Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 3
Tertullian — Latin Christianity
SECTION 241
[4029] Luke vi. 26.
[4029] Luke vi. 26. [4030] Isa. iii. 12. [4031] Jer. xvii. 5. [4032] Ps. cxviii. 8, 9. [4033] Nedum benedictionem. [4034] Non pertinuissent ad. Chapter XVI.--The Precept of Loving One's Enemies. It is as Much Taught in the Creator's Scriptures of the Old Testament as in Christ's Sermon. The Lex Talionis of Moses Admirably …
2,222 wordsSECTION 242[4035] 2 Esdras xv. 1 and comp. Luke vi. 27, 28.
[4035] 2 Esdras xv. 1 and comp. Luke vi. 27, 28. [4036] Benedicite. St. Luke's word, however, is kalos poieite, "do good." [4037] Calumniantur. St. Luke's word applies to injury of speech as well as of act. [4038] Isa. lxvi. 5. [4039] "We have here the sense of Marcion's objection. I do not suppose Tertullian quotes his very…
2,201 wordsSECTION 243[4124] Luke vi. 39.
[4124] Luke vi. 39. [4125] Luke vi. 40. [4126] De discipulo. [4127] Revincat. [4128] Luke vi. 41-45. Cerdon is here referred to as Marcion's master, and Apelles as Marcion's pupil. [4129] Scandalum. See above, book i. chap. ii., for Marcion's perverse application of the figure of the good and the corrupt tree. [4130] In ho…
2,194 wordsSECTION 244The fact that certain rich women clave to Christ, "which ministered unto Him of their substance," amongst whom was the wife of the king's st
The fact that certain rich women clave to Christ, "which ministered unto Him of their substance," amongst whom was the wife of the king's steward, is a subject of prophecy. By Isaiah the Lord called these wealthy ladies--"Rise up, ye women that are at ease, and hear my voice" [4184] --that He might prove [4185] them first as dis…
2,023 wordsSECTION 245But "what manner of man is this? for He commandeth even the winds and water!" [4216] Of course He is the new master and proprietor of the el
But "what manner of man is this? for He commandeth even the winds and water!" [4216] Of course He is the new master and proprietor of the elements, now that the Creator is deposed, and excluded from their possession! Nothing of the kind. But the elements own [4217] their own Maker, just as they had been accustomed to obey His se…
1,985 wordsSECTION 246He sends forth His disciples to preach the kingdom of God. [4257] Does He here say of what God? He forbids their taking anything for their j
He sends forth His disciples to preach the kingdom of God. [4257] Does He here say of what God? He forbids their taking anything for their journey, by way of either food or raiment. Who would have given such a commandment as this, but He who feeds the ravens and clothes [4258] the flowers of the field? Who anciently enjoined for…
2,160 wordsSECTION 247You ought to be very much ashamed of yourself on this account too, for permitting him to appear on the retired mountain in the company of Mo
You ought to be very much ashamed of yourself on this account too, for permitting him to appear on the retired mountain in the company of Moses and Elias, [4319] whom he had come to destroy. This, to be sure, [4320] was what he wished to be understood as the meaning of that voice from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, hear Him" […
2,233 wordsSECTION 248[4337] Amentiam.
[4337] Amentiam. [4338] Ceterum. [4339] According to the hypothesis. [4340] Totum ordinem, in the three periods represented by Moses, and Elijah, and Christ. [4341] Compare Deut. xix. 15 with Luke ix. 28. [4342] Consignari. [4343] In eo suggestu. [4344] Conscriptum fuerat. [4345] Marcion's god. [4346] Compare above, boo…
2,745 wordsSECTION 249He likewise adds, that they should say to such as would not receive them: "Notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is co
He likewise adds, that they should say to such as would not receive them: "Notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." [4445] If He does not enjoin this by way of a commination, the injunction is a most useless one. For what mattered it to them that the kingdom was at hand, unless its appr…
1,065 wordsSECTION 250Who shall be invoked as the Lord of heaven, that does not first show Himself [4465] to have been the maker thereof? For He says, "I thank th
Who shall be invoked as the Lord of heaven, that does not first show Himself [4465] to have been the maker thereof? For He says, "I thank thee, (O Father,) and own Thee, Lord of heaven, because those things which had been hidden from the wise and prudent, Thou has revealed unto babes." [4466] What things are these? And whose? An…
2,251 wordsSECTION 251[4465] Ostenditur.
[4465] Ostenditur. [4466] Luke x. 21. [4467] Satis inique. [4468] Præmiserat. [4469] Argumenta. [4470] Deliquerant. [4471] On the Marcionite hypothesis. [4472] Deducerentur. [4473] In quem competunt omnia. [4474] Isa. vii. 9. [4475] Rom. i. 20-23. [4476] Ingenia. [4477] Denique. [4478] Olim. [4479] Isa. xxix. 14, S…
2,203 wordsSECTION 252[4553] Luke xi. 8.
[4553] Luke xi. 8. [4554] Tam cito. [4555] Luke xi. 11-13. [4556] Apud quem. [4557] Luke xi. 14. [4558] Isa. xxix. 18. [4559] Luke xi. 19. [4560] Luke xi. 18. [4561] Luke xi. 20. [4562] Ex. viii. 19. [4563] Significaret. [4564] Vetustatum scilicet suarum. [4565] Apud. [4566] Applicuit. [4567] Luke xi. 21, 22. [456…
3,123 wordsSECTION 253[4620] As narrated by St. Luke xii. 1-21.
[4620] As narrated by St. Luke xii. 1-21. [4621] Contumaces. [4622] Luke xii. 2. [4623] Luke xii. 4. [4624] Isa. lvii. 1. [4625] Luke xii. 5. [4626] Demereri. [4627] Luke xii. 8. [4628] Occidi habebunt. [4629] Luke xii. 9. [4630] Post occisionem. [4631] Luke xii. 10. [4632] So full of blasphemy, as he is, against the…
2,413 wordsSECTION 254[4651] Agere curam: take thought.--A.V.
[4651] Agere curam: take thought.--A.V. [4652] Luke xii. 22-28. [4653] Æmulam. [4654] Flosculo: see Luke xii. 24-27. [4655] Ultro subjectis. [4656] Pro sua vilitate. [4657] Luke xii. 28. [4658] Tantum quod revelato. [4659] Luke xii. 30. [4660] Luke xii. 30. [4661] Expunxerim. [4662] Luke xii. 31. [4663] De alieno bon…
2,477 wordsSECTION 255Chapter XXXII.--A Sort of Sorites, as the Logicians Call It, to Show that the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Drachma Have No Suitable Application to the Christ of Marcion.
[4726] Luke xiv. 12-14. [4727] Isa. lviii. 7. [4728] Forma. [4729] Cui parti. [4730] Luke xiv. 16. [4731] Saturitatem. [4732] Dehinc. [4733] Tantum quod...jam. [4734] Tantum quod...jam. [4735] Luke xiv. 18. [4736] Ex. xxxii. 1. [4737] Isa. vi. 10. [4738] Pertinentissime. [4739] Jer. vii. 23. [4740] Jer. vii. 24. […
2,097 wordsSECTION 256Chapter XXXII.--A Sort of Sorites, as the Logicians Call It, to Show that the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Drachma Have No Suitable Application to the Christ of Marcion.
But Christ prohibits divorce, saying, "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband, also committeth adultery." [4803] In order to forbid divorce, He makes it unlawful to marry a woman that has been put away. Moses, however, permitted rep…
2,200 wordsSECTION 257[4823] Scilicet.
[4823] Scilicet. [4824] 1 Cor. vi. 15. [4825] Justitia divortii. [4826] Matt. v. 32. [4827] Deut. xxii. 28, 29. [4828] Mal. ii. 15. [4829] Debeo. [4830] Sententiam. [4831] Literally, "Moses." [4832] Illiberis. [N.B. He supposes Philip to have been dead.] [4833] Costa: literally, "rib" or "side." [4834] Deut. xxv. 5, 6…
2,395 wordsSECTION 258[4860] Luke xvii. 1, 2.
[4860] Luke xvii. 1, 2. [4861] Zech. ii. 8. [4862] Luke xvii. 3. [4863] Ex acceptione personæ. The Greek prosopolepsia, "respect of persons." [4864] Lev. xix. 17. The last clause in A.V. runs, "And not suffer sin upon him;" but the Sept gives this reading, kai ou lepse di' auton hamartian; nor need the Hebrew mean other than…
2,214 wordsSECTION 259[4939] Notitiam.
[4939] Notitiam. [4940] Luke xviii. 38. [4941] Non temere. [4942] Luke xviii. 39. [4943] Luke xviii. 40. [4944] Atquin. [4945] Infameretis. [4946] Luke xviii. 42. [4947] Remunerator. [4948] That is, in the sound only, and phantom of the word; an allusion to the Docetic absurdity of Marcion. [4949] That is, that He was …
2,426 wordsSECTION 260[4981] Luke xx. 4.
[4981] Luke xx. 4. [4982] Luke xx. 6. [4983] Existeret. [4984] Ipse. [4985] "Of knowledge of good and evil." The "law" thereof occurs in Gen. iii. 3. [4986] Luke xx. 5. [4987] Increpaturus. [4988] Certe. [The word sacrament not technical here.] [4989] Luke xx. 8. [4990] Luke xx. 25. [4991] Materia. [4992] Monetam. [4…
2,996 wordsSECTION 261[5015] See above: book iii. chap. xv. and xvi. pp. 333, 334.
[5015] See above: book iii. chap. xv. and xvi. pp. 333, 334. [5016] The illam here refers to the nominum proprietas, i.e., His title Christ and His name Jesus. [5017] Transnominaret. [5018] Proinde. [5019] Luke xxi. 8. [5020] Consimilem: of course Marcion's Christ; the Marcionite being challenged in the "you." [5021] Luke …
2,621 wordsSECTION 262[5094] Luke xxii. 22.
[5094] Luke xxii. 22. [5095] Ipse. [5096] This is an argumentum ad hominem against Marcion for his cavil, which was considered above in book ii. chap. v.-viii. p. 300. [5097] Obstitit peccaturo. [5098] Si ignorabat. One would have expected "si non ignorabat," like the "si sciebat" of the next step in the argument. [5099] Th…
2,867 wordsSECTION 263And now, as I would venture to believe, [5185] we have accomplished our undertaking. We have set forth Jesus Christ as none other than the C
And now, as I would venture to believe, [5185] we have accomplished our undertaking. We have set forth Jesus Christ as none other than the Christ of the Creator. Our proofs we have drawn from His doctrines, maxims, [5186] affections, feelings, miracles, sufferings, and even resurrection--as foretold by the prophets. [5187] Even …
2,421 wordsSECTION 264III.
III. (Peter, cap. xiii. p. 365.) The great Gallican, Launoy, doctor of the Sorbonne, has proved that the Fathers understand the Rock to be Christ, while, only rarely, and that rhetorically, not dogmatically, St. Peter is called a stone or a rock; a usage to which neither Luther nor Calvin could object. Tertullian himself, when…
1,455 wordsSECTION 265Book V.
Book V. Wherein Tertullian proves, with respect to St. Paul's epistles, what he had proved in the preceding book with respect to St. Luke's gospel. Far from being at variance, they were in perfect unison with the writings of the Old Testament, and therefore testified that the Creator was the only God, and that the Lord Jesus wa…
2,139 wordsSECTION 266Book V.
The epistle which we also allow to be the most decisive [5236] against Judaism, is that wherein the apostle instructs the Galatians. For the abolition of the ancient law we fully admit, and hold that it actually proceeds from the dispensation of the Creator,--a point which we have already often treated in the course of our discu…
2,654 wordsSECTION 267For he remembered that the time was come of which the Psalm spake, "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast off their yoke from us;" [530
For he remembered that the time was come of which the Psalm spake, "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast off their yoke from us;" [5301] since the time when "the nations became tumultuous, and the people imagined vain counsels;" when "the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, …
2,797 wordsSECTION 268Furthermore, since both circumcision and uncircumcision were attributed to the same Deity, both lost their power [5362] in Christ, by reason
Furthermore, since both circumcision and uncircumcision were attributed to the same Deity, both lost their power [5362] in Christ, by reason of the excellency of faith--of that faith concerning which it had been written, "And in His name shall the Gentiles trust?" [5363] --of that faith "which," he says "worketh by love." [5364]…
2,958 wordsSECTION 269[5386] Præstructio.
[5386] Præstructio. [5387] Titulo. [5388] 1 Cor. i. 3. [5389] Appellant. [5390] Officio. [5391] Isa. lii. 7. [5392] Pacem quam præferendam. [5393] 1 Cor. i. 3. [5394] Competentibus nostro quoque sacramento. [5395] Nisi ex accedentibus cui magis competant. [5396] Disciplinæ. [5397] Per naturæ dissimulationem. This Fr. …
2,210 wordsSECTION 270[5457] 1 Cor. iii. 11.
[5457] 1 Cor. iii. 11. [5458] Isa. xxviii. 16. [5459] We add the original of this sentence: "Nisi si structorem se terreni operis Deus profitebatur, ut non de suo Christo significaret, qui futurus esset fundamentum credentium in eum, super quod prout quisque superstruxerit, dignam scilicet vel indignam doctrinam si opus ejus p…
2,208 wordsSECTION 271[5479] Nisi exserte.
[5479] Nisi exserte. [5480] Lev. xviii. 8. [5481] 1 Cor. v. 1. [5482] Secutus sit. [5483] 1 Cor. v. 5. [5484] Viderit. [5485] 1 Cor. v. 5. [5486] 1 Cor. v. 13. [5487] 1 Cor. v. 7. [5488] 1 Cor. v. 7. [5489] Ex. xii. [5490] 1 Cor. vi. 13. [5491] Peribit. [5492] 1 Cor. vi. 14. [5493] 1 Cor. vi. 15. [5494] 1 Cor. vi.…
2,205 wordsSECTION 272[5554] Gal. iv. 4.
[5554] Gal. iv. 4. [5555] 1 Cor. vii. 29. [The verse filled out by the translator.] [5556] Comp. 1 Cor. xii. 8-11 and Isa. xi. 1-3. [5557] 1 Cor. xii. 12-30, compared with Eph. iv. 16. [5558] This seems to be the force of the subjunctive verb noluerit. [5559] Noluerit. [5560] Meritum. [5561] They are spiritual gifts, not …
2,512 wordsSECTION 273[5602] Nos.
[5602] Nos. [5603] Debemus. [5604] Istos: that is, the Jews (Rigalt.). [5605] Utique jam in tanto opere. [5606] Natum esse quum maxime. [5607] Generavi: Sept. egennesa. [5608] Isa. i. 2. [5609] Curiosius. [5610] Deputans carni: a note against Docetism. [5611] Ps. cx. 4. [5612] Ps. lxxii. 1. [5613] Super vellus: so Sep…
2,320 wordsSECTION 274[5626] He refers to his De Resurrect. Carnis. See chap. xlviii.
[5626] He refers to his De Resurrect. Carnis. See chap. xlviii. [5627] 1 Cor. xv. 29. [5628] Viderit. [5629] Kalendæ Februariæ. The great expiation or lustration, celebrated at Rome in the month which received its name from the festival, is described by Ovid, Fasti, book ii., lines 19-28, and 267-452, in which latter passage …
3,044 wordsSECTION 275[5679] 1 Cor. viii. 5.
[5679] 1 Cor. viii. 5. [5680] 2 Cor. i. 3. [5681] Gen. i. 22. [5682] Dan. ii. 19, 20; iii. 28, 29; iv. 34, 37. [5683] 2 Cor. i. 3. [5684] Ps. lxxxvi. 15; cxii. 4; cxlv. 8; Jonah iv. 2. [5685] Jonah iii. 8. [5686] 2 Kings xx. 3, 5. [5687] 1 Kings xxi. 27, 29. [5688] 2 Sam. xii. 13. [5689] Ezek. xxxiii. 11. [5690] Atqui…
2,223 wordsSECTION 276Since my little work is approaching its termination, [5785] I must treat but briefly the points which still occur, whilst those which have s
Since my little work is approaching its termination, [5785] I must treat but briefly the points which still occur, whilst those which have so often turned up must be put aside. I regret still to have to contend about the law--after I have so often proved that its replacement (by the gospel) [5786] affords no argument for another…
2,202 wordsSECTION 277[5830] Compare the first part of ver. 4 with vers. 5 and 6 and viii. 2, 3.
[5830] Compare the first part of ver. 4 with vers. 5 and 6 and viii. 2, 3. [5831] Rom. vii. 7. [5832] This, which is really the second clause of Rom. vii. 7, seems to be here put as a Marcionite argument of disparagement to the law. [5833] Per quam liquuit delictum latere: a playful paradox, in the manner of our author, betwe…
2,281 wordsSECTION 278[5849] Dum alterius par est.
[5849] Dum alterius par est. [5850] Qua hoc tantum est. [5851] See Rom. viii. 5-13. [5852] 1 Cor. xv. 50. [5853] Non ad reatum substantiæ sed ad conversationis pertinebunt. [5854] Rom. viii. 10. [5855] Understand "corpus" (Oehler). [5856] Rom. viii. 11. [5857] Dici capit: capit, like the Greek endechetai, means, "is capa…
2,225 wordsSECTION 279We are obliged from time to time to recur to certain topics in order to affirm truths which are connected with them. We repeat then here, th
We are obliged from time to time to recur to certain topics in order to affirm truths which are connected with them. We repeat then here, that as the Lord is by the apostle proclaimed [5920] as the awarder of both weal and woe, [5921] He must be either the Creator, or (as Marcion would be loth to admit) One like the Creator--"wi…
1,479 wordsSECTION 280We have it on the true tradition [5948] of the Church, that this epistle was sent to the Ephesians, not to the Laodiceans. Marcion, however,
We have it on the true tradition [5948] of the Church, that this epistle was sent to the Ephesians, not to the Laodiceans. Marcion, however, was very desirous of giving it the new title (of Laodicean), [5949] as if he were extremely accurate in investigating such a point. But of what consequence are the titles, since in writing …
2,256 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.