Chapter IV.--Beware of these heretics.
I give you these instructions, beloved, assured that ye also hold the same opinions [as I do]. But I guard you beforehand from those beasts in the shape of men, whom you must not only not receive, but, if it be possible, not even meet with; only you must pray to God for them, if by any means they may be brought to repentance, which, however, will be very difficult. Yet Jesus Christ, who is our true life, has the power of [effecting] this. But if these things were done by our Lord only in appearance, then am I also only in appearance bound. And why have I also surrendered myself to death, to fire, to the sword, to the wild beasts? But, [in fact,] he who is near to the sword is near to God; he that is among the wild beasts is in company with God; provided only he be so in the name of Jesus Christ. I undergo all these things that I may suffer together with Him, [1001] He who became a perfect man inwardly strengthening me. [1002]
I give you these instructions, beloved, assured that ye also hold the same opinions [as I do]. But I guard you beforehand from these beasts in the shape of men, from whom you must not only turn away, but even flee from them. Only you must pray for them, if by any means they may be brought to repentance. For if the Lord were in the body in appearance only, and were crucified in appearance only, then am I also bound in appearance only. And why have I also surrendered myself to death, to fire, to the sword, to the wild beasts? But, [in fact,] I endure all things for Christ, not in appearance only, but in reality, that I may suffer together with Him, while He Himself inwardly strengthens me; for of myself I have no such ability.
[1001] Comp. Rom. viii. 17.
[1002] Comp. Phil. iv. 13.
Chapter V.--Their dangerous errors.
Some ignorantly [1003] deny Him, or rather have been denied by Him, being the advocates of death rather than of the truth. These persons neither have the prophets persuaded, nor the law of Moses, nor the Gospel even to this day, nor the sufferings we have individually endured. For they think also the same thing regarding us. [1004] For what does any one profit me, if he commends me, but blasphemes my Lord, not confessing that He was [truly] possessed of a body? [1005] But he who does not acknowledge this, has in fact altogether denied Him, being enveloped in death. [1006] I have not, however, thought good to write the names of such persons, inasmuch as they are unbelievers. Yea, far be it from me to make any mention of them, until they repent and return to [a true belief in] Christ's passion, which is our resurrection.
Some have ignorantly denied Him, and advocate falsehood rather than the truth. These persons neither have the prophecies persuaded, nor the law of Moses, nor the Gospel even to this day, nor the sufferings we have individually endured. For they think also the same thing regarding us. For what does it profit, if any one commends me, but blasphemes my Lord, not owning Him to be God incarnate? [1007] He that does not confess this, has in fact altogether denied Him, being enveloped in death. I have not, however, thought good to write the names of such persons, inasmuch as they are unbelievers; and far be it from me to make any mention of them, until they repent.
[1003] Or, "foolishly."
[1004] i.e., As they imagine Christ to have suffered only in appearance, so they believe that we suffer in vain.
[1005] Literally, "a flesh-bearer."
[1006] Literally, "a death-bearer."
[1007] Literally, "a flesh-bearer."
Chapter VI--Unbelievers in the blood of Christ shall be condemned.
Let no man deceive himself. Both the things which are in heaven, and the glorious angels, [1008] and rulers, both visible and invisible, if they believe not in the blood of Christ, shall, in consequence, incur condemnation. [1009] "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." [1010] Let not [high] place puff any one up: for that which is worth all is [1011] faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred. But consider those who are of a different opinion with respect to the grace of Christ which has come unto us, how opposed they are to the will of God. They have no regard for love; no care for the widow, or the orphan, or the oppressed; of the bond, or of the free; of the hungry, or of the thirsty.
Let no man deceive himself. Unless he believes that Christ Jesus has lived in the flesh, and shall confess His cross and passion, and the blood which He shed for the salvation of the world, he shall not obtain eternal life, whether he be a king, or a priest, or a ruler, or a private person, a master or a servant, a man or a woman. "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." [1012] Let no man's place, or dignity, or riches, puff him up; and let no man's low condition or poverty abase him. For the chief points are faith towards God, hope towards Christ, the enjoyment of those good things for which we look, and love towards God and our neighbour. For, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself." [1013] And the Lord says, "This is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent." [1014] And again, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." [1015] Do ye, therefore, notice those who preach other doctrines, how they affirm that the Father of Christ cannot be known, and how they exhibit enmity and deceit in their dealings with one another. They have no regard for love; they despise the good things we expect hereafter; they regard present things as if they were durable; they ridicule him that is in affliction; they laugh at him that is in bonds.
[1008] Literally, "the glory of the angels."
[1009] Literally, "judgment is to them."
[1010] Matt. xix. 12.
[1011] Literally, "the whole is."
[1012] Matt. xix. 12.
[1013] Deut. vi. 5.
[1014] John xvii. 31.
[1015] John xiii. 34; Matt. xxii. 40.