Ceperaria (evidently a compound of the Hebrew ^&3 : see Caphar-), a town of Palestine mentioned in the Peutinger Table as lying between Ashkelon and Jerusalem, 8 (or 18) R. nules from Eleutheropolis, and thought by Reland (Pakut, p. 684) to oe the same as Capharorsa (q. v.) ; but identified by Bobinson with ** a deserted village, Kefr Urieh, in or near the plain, not far from Tibneh and the mouth of the Surar" (i2e- tearches, ii, 648).
Ce'phas (Ki;^; in later Heb. or Syriac ^9*^5), a surname which Christ bestowed upon Simon (John i, 42), and which the Greeks rendered by Uirpoc, and the Latins by Petnu, both words meaning '* a rock," which is the signification of the original. See Pbtbb.
Ce'ras (Kripdc), mentioned (1 Esdr. v, 20) as one of the ** temple servants" whose ** sons" returned from Babylon ; evidently the Eeros (q. v.) of the Heb. texts (Ezra ii, 44; Neh. vii, 47).
Cerastes. See Serpeztt.
Ceration, Ceratonia. See Husk.
Cerdo, or Cerdon, a Gnostic of the second cen- tury. Little is known of his history. Iremeus says that he came to Rome from Syria in the time of Hy- ginus, A.D. 140. Lardner gaUiers the testimonies of the fothers with regard to his heresy as follows : Cer- don taught, according to Irennus, that "the God de- clared in the law and the prophets is not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he was well known, the latter unknown ; the former was just, the latter good" (IrenflBUs, as cited by Eusebius {Hist. Eccles. iv, 11). Epiphanius's summary is to this purpose (Haer. 41) : "That Cerdon learned his doctrine from Heracleon, making, however, some additions of his own ; that he came from Syria to Rome, and there spread his notions in the time of Hyginus. He held two contrary prin- ciples ; he said that Christ was not bom. He denied the resurrection of the dead, and rejected the Old Tes- tament." In his larger article Epiphanius writes that ** Cerdon succeeded Heracleon, and came from Syria to Rome in the time of Hyginua, the ninth bishop after the apostles ; that, like many other heretics, he held two principles and two gods : one good and unknown^
CEREALIS
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CEREALS
{be Father of Jesus ; the other the Cremtor, eyQ and known, who spake in the law, appeared to the proph- ets, and was often seen. He taught, moreover, that Jesus was not bom of Maiy, and that he had flesh in appearance only. He denied the resurrection of the body, and rejected the Old Testament. He said that Christ descended from the unknown Father ; that he came to overthrow the empire and dominion of the Oeator of the world, as many other heretics do ; and, having been a short time at Rome, he transmitted his venom to Marcion, who succeeded him.'!
Theodoret's account of Cerdon is to this effect : ** He was in the time of the first Antoninus. He taught that there is one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, unknown to the prophets ; another, the Maker of the universe, the giver of the Mosaic law ; and this last is just, the other good. For he in the law orders 'that an eye should be given for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth ;* but the good God in the Grospels com- mands that *to him who smiteth thee on the right cheek, turn the other also ;* and that to him who would take away thy coat, thou shonldest give thy cloak also. He in the law directs to love a friend and hate an ene- my ; but the other, to love even our enemies. * Not observing,' says Theodoret, * that in the law it is di- rected that if a man meet his enemy's ox going astray, he should bring him back ; and not forbear to help his beast when lying under his burden ;' and that he who, according to him, is alone good, threatens ' hell-fire to him who calls his brother fool ;' and showing himself to be just, said, * With what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you again.' " ^ Irenseus says that when Cerdon was at Rome, he several times renounced his errors ; but at length, for returning to them again, or for teaching them in a clandestine manner, he was finally excluded from the Church. Cerdo's views were adopted and amplified by Marcion. See Mosheim, CommenUxries, cent ii, § 68 ; Lardner, Work$, viii, 444 sq. ; Baur, Die ChrigUiche Gntmt^ p. 101, 278 sq. ; and the articles Gnostics ; Mabcion.
Cereftlls, Pbtiuus, a relative of the emperor Ves- pasian, and a Roman general of note in several provin- cial campaigns (Tacitus, Ann, xiv, 82 ; Hitt, iii, 69, 78, 79 ; iv, 71, 86 ; Affr, 8, 17). During the war of Titus against the Jews he commanded a detachment against the Samaritans (Josephus, War^ iii, 7, 82), and was ac- tive hi the siege of Jerusalem (tb, iv, 9, 9 ; vi, 2, 5 ; 4, 8).
Cereals, a general term embracing all those kinds of grain fj^'J, " com") of which bread (q. v.) is made. See AoBicuLTUKE. These, among the Hebrews, were the following (see Jahn, Bibl, Archad. § 68). See Grain.