbol of the early acceptance and spread of Christianity beyond the borders of the Roman Empire, illustrating the faith's appeal to diverse cultures and peoples.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">ABGAR; ABGARUS; ABAGARUS</span><p>ab'-gar, ab-ga'-rus, a-bag'-a-rus (Abgaros): Written also Agbarus and Augarus. A king of Edessa. A name common to several kings (toparchs) of Edessa, Mesopotamia. One of these, Abgar, a son of Uchomo, the seventeenth (14th?) of twenty kings, according to the legend (Historia Ecclesiastica, i.13) sent a letter to Jesus, professing belief in His Messiahship and asking Him to come and heal him from an incurable disease (leprosy?), inviting Him at the same time to take refuge from His enemies in his city, "which is enough for us both." Jesus answering the letter blessed him, because he had believed on Him without having seen Him, and promised to send one of His disciples after He had risen from the dead. The apostle Thomas sent Judas Thaddeus, one of the Seventy, who healed him (Cod. Apocrypha New Testament).<br><br>A. L. Breslich<p><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/i_reign_of_abgar.htm"><span class="l">Reign of <b>Abgar</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> I. Reign of <b>Abgar</b>. Reign of <b>Abgar</b>; Armenia becomes completely tributary to the Romans;<br> war with Herod's troops; his brother's son, Joseph, is killed. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/i reign of abgar.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/x_reign_of_sanadroug_murder.htm"><span class="l">Reign of Sanadroug; Murder of <b>Abgar's</b> Children; the Princess <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Ancient Syriac Documents. Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. X. Reign of<br> Sanadroug; murder of <b>Abgar's</b> children; the princess Helena. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/x reign of sanadroug murder.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/vii_answer_to_abgars_letter.htm"><span class="l">Answer to <b>Abgar's</b> Letter, which the Apostle Thomas Wrote to this <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. VII. Answer to <b>Abgar's</b> letter, which the<br> apostle Thomas wrote to this prince by command of the Saviour. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/vii answer to abgars letter.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/v_abgar_sends_princes_to.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abgar</b> Sends Princes to Marinus; These Deputies See Our Saviour <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. V. <b>Abgar</b> sends princes to Marinus; these deputies<br> see our Saviour Christ; beginning of the conversion of <b>Abgar</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/v abgar sends princes to.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/vi_abgars_letter_to_the.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abgar's</b> Letter to the Saviour Jesus Christ.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Ancient Syriac Documents. Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. VI. <b>Abgar's</b><br> letter to the Saviour Jesus Christ. "<b>Abgar</b>, son of Archam <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/vi abgars letter to the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/iv_abgar_returns_from_the.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abgar</b> Returns from the East; He Gives Help to Aretas in a War <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Ancient Syriac Documents. Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. IV. <b>Abgar</b> returns<br> from the east; he gives help to Aretas in a war against Herod the Tetrarch. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/iv abgar returns from the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/iii_abgar_comes_into_the.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abgar</b> Comes into the East, Maintains Ardaches Upon the Throne of <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> <b>Abgar</b> comes into the East, maintains Ardach??s upon the throne of Persia; reconciles<br> his brothers from whom our illuminator and his relations are descended. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/iii abgar comes into the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/ancient_syriac_documents_extracts_from.htm"><span class="l">Extracts from Various Books Concerning <b>Abgar</b> the King and Add??us <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Extracts from Various Books Concerning <b>Abgar</b> the King and Add??us the Apostle. Extracts<br> from Various Books Concerning <b>Abgar</b> the King and Add??us the Apostle. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents extracts from.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/i_of_the_blessed_addaeus.htm"><span class="l">Of the Blessed Add??us the Apostle. From his Teaching which He <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> BP Pratten, BA] I. Of the blessed Add??us the apostle. From his teaching which he<br> gave in Edessa before <b>Abgar</b> the King and the assembly of the city. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/i of the blessed addaeus.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/vi_from_the_departure_of.htm"><span class="l">From the Departure of Marath Mary from the World, and the Birth <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> letters came from <b>Abgar</b>, the king of the city of Edessa, to Sabina the procurator<br> [2954] who had been appointed by Tiberius the emperor, and as far as the <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/vi from the departure of.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/abgar.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abgar</b></span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia <b>ABGAR</b>; ABGARUS; ABAGARUS. ab'-gar, ab-ga'-rus,<br> a-bag'-a-rus (Abgaros): Written also Agbarus and Augarus. A king of Edessa. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abgar.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/t/thaddaeus.htm"><span class="l">Thaddaeus (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (4) The <b>Abgar</b> legend, dealing with a supposed correspondence between <b>Abgar</b>, king<br> of Syria, and Christ, states in its Syriac form, as translated by Eusebius <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/t/thaddaeus.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abgarus.htm"><span class="l">Abgarus</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia <b>ABGAR</b>; ABGARUS; ABAGARUS. ab'-gar, ab-ga'-rus,<br> a-bag'-a-rus (Abgaros): Written also Agbarus and Augarus. A king of Edessa. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abgarus.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abagarus.htm"><span class="l">Abagarus</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia <b>ABGAR</b>; ABGARUS; ABAGARUS. ab'-gar, ab-ga'-rus,<br> a-bag'-a-rus (Abgaros): Written also Agbarus and Augarus. A king of Edessa. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abagarus.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/epistles.htm"><span class="l">Epistles (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> the country had received the Gospel at a much earlier date. See <b>ABGAR</b>. 2.<br> Letter Attributed to Peter: The Clementine Homilies is a <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/epistles.htm - 80k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abez.htm"><span class="l">Abez (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abez.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/syriac.htm"><span class="l">Syriac (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> That the tr of the Old Testament and New Testament was made in connection with the<br> visit of Thaddaeus to <b>Abgar</b> at Edessa belongs also to unreliable tradition. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/syriac.htm - 26k</font><p><a href="/topical/v/versions.htm"><span class="l">Versions</span></a><br><b>...</b> That the tr of the Old Testament and New Testament was made in connection with the<br> visit of Thaddaeus to <b>Abgar</b> at Edessa belongs also to unreliable tradition. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/v/versions.htm - 81k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/apocryphal.htm"><span class="l">Apocryphal</span></a><br><b>...</b> the country had received the Gospel at a much earlier date. See <b>ABGAR</b>. 2.<br> Letter Attributed to Peter: The Clementine Homilies is a <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/apocryphal.htm - 101k</font><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Letter-of-King-Abgar-to-Jesus.html">What is the Letter of King Abgar to Jesus? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Mandylion.html">What is the Mandylion? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/questions_Bible.html">Questions about the Bible (All) | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/abgar.htm">Abgar</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/epistles.htm">Epistles (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abgar.htm">Abgar</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abagarus.htm">Abagarus</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abhor.htm">Abhor (23 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/armenia.htm">Armenia (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/apocryphal.htm">Apocryphal</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/naves/a/abez--a_city_of_issachar.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Abez: A City of Issachar"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Abez: A City of Issachar" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/abgarus.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Abgarus"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Abgarus" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>