Chapter LVI.
Theodotus, [2668] ^[2669] bishop of Ancyra in Galatia, while at [2670] Ephesus, wrote against Nestorius a work of defence and refutation, [2671] written, to be sure, in dialectic style, but interwoven with passages from the Holy Scriptures. His method was to make statements and then quote proof texts from the Scriptures.
[2668] Theodotus Bishop of Ancyra 431-8.
[2669] Theodotus T ? a e; Theodorus a 25 30 31 Fabr. Her.
[2670] while at T 31 e 21; while formerly at 25 30 a A?
[2671] and refutation A 25 30 a; omit T 31 e 21.
Chapter LVII.
Fastidius, [2672] bishop in Britain, wrote to one Fatalis, a book On the Christian life, and another On preserving the estate of virginity, [2673] a work full of sound doctrine, and doing honour to God.
[2672] Flourished 420.
[2673] virginity T 31 e 21; widowhood A 25 30 a Fabr. Her.
Chapter LVIII.
Cyril, [2674] bishop of the church at Alexandria, published various treatises on various Questions, and also composed many homilies, which are recommended for preaching by the Greek bishops. Other books of his are; On the downfall of the synagogue, On faith against the heretics, and a work directed especially against Nestorius and entitled, A Refutation, in which all the secrets of Nestorius are exposed and his published opinions are refuted.
[2674] Born about 376, bishop of Alexandria 412, died 444.
Chapter LIX.
Timotheus, [2675] the bishop composed a book On the nativity of Our Lord according to the flesh, which is supposed to have been written at Epiphany.
[2675] From position evidently flourished before 450.
Chapter LX.
Leporius, [2676] formerly monk afterwards presbyter, relying on purity, [2677] through his own free will and unaided effort, instead of depending on the help of God, began to follow the Pelagian doctrine. But having been admonished by the Gallican doctors, and corrected by Augustine in Africa, he wrote a book containing his retraction, in which he both acknowledges his error and returns thanks for his correction. At the same time in correction of his false view of the incarnation of Christ, he presented the Catholic view, acknowledging the single person of the Son of God, and the two natures existing in Christ in his substance. [2678]
[2676] Flourished 418-430.
[2677] purityT 31 a e 21; purity of life A 25 30.
[2678] in his substance A T 30 31 a e 21; omit 25 Her.
Chapter LXI.
Victorinus, [2679] a rhetorician of Marseilles, wrote to his son Etherius, a commentary On Genesis, commenting, that is, from the beginning of the book to the death of the patriarch Abraham, and published four [2680] books in verse, words which have a savour of piety indeed, but, in that he was a man busied with secular literature and quite untrained in the Divine Scriptures, they are of slight weight, so far as ideas are concerned.
He died in the reign of Theodosius and Valentinianus.
[2679] Claudius Marius Victor (Victorius or Victorinus) of Marseilles died 445.
[2680] fourA T 31 a e; three 25 30.
Chapter LXII.
Cassianus, [2681] Scythian by race, ordained deacon by bishop John the Great, at Constantinople, and a presbyter at Marseilles, founded two monasteries, that is to say one for men and one for women, which are still standing. He wrote from experience, and in forcible language, or to speak more clearly, with meaning back of his words, and action back of his talk. He covered the whole field of practical directions, for monks of all sorts, in the following works: On dress, also On the canon of prayers, and the Usage in the saying of Psalms, (for these in the Egyptian monasteries, are said day and night), three books. One of Institutes, eight books On the origin, nature and remedies for the eight principal sins, a book on each sin. He also compiled Conferences with the Egyptian fathers, as follows: On the aim of a monk and his creed, On discretion, On three vocations to the service of God, On the warfare of the flesh against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, On the nature of all sins, On the slaughter of the saints, On fickleness of mind, On principalities, On the nature of prayer, On the duration of prayer, On perfection, On chastity, On the protection of God, On the knowledge of spiritual things, On the Divine graces, On friendship, On whether to define or not to define, On three ancient kinds of monks and a fourth recently arisen, On the object of cenobites and hermits, On true satisfaction in repentance, On the remission of the Quinquagesimal fast, On nocturnal illusions, On the saying of the apostles, "For the good which I would do, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do," On mortification, and finally at the request of Leo the archdeacon, afterwards bishop of Rome, he wrote seven books against Nestorius, On the incarnation of the Lord, and writing this, made an end, both of writing and living, at Marseilles, in the reign of Theodosius and Valentinianus.
[2681] Johannes Cassianus died 450.