Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 4
Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian & Origen
SECTION 321
Chapter LXII.
Chapter LXII. After these matters, then, he thinks that he can make us acquainted in a few words with the questions regarding the nature of evil, which have been variously discussed in many important treatises, and which have received very opposite explanations. His words are: "There neither were formerly, nor are there now, no…
1,060 wordsSECTION 322Chapter LXV.
Chapter LXV. After this Celsus continues: "It is not easy, indeed, for one who is not a philosopher to ascertain the origin of evils, though it is sufficient for the multitude to say that they do not proceed from God, but cleave to matter, and have their abode among mortal things; while the course [3964] of mortal things being …
736 wordsSECTION 323Chapter LXVII.
Chapter LXVII. I do not understand how Celsus should deem it of advantage, in writing a treatise against us, to adopt an opinion which requires at least much plausible reasoning to make it appear, as far as he can do so, that "the course of mortal things is the same from beginning to end, and that the same things must always, a…
1,046 wordsSECTION 324Chapter LXX.
Chapter LXX. Celsus has made a statement regarding evils of the following nature, viz., that "although a thing may seem to you to be evil, it is by no means certain that it is so; for you do not know what is of advantage to yourself, or to another, or to the whole world." Now this assertion is made with a certain degree of caut…
856 wordsSECTION 325Chapter LXXII.
Chapter LXXII. We speak, indeed, of the "wrath" of God. We do not, however, assert that it indicates any "passion" on His part, but that it is something which is assumed in order to discipline by stern means those sinners who have committed many and grievous sins. For that which is called God's "wrath," and "anger," is a means …
949 wordsSECTION 326Chapter LXXIV.
Chapter LXXIV. He next, in many words, blames us for asserting that God made all things for the sake of man. Because from the history of animals, and from the sagacity manifested by them, he would show that all things came into existence not more for the sake of man than of the irrational animals. And here he seems to me to spe…
950 wordsSECTION 327Chapter LXXVI.
Chapter LXXVI. After this, Celsus, desirous of maintaining that Providence created the products of the earth, not more on our account than on that of the most savage animals, thus proceeds: "We indeed by labour and suffering earn a scanty and toilsome subsistence, [3999] while all things are produced for them without their sowi…
853 wordsSECTION 328Chapter LXXVIII.
Chapter LXXVIII. He next proceeds further to object against himself [4007] what is said on behalf of man, viz., that the irrational animals were created on his account, saying: "If one were to call us the lords of the animal creation because we hunt the other animals and live upon their flesh, we would say, Why were not we rath…
752 wordsSECTION 329Chapter LXXX.
Chapter LXXX. Those holy Scriptures, moreover, which bear the name of Moses, introduce the first men as hearing divine voices and oracles, and beholding sometimes the angels of God coming to visit them. [4010] For it was probable that in the beginning of the world's existence human nature would be assisted to a greater degree (…
800 wordsSECTION 330Chapter LXXXII.
Chapter LXXXII. Perhaps also the so-called wars among the bees convey instruction as to the manner in which wars, if ever there arise a necessity for them, should be waged in a just and orderly way among men. But the bees have no cities or suburbs; while their hives and hexagonal cells, and succession of labours, are for the sa…
839 wordsSECTION 331Chapter LXXXIV.
Chapter LXXXIV. And since he asserts that, "when ants die, the survivors set apart a special place (for their interment), and that their ancestral sepulchres such a place is," we have to answer, that the greater the laudations which he heaps upon irrational animals, so much the more does he magnify (although against his will) t…
1,016 wordsSECTION 332Chapter LXXXVII.
Chapter LXXXVII. Let it be granted, however, that there are other prophylactics against poisons known to animals: what does that avail to prove that it is not nature, but reason, which leads to the discovery of such things among them? For if reason were the discoverer, this one thing (or, if you will, one or two more things) wo…
1,026 wordsSECTION 333Chapter LXXXIX.
Chapter LXXXIX. Celsus, however, seeing he wished to prove by the foregoing statements that the irrational animals are more divine and intelligent than human beings, ought to have established at greater length the actual existence of such an art of divination, and in the next place have energetically undertaken its defence, and…
901 wordsSECTION 334Chapter XCI.
Chapter XCI. But besides, if birds of augury converse with one another, [4040] as Celsus maintains they do, the prophetic birds having a divine nature, and the other rational animals also ideas of the divinity and foreknowledge of future events; and if they had communicated this knowledge to others, the sparrow mentioned in Hom…
788 wordsSECTION 335Chapter XCIII.
Chapter XCIII. For which reason, whatever else there may be in the writings of Moses which excites my wonder, I would say that the following is worthy of admiration, viz., that Moses, having observed the varying natures of animals, and having either learned from God what was peculiar to them, and to the demons which are kindred…
978 wordsSECTION 336Chapter XCVI.
Chapter XCVI. We ought to take note, however, that the power of foreknowing the future is by no means a proof of divinity; for in itself it is a thing indifferent, and is found occurring amongst both good and bad. Physicians, at any rate, by means of their professional skill foreknow certain things, although their character may…
813 wordsSECTION 337Chapter XCVIII.
Chapter XCVIII. I do not know, moreover, how Celsus could hear of the elephants' (fidelity to) oaths, and of their great devotedness to our God, and of the knowledge which they possess of Him. For I know many wonderful things which are related of the nature of this animal, and of its gentle disposition. But I am not aware that …
1,686 wordsSECTION 338Book V.
Book V. Chapter I. It is not, my reverend Ambrosius, because we seek after many words--a thing which is forbidden, and in the indulgence of which it is impossible to avoid sin [4074] --that we now begin the fifth book of our reply to the treatise of Celsus, but with the endeavour, so far as may be within our power, to leave no…
871 wordsSECTION 339Chapter III.
Chapter III. But observe how, in his desire to subvert our opinions, he who never acknowledged himself throughout his whole treatise to be an Epicurean, is convicted of being a deserter to that sect. And now is the time for you, (reader), who peruse the works of Celsus, and give your assent to what has been advanced, either to …
1,006 wordsSECTION 340Chapter VI.
Chapter VI. He next proceeds to make the following statement about the Jews:--"The first point relating to the Jews which is fitted to excite wonder, is that they should worship the heaven and the angels who dwell therein, and yet pass by and neglect its most venerable and powerful parts, as the sun, the moon, and the other hea…
926 wordsSECTION 341Chapter VIII.
Chapter VIII. As we allege, however, that he has fallen into confusion in consequence of false notions which he has imbibed, come and let us point them out to the best of our ability, and show that although Celsus considers it to be a Jewish custom to bow down to the heaven and the angels in it, such a practice is not at all Je…
1,496 wordsSECTION 342Chapter XI.
Chapter XI. But even this rational light itself ought not to be worshipped by him who beholds and understands the true light, by sharing in which these also are enlightened; nor by him who beholds God, the Father of the true light,--of whom it has been said, "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." [4110] Those, …
1,073 wordsSECTION 343Chapter XIII.
Chapter XIII. Celsus, moreover, assumes that sun, and moon, and stars are regarded by us as of no account. Now, with regard to these, we acknowledge that they too are "waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God," being for the present subjected to the "vanity" of their material bodies, "by reason of Him who has subjected …
1,179 wordsSECTION 344Chapter XVI.
Chapter XVI. From what has been said, it will be manifest to intelligent hearers how we have to answer the following: "All the rest of the race will be completely burnt up, and they alone will remain." It is not to be wondered at, indeed, if such thoughts have been entertained by those amongst us who are called in Scripture the…
797 wordsSECTION 345Chapter XVIII.
Chapter XVIII. But since he has ridiculed at great length the doctrine of the resurrection of the flesh, which has been preached in the Churches, and which is more clearly understood by the more intelligent believer; and as it is unnecessary again to quote his words, which have been already adduced, let us, with regard to the p…
1,064 wordsSECTION 346Chapter XX.
Chapter XX. But since our views regarding the resurrection have, as far as time would permit, been stated in part on the present occasion (for we have systematically examined the subject in greater detail in other parts of our writings); and as now we must by means of sound reasoning refute the fallacies of Celsus, who neither …
779 wordsSECTION 347Chapter XXII.
Chapter XXII. Let no one, however, suspect that, in speaking as we do, we belong to those who are indeed called Christians, but who set aside the doctrine of the resurrection as it is taught in Scripture. For these persons cannot, so far as their principles apply, at all establish that the stalk or tree which springs up comes f…
1,108 wordsSECTION 348Chapter XXV.
Chapter XXV. Let us next notice the statements of Celsus, which follow the preceding, and which are as follow: "As the Jews, then, became a peculiar people, and enacted laws in keeping with the customs of their country, [4169] and maintain them up to the present time, and observe a mode of worship which, whatever be its nature,…
786 wordsSECTION 349Chapter XXVII.
Chapter XXVII. Any one, indeed, who chooses, may relate how the various quarters of the earth, being distributed among certain governing powers, are administered by those who superintend them; but let him tell us also how what is done among each nation is done rightly when agreeable to the wishes of the superintendents. Let him…
730 wordsSECTION 350Chapter XXIX.
Chapter XXIX. It appears to me, indeed, that Celsus has misunderstood some of the deeper reasons relating to the arrangement of terrestrial affairs, some of which are touched upon [4175] even in Grecian history, when certain of those who are considered to be gods are introduced as having contended with each other about the poss…
749 wordsSECTION 351Chapter XXX.
Chapter XXX. All the people upon the earth are to be regarded as having used one divine language, and so long as they lived harmoniously together were preserved in the use of this divine language, and they remained without moving from the east so long as they were imbued with the sentiments of the "light," and of the "reflectio…
860 wordsSECTION 352Chapter XXXII.
Chapter XXXII. And by this means let those who have the capacity of comprehending truths so profound, learn that he to whom were allotted those who had not formerly sinned is far more powerful than the others, since he has been able to make a selection of individuals from the portion of the whole, [4190] and to separate them fr…
1,024 wordsSECTION 353Chapter XXXIV.
Chapter XXXIV. But, that we may not pass without notice what Celsus has said between these and the preceding paragraphs, let us quote his words: "We might adduce Herodotus as a witness on this point, for he expresses himself as follows: For the people of the cities Marea and Apis, who inhabit those parts of Egypt that are adjac…
1,076 wordsSECTION 354Chapter XXXVI.
Chapter XXXVI. But what sort of being is this Ammon of Herodotus, whose words Celsus has quoted, as if by way of demonstrating how each one ought to keep his country's laws? For this Ammon would not allow the people of the cities of Marea and Apis, who inhabit the districts adjacent to Libya, to treat as a matter of indifferenc…
955 wordsSECTION 355Chapter XXXVIII.
Chapter XXXVIII. I wish, however, to show how Celsus asserts without any good reason, that each one reveres his domestic and native institutions. For he declares that "those Ethiopians who inhabit Meroe know only of two gods, Jupiter and Bacchus, and worship these alone; and that the Arabians also know only of two, viz., Bacchu…
926 wordsSECTION 356Chapter XL.
Chapter XL. But since, after Celsus had spoken to the above effect of the different kinds of laws, he adds the following remark, "Pindar appears to me to be correct in saying that law is king of all things," let us proceed to discuss this assertion. What law do you mean to say, good sir, is "king of all things?" If you mean tho…
1,105 wordsSECTION 357Chapter XLIII.
Chapter XLIII. But what need is there to point out how agreeable to sound reason, and unattended with injury either to master or slave, was the law that one of the same faith [4222] should not be allowed to continue in slavery more than six years? [4223] The Jews, then, cannot be said to preserve their own law in the same point…
1,307 wordsSECTION 358Chapter XLVI.
Chapter XLVI. It was for these and similar mysterious reasons, with which Moses and the prophets were acquainted, that they forbade the name of other gods to be pronounced by him who bethought himself of praying to the one Supreme God alone, or to be remembered by a heart which had been taught to be pure from all foolish though…
1,142 wordsSECTION 359Chapter XLIX.
Chapter XLIX. But neither do the Jews pride themselves upon abstaining from swine's flesh, as if it were some great thing; but upon their having ascertained the nature of clean and unclean animals, and the cause of the distinction, and of swine being classed among the unclean. And these distinctions were signs of certain things…
782 wordsSECTION 360Chapter LI.
Chapter LI. But seeing that we have answered to the best of our ability the charges brought by Celsus against the Jews and their doctrine, let us proceed to consider what follows, and to prove that it is no empty boast on our part when we make a profession of knowing the great God, and that we have not been led away by any jugg…
1,105 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.