Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 3
Tertullian — Latin Christianity
SECTION 161
Chapter LVIII.--Conclusion. Points Postponed. All Souls are Kept in Hades Until the Resurrection, Anticipating Their Ultimate Misery or Bliss.
Chapter LVIII.--Conclusion. Points Postponed. All Souls are Kept in Hades Until the Resurrection, Anticipating Their Ultimate Misery or Bliss. All souls, therefore, are shut up within Hades: do you admit this? (It is true, whether) you say yes or no: moreover, there are already experienced there punishments and consolations; an…
1,103 wordsSECTION 162Introduction, by the American Editor.
Introduction, by the American Editor. ------------------------ The Second Class of Tertullian's works, according to the logical method I have endeavoured to carry out, is that which includes his treatises against the heresies of his times. In these, the genius of our author is brilliantly illustrated, while, in melancholy fact…
1,739 wordsSECTION 163Chapter I.--Introductory. Heresies Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith.
Chapter I.--Introductory. Heresies Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith. The character of the times in which we live is such as to call forth from us even this admonition, that we ought not to be astonished at the heresies (which abound) [1851] neither ought their existence to surprise us, for it was foret…
1,493 wordsSECTION 164Chapter IV.--Warnings Against Heresy Given Us in the New Testament. Sundry Passages Adduced. These Imply the Possibility of Falling into Heresy.
Chapter IV.--Warnings Against Heresy Given Us in the New Testament. Sundry Passages Adduced. These Imply the Possibility of Falling into Heresy. But let us rather be mindful of the sayings of the Lord, and of the letters of the apostles; for they have both told us beforehand that there shall be heresies, and have given us, in a…
711 wordsSECTION 165Chapter VI.--Heretics are Self-Condemned. Heresy is Self-Will, Whilst Faith is Submission of Our Will to the Divine Authority. The Heresy of Apelles.
Chapter VI.--Heretics are Self-Condemned. Heresy is Self-Will, Whilst Faith is Submission of Our Will to the Divine Authority. The Heresy of Apelles. On this point, however, we dwell no longer, since it is the same Paul who, in his Epistle to the Galatians, counts "heresies" among "the sins of the flesh," [1897] who also intima…
1,931 wordsSECTION 166Chapter IX.--The Research After Definite Truth Enjoined on Us. When We Have Discovered This, We Should Be Content.
Chapter IX.--The Research After Definite Truth Enjoined on Us. When We Have Discovered This, We Should Be Content. I now purposely [1956] relinquish this ground of argument. Let it be granted, that the words, "Seek, and ye shall find," were addressed to all men (equally). Yet even here one's aim is [1957] carefully to determine…
1,008 wordsSECTION 167Chapter XI.--After We Have Believed, Search Should Cease; Otherwise It Must End in a Denial of What We Have Believed. No Other Object Proposed for Our Faith.
Chapter XI.--After We Have Believed, Search Should Cease; Otherwise It Must End in a Denial of What We Have Believed. No Other Object Proposed for Our Faith. There is impunity in erring, if there is no delinquency; although indeed to err it is itself an act of delinquency. [1981] With impunity, I repeat, does a man ramble, [198…
1,027 wordsSECTION 168Chapter XIV.--Curiosity Ought Not Range Beyond the Rule of Faith. Restless Curiosity, the Feature of Heresy.
Chapter XIV.--Curiosity Ought Not Range Beyond the Rule of Faith. Restless Curiosity, the Feature of Heresy. So long, however, as its form exists in its proper order, you may seek and discuss as much as you please, and give full rein to [1999] your curiosity, in whatever seems to you to hang in doubt, or to be shrouded in obscu…
782 wordsSECTION 169Chapter XV.--Heretics Not to Be Allowed to Argue Out of the Scriptures. The Scriptures, in Fact, Do Not Belong to Them. [2023]
Chapter XV.--Heretics Not to Be Allowed to Argue Out of the Scriptures. The Scriptures, in Fact, Do Not Belong to Them. [2023] We are therefore come to (the gist of) our position; for at this point we were aiming, and for this we were preparing in the preamble of our address (which we have just completed),--so that we may now j…
893 wordsSECTION 170Chapter XIX.--Appeal, in Discussion of Heresy, Lies Not to the Scriptures. The Scriptures Belong Only to Those Who Have the Rule of Faith.
Chapter XIX.--Appeal, in Discussion of Heresy, Lies Not to the Scriptures. The Scriptures Belong Only to Those Who Have the Rule of Faith. Our appeal, therefore, must not be made to the Scriptures; nor must controversy be admitted on points in which victory will either be impossible, [2046] or uncertain, or not certain enough. …
1,055 wordsSECTION 171Chapter XXII.--Attempt to Invalidate This Rule of Faith Rebutted. The Apostles Safe Transmitters of the Truth. Sufficiently Taught at First, and Faithful in the Transmission.
Chapter XXII.--Attempt to Invalidate This Rule of Faith Rebutted. The Apostles Safe Transmitters of the Truth. Sufficiently Taught at First, and Faithful in the Transmission. But inasmuch as the proof is so near at hand, [2069] that if it were at once produced there would be nothing left to be dealt with, let us give way for a …
701 wordsSECTION 172Chapter XXIII.--The Apostles Not Ignorant. The Heretical Pretence of St. Peter's Imperfection Because He Was Rebuked by St. Paul. St. Peter Not Rebuked for Error in Teaching.
Chapter XXIII.--The Apostles Not Ignorant. The Heretical Pretence of St. Peter's Imperfection Because He Was Rebuked by St. Paul. St. Peter Not Rebuked for Error in Teaching. Now, with the view of branding [2091] the apostles with some mark of ignorance, they put forth the case of Peter and them that were with him having been r…
962 wordsSECTION 173Chapter XXV.--The Apostles Did Not Keep Back Any of the Deposit of Doctrine Which Christ Had Entrusted to Them. St. Paul Openly Committed His Whole Doctrine to Timothy.
Chapter XXV.--The Apostles Did Not Keep Back Any of the Deposit of Doctrine Which Christ Had Entrusted to Them. St. Paul Openly Committed His Whole Doctrine to Timothy. But here is, as we have said, [2115] the same madness, in their allowing indeed that the apostles were ignorant of nothing, and preached not any (doctrines) whi…
1,400 wordsSECTION 174Chapter XXVIII.--The One Tradition of the Faith, Which is Substantially Alike in the Churches Everywhere, a Good Proof that the Transmission Has Been True and Honest in the Main.
Chapter XXVIII.--The One Tradition of the Faith, Which is Substantially Alike in the Churches Everywhere, a Good Proof that the Transmission Has Been True and Honest in the Main. Grant, then, that all have erred; that the apostle was mistaken in giving his testimony; that the Holy Ghost had no such respect to any one (church) a…
1,471 wordsSECTION 175Chapter XXXI.--Truth First, Falsehood Afterwards, as Its Perversion. Christ's Parable Puts the Sowing of the Good Seed Before the Useless Tares.
Chapter XXXI.--Truth First, Falsehood Afterwards, as Its Perversion. Christ's Parable Puts the Sowing of the Good Seed Before the Useless Tares. Let me return, however, from this digression [2177] to discuss [2178] the priority of truth, and the comparative lateness [2179] of falsehood, deriving support for my argument even fro…
1,380 wordsSECTION 176Chapter XXXIV.--No Early Controversy Respecting the Divine Creator; No Second God Introduced at First. Heresies Condemned Alike by the Sentence and the Silence of Holy Scripture.
Chapter XXXIV.--No Early Controversy Respecting the Divine Creator; No Second God Introduced at First. Heresies Condemned Alike by the Sentence and the Silence of Holy Scripture. These are, as I suppose, the different kinds of spurious doctrines, which (as we are informed by the apostles themselves) existed in their own day. An…
2,346 wordsSECTION 177[2250] By the instrumenta doctrinæ he here means the writings of the New Testament.
[2250] By the instrumenta doctrinæ he here means the writings of the New Testament. [2251] [Our author insists on the precise agreement of Catholic Tradition with Holy Scripture. See valuable remarks on Schleiermacher, in Kaye, pp. 279-284.] [2252] We add the original of this sentence, which is obscured by its terseness: "Quid…
1,123 wordsSECTION 178Chapter XLI.--The Conduct of Heretics: Its Frivolity, Worldliness, and Irregularity. The Notorious Wantonness of Their Women.
Chapter XLI.--The Conduct of Heretics: Its Frivolity, Worldliness, and Irregularity. The Notorious Wantonness of Their Women. I must not omit an account of the conduct [2278] also of the heretics--how frivolous it is, how worldly, how merely human, without seriousness, without authority, without discipline, as suits their creed…
2,336 wordsSECTION 179III.
III. (Peter, cap. xxii. note 6, p. 253.) In the treatise of Cyprian, De Unitate, we shall have occasion to speak fully on this interesting point. The reference to Kaye may suffice, here. But, since the inveterate confusion of all that is said of Peter with all that is claimed by a modern bishop for himself promotes a false vie…
1,151 wordsSECTION 180Preface by the Translator. [2316]
Preface by the Translator. [2316] The reader has, in this volume a translation (attempted for the first time in English) of the largest of the extant works of the earliest Latin Fathers. The most important of Tertullian's writings have always been highly valued in the church, although, as was natural from their varied character…
1,488 wordsSECTION 181Book I. [2320]
Book I. [2320] Wherein is described the god of Marcion. He is shown to be utterly wanting in all the attributes of the true God. ------------------------ Chapter I.--Preface. Reason for a New Work. Pontus Lends Its Rough Character to the Heretic Marcion, a Native. His Heresy Characterized in a Brief Invective. Whatever in ti…
1,112 wordsSECTION 182Chapter II.--Marcion, Aided by Cerdon, Teaches a Duality of Gods; How He Constructed This Heresy of an Evil and a Good God.
Chapter II.--Marcion, Aided by Cerdon, Teaches a Duality of Gods; How He Constructed This Heresy of an Evil and a Good God. The heretic of Pontus introduces two Gods, like the twin Symplegades of his own shipwreck: One whom it was impossible to deny, i.e. our Creator; and one whom he will never be able to prove, i.e. his own go…
1,143 wordsSECTION 183Chapter IV.--Defence of the Divine Unity Against Objection. No Analogy Between Human Powers and God's Sovereignty. The Objection Otherwise Untenable, for Why Stop at Two Gods?
Chapter IV.--Defence of the Divine Unity Against Objection. No Analogy Between Human Powers and God's Sovereignty. The Objection Otherwise Untenable, for Why Stop at Two Gods? But some one may contend that two great Supremes may exist, distinct and separate in their own departments; and may even adduce, as an example, the kingd…
1,233 wordsSECTION 184Chapter VI.--Marcion Untrue to His Theory. He Pretends that His Gods are Equal, But He Really Makes Them Diverse. Then, Allowing Their Divinity, Denies This Diversity.
Chapter VI.--Marcion Untrue to His Theory. He Pretends that His Gods are Equal, But He Really Makes Them Diverse. Then, Allowing Their Divinity, Denies This Diversity. Thus far our discussion seems to imply that Marcion makes his two gods equal. For while we have been maintaining that God ought to be believed as the one only gr…
1,229 wordsSECTION 185Chapter VIII.--Specific Points. The Novelty of Marcion's God Fatal to His Pretensions. God is from Everlasting, He Cannot Be in Any Wise New.
Chapter VIII.--Specific Points. The Novelty of Marcion's God Fatal to His Pretensions. God is from Everlasting, He Cannot Be in Any Wise New. In the first place, how arrogantly do the Marcionites build up their stupid system, [2410] bringing forward a new god, as if we were ashamed of the old one! So schoolboys are proud of the…
1,585 wordsSECTION 186Chapter X.--The Creator Was Known as the True God from the First by His Creation. Acknowledged by the Soul and Conscience of Man Before He Was Revealed by Moses.
Chapter X.--The Creator Was Known as the True God from the First by His Creation. Acknowledged by the Soul and Conscience of Man Before He Was Revealed by Moses. For indeed, as the Creator of all things, He was from the beginning discovered equally with them, they having been themselves manifested that He might become known as …
2,704 wordsSECTION 187[2472] This is an ironical concession from the Marcionite side.
[2472] This is an ironical concession from the Marcionite side. [2473] Another concession. [2474] Tertullian's rejoinder. [2475] De isto. [2476] They called it kosmos. [2477] By sapientiæ professores he means the heathen philosophers; see De Præscript. Hæret. c. 7. [2478] In his book adv. Hermogenem, c. 8, Tertullian calls…
2,240 wordsSECTION 188Chapter XVIII.--Notwithstanding Their Conceits, the God of the Marcionites Fails in the Vouchers Both of Created Evidence and of Adequate Revelation.
[2520] Consequens est ut. [2521] Defendant. [2522] Col. i. 16. [2523] Nunc enim. The elliptical nun gar of Greek argumentation. [2524] Modulata. [2525] "I make peace, and create evil," Isa. xlv. 7. Chapter XVII.--Not Enough, as the Marcionites Pretend, that the Supreme God Should Rescue Man; He Must Also Have Created Him. …
2,515 wordsSECTION 189[2553] Tertullian's indignant reply.
[2553] Tertullian's indignant reply. [2554] Passivum scilicet convictum. [2555] Prædicationis. [Largely ad hominem, this argument.] [2556] Et alibi. [2557] 1 Cor. xv. 11. [2558] See Gal. i. 6, 7, and ii. 4. [2559] Isa. xliii. 19. [2560] This quotation, however, is from Jer. xxxi. 32. [2561] Jer. iv. 4. [2562] Hos. ii. 1…
772 wordsSECTION 190Chapter XXII.--God's Attribute of Goodness Considered as Natural; The God of Marcion Found Wanting Herein. It Came Not to Man's Rescue When First Wanted.
Chapter XXII.--God's Attribute of Goodness Considered as Natural; The God of Marcion Found Wanting Herein. It Came Not to Man's Rescue When First Wanted. But how shall (this) Antichrist be fully overthrown unless we relax our defence by mere prescription, [2579] and give ourselves scope for rebutting all his other attacks? Let …
1,154 wordsSECTION 191Chapter XXIII.--God's Attribute of Goodness Considered as Rational. Marcion's God Defective Here Also; His Goodness Irrational and Misapplied.
Chapter XXIII.--God's Attribute of Goodness Considered as Rational. Marcion's God Defective Here Also; His Goodness Irrational and Misapplied. Here is another rule for him. All the properties of God ought to be as rational as they are natural. I require reason in His goodness, because nothing else can properly be accounted good…
1,299 wordsSECTION 192Chapter XXIV.--The Goodness of Marcion's God Only Imperfectly Manifested; It Saves But Few, and the Souls Merely of These. Marcion's Contempt of the Body Absurd.
Chapter XXIV.--The Goodness of Marcion's God Only Imperfectly Manifested; It Saves But Few, and the Souls Merely of These. Marcion's Contempt of the Body Absurd. But as God is eternal and rational, so, I think, He is perfect in all things. "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." [2619] Prove, then, t…
1,165 wordsSECTION 193Chapter XXV.--God is Not a Being of Simple Goodness; Other Attributes Belong to Him. Marcion Shows Inconsistency in the Portraiture of His Simply Good and Emotionless God.
Chapter XXV.--God is Not a Being of Simple Goodness; Other Attributes Belong to Him. Marcion Shows Inconsistency in the Portraiture of His Simply Good and Emotionless God. As touching this question of goodness, we have in these outlines of our argument shown it to be in no way compatible with Deity,--as being neither natural, […
857 wordsSECTION 194Chapter XXVI.--In the Attribute of Justice, Marcion's God is Hopelessly Weak and Ungodlike. He Dislikes Evil, But Does Not Punish Its Perpetration.
Chapter XXVI.--In the Attribute of Justice, Marcion's God is Hopelessly Weak and Ungodlike. He Dislikes Evil, But Does Not Punish Its Perpetration. But it is here sufficient that the extreme perversity of their god is proved from the mere exposition of his lonely goodness, in which they refuse to ascribe to him such emotions of…
724 wordsSECTION 195Chapter XXVII.--Dangerous Effects to Religion and Morality of the Doctrine of So Weak a God.
Chapter XXVII.--Dangerous Effects to Religion and Morality of the Doctrine of So Weak a God. Again, he plainly judges evil by not willing it, and condemns it by prohibiting it; while, on the other hand, he acquits it by not avenging it, and lets it go free by not punishing it. What a prevaricator of truth is such a god! What a …
1,354 wordsSECTION 196Chapter XXIX.--Marcion Forbids Marriage. Tertullian Eloquently Defends It as Holy, and Carefully Discriminates Between Marcion's Doctrine and His Own Montanism.
Chapter XXIX.--Marcion Forbids Marriage. Tertullian Eloquently Defends It as Holy, and Carefully Discriminates Between Marcion's Doctrine and His Own Montanism. The flesh is not, according to Marcion, immersed in the water of the sacrament, unless it be [2673] in virginity, widowhood, or celibacy, or has purchased by divorce a …
1,283 wordsSECTION 197Book II. [2692]
Book II. [2692] Wherein Tertullian shows that the creator, or demiurge, whom Marcion calumniated, is the true and good God. ------------------------ Chapter I.--The Methods of Marcion's Argument Incorrect and Absurd. The Proper Course of the Argument. The occasion of reproducing this little work, the fortunes of which we not…
2,115 wordsSECTION 198Chapter IV.--The Next Stage Occurs in the Creation of Man by the Eternal Word. Spiritual as Well as Physical Gifts to Man. The Blessings of Man's Free-Will.
Chapter IV.--The Next Stage Occurs in the Creation of Man by the Eternal Word. Spiritual as Well as Physical Gifts to Man. The Blessings of Man's Free-Will. The goodness of God having, therefore, provided man for the pursuit of the knowledge of Himself, added this to its original notification, [2739] that it first prepared a ha…
3,189 wordsSECTION 199[2771] Ratio, or, "His reason." We have used both words, which are equally suitable to the Divine Being, as seemed most convenient.
[2771] Ratio, or, "His reason." We have used both words, which are equally suitable to the Divine Being, as seemed most convenient. [2772] Irrationaliter, or, "irrationally." [2773] See above, book i. chap. xxiii. p. 288. [2774] Utique. [2775] Rationale, or, "consistent with His purpose." [2776] Suæ potestatis. [2777] Subs…
840 wordsSECTION 200Chapter VIII.--Man, Endued with Liberty, Superior to the Angels, Overcomes Even the Angel Which Lured Him to His Fall, When Repentant and Resuming Obedience to God.
Chapter VIII.--Man, Endued with Liberty, Superior to the Angels, Overcomes Even the Angel Which Lured Him to His Fall, When Repentant and Resuming Obedience to God. For it was not merely that he might live the natural life that God had produced man, but [2809] that he should live virtuously, that is, in relation to God and to H…
2,533 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.