6. You must not adopt the mistaken opinion, that while in dealing with the Gentiles one may appeal to their literature in all other discussions one ought to ignore it; for almost all the books of all these writers--except those who like Epicurus [2200] are no scholars--are extremely full of erudition and philosophy. I incline indeed to fancy--the thought comes into my head as I dictate--that you yourself know quite well what has always been the practice of the learned in this matter. I believe that in putting this question to me you are only the mouthpiece of another who by reason of his love for the histories of Sallust might well be called Calpurnius Lanarius. [2201] Please beg of him not to envy eaters their teeth because he is toothless himself, and not to make light of the eyes of gazelles because he is himself a mole. Here as you see there is abundant material for discussion, but I have already filled the limits at my disposal.
[2128] Either a teacher of civil law mentioned by Pliny (viii. 40), or else one of the writers of the Augustan History.
[2129] The authority for this is Josephus.
[2130] Prov. i. 1-6.
[2131] Tit. i. 12.
[2132] 1 Cor. xv. 33. The line is also attributed to Euripides.
[2133] Acts xvii. 28.
[2134] Acts xvii. 22.
[2135] Cf. 1 Sam. xvii. 50, 51.
[2136] Deut. xxi. 10-13.
[2137] Hos. i. 2-4.
[2138] Isa. vii. 20.
[2139] Ezek. v. 1-5.
[2140] i.e. Lactantius, vide Inst. v. 4.
[2141] The author of a polemical treatise against Christianity, fragments of which are still preserved in Origen's reply. He was a Platonist.
[2142] A neoplatonist writer who flourished in the third century.
[2143] See note on Letter XLVIII. § 13.
[2144] Contemporary with Eusebius the historian. His Symposium still extant proves him to have been a warm admirer of Plato.
[2145] The learned bishop of Cæsarea (a.d. 260-340). His Church History and other works are translated or described in Vol. i. of this series.
[2146] Probably the learned Bishop of Laodicea, whose views were condemned at Constantinople in 381.
[2147] Julian was emperor from a.d. 261 to a.d. 263. He reverted from Christianity to paganism and did all in his power to harass the Church.
[2148] According to Theodoret (H. E. iii. 25) Julian's last words were "Thou hast conquered, O Galilæan."
[2149] A Jew born at Jerusalem a.d. 37. His historical works, still extant, are of great value.
[2150] See note on Letter XXII. § 35.
[2151] The author of an apology for the Christians presented to the Emperor Hadrian. Only small fragments of the work are now extant. See for him and Aristides Jerome's Book on Famous Men, in Vol. iii. of this series, c. xix. xx.
[2152] Another Athenian apologist contemporary with Quadratus. His Apology has lately been published. Cambridge, Eng., 1891.
[2153] Commonly called Justin Martyr. Born in Samaria of Greek parents, he is said to have undergone martyrdom at Rome. Fl. a.d. 140-150.
[2154] Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.
[2155] Fl. a.d. 170. He composed an Apology addressed to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
[2156] A highly esteemed writer, from 171 a.d. onwards, who wrote many treatises, amongst which were an apology addressed to Marcus Aurelius, and several works against Montanism.
[2157] Fl. a.d. 171, the writer of several pastoral letters to other churches famous in their day but no longer extant.
[2158] See note on Letter XLVIII. § 3.
[2159] Born at Edessa c. 155 a.d. died 223 a.d. A mystical theologian of a gnostic type who held a high position at the court of the Abgars. His writings have perished.
[2160] Bishop of Lyons in the latter half of the second century. He was a native of Asia Minor and his younger days had known Polycarp.
[2161] Bishop of Lyons, suffered martyrdom under Marcus Aurelius.
[2162] A convert from stoicism to Christianity in the latter part of the second century who as the head of the catechetical school at Alexandria was the instructor of Clement.
[2163] Head of the catechetical school at Alexandria a.d. 190-203.
[2164] stromateis .
[2165] hupotuposeis .
[2166] See Letter XXXIII. Of Origen's Miscellanies only a few fragments remain. They appear to have discussed various topics in the light of ancient philosophy and scripture.'--Westcott.
[2167] A neoplatonic and neopythagorean philosopher who flourished in the age of the Antonines.
[2168] A Stoic philosopher, the friend and teacher of the poet Persius. Having criticised Nero's literary style too freely he was banished by that emperor.
[2169] An active Christian writer of the reign of Commodus.
[2170] Fl. a.d. 200-225, the first antipope. His Refutation of All Heresies is of great interest and value.
[2171] Fl. a.d. 186. Accused of being a Christian, he delivered in the senate an apology for the faith.
[2172] A writer of the third century who compiled a Chronicle of the world's history from the creation to his own day. It has long since perished.
[2173] Surnamed Thaumaturgus or Wonderworker. One of Origen's pupils, he wrote a Panegyric (extant) on his master. Fl. 233-270.
[2174] Head of the catechetical school, and afterwards bishop, of Alexandria. He died a.d. 265.
[2175] Trained in the school of Alexandria and praised by Eusebius for his great learning.
[2176] The intimate friend of Eusebius of Cæsarea and founder of the famous library in that city.
[2177] See note on Letter XLVIII. § 3.
[2178] A presbyter of Antioch and apparently a pupil of Malchion. He suffered martyrdom at Nicomedia a.d. 311.
[2179] A presbyter of Antioch in the reign of Aurelian. He took part in the proceedings against Paul of Samosata.
[2180] See note on § 3 above.
[2181] Bishop of Antioch at the time of the Nicene Council. One of the earliest and most vigorous opponents of Arianism.
[2182] Bishop of Alexandria from a.d. 326 to a.d. 373. The great champion of the diversity of Christ again Arius and the followers.
[2183] Flor. a.d. 341-359. After studying at Alexandria he lived for some time at Antioch where he took part in an Arian council.
[2184] A famous lawyer of Berytus converted to Christianity by Spyridon a bishop in Cyprus.
[2185] Bishop of Amasea in Pontus, a constant student of Demosthenes and himself no mean orator.
[2186] An Egyptian bishop the friend of Antony and Athanasius. Some of his writings are still extant.
[2187] This bishop is best known through the Emperor Julian's vain attempt to expel him from his see.
[2188] a.d. 329-379. Bishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia and a strenuous champion of orthodoxy. His works are still extant.
[2189] Gregory of Nazianzus. Bishop of Sasima and for a short time of Constantinople (a.d. 379-381).
[2190] Flor. a.d. 350-400. Archbishop of Iconium. A friend of Basil and of Gregory Nazianzen.
[2191] An African writer who in his last days became a Montanist. Flor. a.d. 175-225.
[2192] A Roman lawyer of the second century. His Apology--a Dialogue entitled Octavius--is extant.
[2193] Fl. a.d. 300. A professor of rhetoric at Sicca in Africa and a heathen. He composed his apology to prove the reality of his conversion.
[2194] An African rhetorician and apologist of the fourth century. His works are extant.
[2195] A celebrated man of letters at Rome in the middle of the fourth century, the story of whose conversion is told in Augustine's Confessions (viii. 2-5).
[2196] Bishop of Carthage. He suffered martyrdom a.d. 358. His works are extant.
[2197] Bishop of Poitiers (died a.d. 368). A champion of the orthodox faith against Arianism.
[2198] A Spanish Christian of the fourth century. His "Story of the Gospels," a life of Christ in hexameter verse, still exists.
[2199] For most of the writers mentioned in this section see also Jerome's Book of Famous Men translated in Vol. iii. of this series.
[2200] For an account of Epicurus see Letter V. § 5, note. He professed to have read but little.
[2201] That Rufinus is the person meant is plain from a reference made to this passage in Apol. adv. Rufinum, i. 30 and also from Letter CII. § 3. Jerome is however mistaken in connecting this Calpurnius with Sallust. He is mentioned by Plutarch as a treacherous friend. Sallust does mention a certain Calpurinus Bestia, and Jerome has probably confounded the two.