Chapter III.--The same continued.
The prophets also, when they speak as in the person of God, [saying,] "I am God, the first [of beings], and I am also the last, [1224] and besides Me there is no God," [1225] concerning the Father of the universe, do also speak of our Lord Jesus Christ. "A Son," they say, has been given to us, on whose shoulder the government is from above; and His name is called the Angel of great counsel, Wonderful, Counsellor, the strong and mighty God." [1226] And concerning His incarnation, "Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son; and they shall call his name Immanuel." [1227] And concerning the passion, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before her shearers is dumb, I also was an innocent lamb led to be sacrificed." [1228]
[1224] Literally, "after these things."
[1225] Isa. xliv. 6.
[1226] Isa. ix. 6.
[1227] Isa. vii. 14; Matt. i. 23.
[1228] Isa. liii. 7; Jer. xi. 19.
Chapter IV.--Continuation.
The Evangelists, too, when they declared that the one Father was "the only true God," [1229] did not omit what concerned our Lord, but wrote: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." [1230] And concerning the incarnation: "The Word," says [the Scripture], "became flesh, and dwelt among us." [1231] And again: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." [1232] And those very apostles, who said "that there is one God," [1233] said also that "there is one Mediator between God and men." [1234] Nor were they ashamed of the incarnation and the passion. For what says [one]? "The man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself" [1235] for the life and salvation of the world.
[1229] John xvii. 3.
[1230] John i. 1.
[1231] John i. 14.
[1232] Matt. i. 1.
[1233] 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6; Gal. iii. 20.
[1234] Eph. iv. 5, 6; 1 Tim. ii. 5.
[1235] 1 Tim. ii. 5.
Chapter V.--Denunciation of false teachers.
Whosoever, therefore, declares that there is but one God, only so as to take away the divinity of Christ, is a devil, [1236] and an enemy of all righteousness. He also that confesseth Christ, yet not as the Son of the Maker of the world, but of some other unknown [1237] being, different from Him whom the law and the prophets have proclaimed, this man is an instrument of the devil. And he that rejects the incarnation, and is ashamed of the cross for which I am in bonds, this man is antichrist. [1238] Moreover, he who affirms Christ to be a mere man is accursed, according to the [declaration of the] prophet, [1239] since he puts not his trust in God, but in man. Wherefore also he is unfruitful, like the wild myrtle-tree.
[1236] Comp. John vi. 70. Some read, "the son of the devil."
[1237] Or, "that cannot be known."
[1238] Comp. 1 John ii. 22, 1 John iv. 3; 2 John 7.
[1239] Jer. xvii. 5.
Chapter VI.--Renewed cautions.
These things I write to you, thou new olive-tree of Christ, not that I am aware you hold any such opinions, but that I may put you on your guard, as a father does his children. Beware, therefore, of those that hasten to work mischief, those "enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose glory is in their shame." [1240] Beware of those "dumb dogs," those trailing serpents, those scaly [1241] dragons, those asps, and basilisks, and scorpions. For these are subtle wolves, [1242] and apes that mimic the appearance of men.
[1240] Phil. iii. 18, 19.
[1241] The text is here doubtful.
[1242] Literally, "fox-like thoes," lynxes being perhaps intended.
Chapter VII.--Exhortation to consistency of conduct.
Ye have been the disciples of Paul and Peter; do not lose what was committed to your trust. Keep in remembrance Euodias, [1243] your deservedly-blessed pastor, into whose hands the government over you was first entrusted by the apostles. Let us not bring disgrace upon our Father. Let us prove ourselves His true-born children, and not bastards. Ye know after what manner I have acted among you. The things which, when present, I spoke to you, these same, when absent, I now write to you. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema." [1244] Be ye followers of me. [1245] My soul be for yours, when I attain to Jesus. Remember my bonds. [1246]
[1243] Some think that this is the same person as the Euodias referred to by St. Paul, Phil. iv. 2; but, as appears from the Greek (ver. 3, haitines), the two persons there mentioned were women.
[1244] 1 Cor. xvi. 22.
[1245] Comp. 1 Cor. iv. 16.
[1246] Comp. Col. iv. 18.