From: Subject: Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. I Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 09:56:06 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-46.htm Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. I

3D"Previous3D"Next

The First Apology of Justin

The First = Apology of=20 Justin

--------

To the Emperor Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar, = and to=20 his son Verissimus the Philosopher, and to Lucius the Philosopher, the = natural=20 son of Caesar, and the adopted son of Pius, a lover of learning, and to = the=20 sacred Senate, with the whole People of the Romans, I, Justin, the son = of=20 Priscus and grandson of Bacchius, natives of Flavia Neapolis in = Palestine,=20 present this address and petition in behalf of those of all nations who = are=20 unjustly hated and wantonly abused, myself being one of them.

Reason directs those who are truly pious and philosophical to honour = and love=20 only what is true, declining to follow traditional opinions,1=20 if these be worthless. For not only does sound reason direct us to = refuse the=20 guidance of those who did or taught anything wrong, but it is incumbent = on the=20 lover of truth, by all means, and if death be threatened, even before = his own=20 life, to choose to do and say what is right. Do you, then, since ye are = called=20 pious and philosophers, guardians of justice and lovers of learning, = give good=20 heed, and hearken to my address; and if ye are indeed such, it will be=20 manifested. For we have come, not to flatter you by this writing, nor = please you=20 by our address, but to beg that you pass judgment, after an accurate and = searching investigation, not flattered by prejudice or by a desire of = pleasing=20 superstitious men, nor induced by irrational impulse or evil rumours = which have=20 long been prevalent, to give a decision which will prove to be against=20 yourselves. For as for us, we reckon that no evil can be done us, unless = we be=20 convicted as evil-doers or be proved to be wicked men; and you, you can = kill,=20 but not hurt us.

But lest any one think that this is an unreasonable and reckless = utterance,=20 we demand that the charges against the Christians be investigated, and = that, if=20 these be substantiated, they be punished as they deserve; [or rather, = indeed, we=20 ourselves will punish them.]2=20 But if no one can convict us of anything, true reason forbids you, for = the sake=20 of a wicked rumour, to wrong blameless men, and indeed rather = yourselves, who=20 think fit to direct affairs, not by judgment, but by passion. And every=20 sober-minded person will declare this to be the only fair and equitable=20 adjustment, namely, that the subjects render an unexceptional account of = their=20 own life and doctrine; and that, on the other hand, the rulers should = give their=20 decision in obedience, not to violence and tyranny, but to piety and = philosophy.=20 For thus would both rulers and ruled reap benefit. For even one of the = ancients=20 somewhere said, "Unless both rulers and ruled philosophize, it is = impossible to=20 make states blessed."3=20 It is our task, therefore, to afford to all an opportunity of inspecting = our=20 life and teachings, lest, on account of those who are accustomed to be = ignorant=20 of our affairs, we should incur the penalty due to them for mental=20 blindness;4=20 and it is your business, when you hear us, to be found, as reason = demands, good=20 judges. For if, when ye have learned the truth, you do not what is just, = you=20 will be before God without excuse.

By the mere application of a name, nothing is decided, either good or = evil,=20 apart from the actions implied in the name; and indeed, so far at least = as one=20 may judge from the name we are accused of, we are most excellent = people.5=20 But as we do not think it just to beg to be acquitted on account of the = name, if=20 we be convicted as evil-doers, so, on the other hand, if we be found to = have=20 committed no offence, either in the matter of thus naming ourselves, or = of our=20 conduct as citizens, it is your part very earnestly to guard against = incurring=20 just punishment, by unjustly punishing those who are not convicted. For = from a=20 name neither praise nor punishment could reasonably spring, unless = something=20 excellent or base in action be proved. And those among yourselves who = are=20 accused you do not punish before they are convicted; but in our case you = receive=20 the name as proof against us, and this although, so far as the name = goes, you=20 ought rather to punish our accusers. For we are accused of being = Christians, and=20 to hate what is excellent (Chrestian) is unjust. Again, if any of = the=20 accused deny the name, and say that he is not a Christian, you acquit = him, as=20 having no evidence against him as a wrong-doer; but if any one = acknowledge that=20 he is a Christian, you punish him on account of this acknowledgment. = Justice=20 requires that you inquire into the life both of him who confesses and of = him who=20 denies, that by his deeds it may be apparent what kind of man each is. = For as=20 some who have been taught by the Master, Christ, not to deny Him, give=20 encouragement to others when they are put to the question, so in all = probability=20 do those who lead wicked lives give occasion to those who, without=20 consideration, take upon them to accuse all the Christians of impiety = and=20 wickedness. And this also is not right. For of philosophy, too, some = assume the=20 name and the garb who do nothing worthy of their profession; and you are = well=20 aware, that those of the ancients whose opinions and teachings were = quite=20 diverse, are yet all called by the one name of philosophers. And of = these some=20 taught atheism; and the poets who have flourished among you raise a = laugh out of=20 the uncleanness of Jupiter with his own children. And those who now = adopt such=20 instruction are not restrained by you; but, on the contrary, you bestow = prizes=20 and honours upon those who euphoniously insult the gods.

Why, then, should this be? In our case, who pledge ourselves to do no = wickedness, nor to hold these atheistic opinions, you do not examine the = charges=20 made against us; but, yielding to unreasoning passion, and to the = instigation of=20 evil demons, you punish us without consideration or judgment. For the = truth=20 shall be spoken; since of old these evil demons, effecting apparitions = of=20 themselves, both defiled women and corrupted boys, and showed such = fearful=20 sights to men, that those who did not use their reason in judging of the = actions=20 that were done, were struck with terror; and being carried away by fear, = and not=20 knowing that these were demons, they called them gods, and gave to each = the name=20 which each of the demons chose for himself.6=20 And when Socrates endeavoured, by true reason and examination, to bring = these=20 things to light, and deliver men from the demons, then the demons = themselves, by=20 means of men who rejoiced in iniquity, compassed his death, as an = atheist and a=20 profane person, on the charge that "he was introducing new divinities; = "and in=20 our case they display a similar activity. For not only among the Greeks = did=20 reason (Logos) prevail to condemn these things through Socrates, but = also among=20 the Barbarians were they condemned by Reason (or the Word, the Logos) = Himself,=20 who took shape, and became man, and was called Jesus Christ; and in = obedience to=20 Him, we not only deny that they who did such things as these are = gods,7=20 but assert that they are wicked and impious demons,8=20 whose actions will not bear comparison with those even of men desirous = of=20 virtue.

Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that we are atheists, so = far as=20 gods of this sort are concerned, but not with respect to the most true = God, the=20 Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is = free from=20 all impurity. But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and = taught us=20 these things, and the host of the other good angels who follow and are = made like=20 to Him),9=20 and the prophetic Spirit, we worship and adore, knowing them in reason = and=20 truth, and declaring without grudging to every one who wishes to learn, = as we=20 have been taught.

But some one will say, Some have ere now been arrested and convicted = as=20 evil-doers. For you condemn many, many a time, after inquiring into the = life of=20 each of the accused severally, but not on account of those of whom we = have been=20 speaking.10=20 And this we acknowledge, that as among the Greeks those who teach such = theories=20 as please themselves are all called by the one name "Philosopher," = though their=20 doctrines be diverse, so also among the Barbarians this name on which=20 accusations are accumulated is the common property of those who are and = those=20 who seem wise. For all are called Christians. Wherefore we demand that = the deeds=20 of all those who are accused to you be judged, in order that each one = who is=20 convicted may be punished as an evil-doer, and not as a Christian; and = if it is=20 clear that any one is blameless, that he may be acquitted, since by the = mere=20 fact of his being a Christian he does no wrong.11=20 For we will not require that you punish our accusers;12=20 they being sufficiently punished by their present wickedness and = ignorance of=20 what is right.

And reckon ye that it is for your sakes we have been saying these = things; for=20 it is in our power, when we are examined, to deny that we are = Christians; but we=20 would not live by telling a lie. For, impelled by the desire of the = eternal and=20 pure life, we seek the abode that is with God, the Father and Creator of = all,=20 and hasten to confess our faith, persuaded and convinced as we are that = they who=20 have proved to God13=20 by their works that they followed Him, and loved to abide with Him where = there=20 is no sin to cause disturbance, can obtain these things. This, then, to = speak=20 shortly, is what we expect and have learned from Christ, and teach. And = Plato,=20 in like manner, used to say that Rhadamanthus and Minos would punish the = wicked=20 who came before them; and we say that the same thing will be done, but = at the=20 hand of Christ, and upon the wicked in the same bodies united again to = their=20 spirits which are now to undergo everlasting punishment; and not only, = as Plato=20 said, for a period of a thousand years. And if any one say that this is=20 incredible or impossible, this error of ours is one which concerns = ourselves=20 only, and no other person, so long as you cannot convict us of doing any = harm.

And neither do we honour with many sacrifices and garlands of flowers = such=20 deities as men have formed and set in shrines and called gods; since we = see that=20 these are soulless and dead, and have not the form of God (for we do not = consider that God has such a form as some say that they imitate to His = honour),=20 but have the names and forms of those wicked demons which have appeared. = For why=20 need we tell you who already know, into what forms the craftsmen,14=20 carving and cutting, casting and hammering, fashion the materials? And = often out=20 of vessels of dishonour, by merely changing the form, and making an = image of the=20 requisite shape, they make what they call a god; which we consider not = only=20 senseless, but to be even insulting to God, who, having ineffable glory = and=20 form, thus gets His name attached to things that are corruptible, and = require=20 constant service. And that the artificers of these are both intemperate, = and,=20 not to enter into particulars, are practised in every vice, you very = well know;=20 even their own girls who work along with them they corrupt. What = infatuation!=20 that dissolute men should be said to fashion and make gods for your = worship, and=20 that you should appoint such men the guardians of the temples where they = are=20 enshrined; not recognising that it is unlawful even to think or say that = men are=20 the guardians of gods.

But we have received by tradition that God does not need the material = offerings which men can give, seeing, indeed, that He Himself is the = provider of=20 all things. And we have been taught, and are convinced, and do believe, = that He=20 accepts those only who imitate the excellences which reside in Him, = temperance,=20 and justice, and philanthropy, and as many virtues as are peculiar to a = God who=20 is called by no proper name. And we have been taught that He in the = beginning=20 did of His goodness, for man's sake, create all things out of unformed = matter;=20 and if men by their works show themselves worthy of this His design, = they are=20 deemed worthy, and so we have received-of reigning in company with Him, = being=20 delivered from corruption and suffering. For as in the beginning He = created us=20 when we were not, so do we consider that, in like manner, those who = choose what=20 is pleasing to Him are, on account of their choice, deemed worthy of=20 incorruption and of fellowship with Him. For the coming into being at = first was=20 not in our own power; and in order that we may follow those things which = please=20 Him, choosing them by means of the rational faculties He has Himself = endowed us=20 with, He both persuades us and leads us to faith. And we think it for = the=20 advantage of all men that they are not restrained from learning these = things,=20 but are even urged thereto. For the restraint which human laws could not = effect,=20 the Word, inasmuch as He is divine, would have effected, had not the = wicked=20 demons, taking as their ally the lust of wickedness which is in every = man, and=20 which draws variously to all manner of vice, scattered many false and = profane=20 accusations, none of which attach to us.

And when you hear that we look for a kingdom, you suppose, without = making any=20 inquiry, that we speak of a human kingdom; whereas we speak of that = which is=20 with God, as appears also from the confession of their faith made by = those who=20 are charged with being Christians, though they know that death is the = punishment=20 awarded to him who so confesses. For if we looked for a human kingdom, = we should=20 also deny our Christ, that we might not be slain; and we should strive = to escape=20 detection, that we might obtain what we expect. But since our thoughts = are not=20 fixed on the present, we are not concerned when men cut us off; since = also death=20 is a debt which must at all events be paid.

And more than all other men are we your helpers and allies in = promoting=20 peace, seeing that we hold this view, that it is alike impossible for = the=20 wicked, the covetous, the conspirator, and for the virtuous, to escape = the=20 notice of God, and that each man goes to everlasting punishment or = salvation=20 according to the value of his actions. For if all men knew this, no one = would=20 choose wickedness even for a little, knowing that he goes to the = everlasting=20 punishment of fire; but would by all means restrain himself, and adorn = himself=20 with virtue, that he might obtain the good gifts of God, and escape the=20 punishments. For those who, on account of the laws and punishments you = impose,=20 endeavour to escape detection when they offend (and they offend, too, = under the=20 impression that it is quite possible to escape your detection, since you = are but=20 men), those persons, if they learned and were convinced that nothing, = whether=20 actually done or only intended, can escape the knowledge of God, would = by all=20 means live decently on account of the penalties threatened, as even you=20 yourselves will admit. But you seem to fear lest all men become = righteous, and=20 you no longer have any to punish. Such would be the concern of public=20 executioners, but not of good princes. But, as we before said, we are = persuaded=20 that these things are prompted by evil spirits, who demand sacrifices = and=20 service even from those who live unreasonably; but as for you, we = presume that=20 you who aim at [a reputation for] piety and philosophy will do nothing=20 unreasonable. But if you also, like the foolish, prefer custom to truth, = do what=20 you have power to do. But just so much power have rulers who esteem = opinion more=20 than truth, as robbers have in a desert. And that you will not succeed = is=20 declared by the Word, than whom, after God who begat Him, we know there = is no=20 ruler more kingly and just. For as all shrink from succeeding to the = poverty or=20 sufferings or obscurity of their fathers, so whatever the Word forbids = us to=20 choose, the sensible man will not choose. That all these things should = come to=20 pass, I say, our Teacher foretold, He who is both Son and Apostle of God = the=20 Father of all and the Ruler, Jesus Christ; from whom also we have the = name of=20 Christians. Whence we become more assured of all the things He taught = us, since=20 whatever He beforehand foretold should come to pass, is seen in fact = coming to=20 pass; and this is the work of God, to tell of a thing before it happens, = and as=20 it was foretold so to show it happening. It were possible to pause here = and add=20 no more, reckoning that we demand what is just and true; but because we = are well=20 aware that it is not easy suddenly to change a mind possessed by = ignorance, we=20 intend to add a few things, for the sake of persuading those who love = the truth,=20 knowing that it is not impossible to put ignorance to flight by = presenting the=20 truth.

What sober-minded man, then, will not acknowledge that we are not = atheists,=20 worshipping as we do the Maker of this universe, and declaring, as we = have been=20 taught, that He has no need of streams of blood and libations and = incense; whom=20 we praise to the utmost of our power by the exercise of prayer and = thanksgiving=20 for all things wherewith we are supplied, as we have been taught that = the only=20 honour that is worthy of Him is not to consume by fire what He has = brought into=20 being for our sustenance, but to use it for ourselves and those who = need, and=20 with gratitude to Him to offer thanks by invocations and hymns15=20 for our creation, and for all the means of health, and for the various = qualities=20 of the different kinds of things, and for the changes of the seasons; = and to=20 present before Him petitions for our existing again in incorruption = through=20 faith in Him. Our teacher of these things is Jesus Christ, who also was = born for=20 this purpose, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, procurator of = Judaea, in=20 the times of Tiberius Caesar; and that we reasonably worship Him, having = learned=20 that He is the Son of the true God Himself, and holding Him in the = second place,=20 and the prophetic Spirit in the third, we will prove. For they proclaim = our=20 madness to consist in this, that we give to a crucified man a place = second to=20 the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of all; for they do not = discern=20 the mystery that is herein, to which, as we make it plain to you, we = pray you to=20 give heed.

For we forewarn you to be on your guard, lest those demons whom we = have been=20 accusing should deceive you, and quite divert you from reading and = understanding=20 what we say. For they strive to hold you their slaves and servants; and=20 sometimes by appearances in dreams, and sometimes by magical = impositions, they=20 subdue all who make no strong opposing effort for their own salvation. = And thus=20 do we also, since our persuasion by the Word, stand aloof from them = (i.e., the=20 demons), and follow the only unbegotten God through His Son-we who = formerly=20 delighted in fornication, but now embrace chastity alone; we who = formerly used=20 magical arts, dedicate ourselves to the good and unbegotten God; we who = valued=20 above all things the acquisition of wealth and possessions, now bring = what we=20 have into a common stock, and communicate to every one in need; we who = hated and=20 destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners would = not=20 live16=20 with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, live = familiarly=20 with them, and pray for our enemies, and endeavour to persuade those who = hate us=20 unjustly to live comformably to the good precepts of Christ, to the end = that=20 they may become partakers with us of the same joyful hope of a reward = from God=20 the ruler of all. But lest we should seem to be reasoning sophistically, = we=20 consider it right, before giving you the promised17=20 explanation, to cite a few precepts given by Christ Himself. And be it = yours, as=20 powerful rulers, to inquire whether we have been taught and do teach = these=20 things truly. Brief and concise utterances fell from Him, for He was no = sophist,=20 but His word was the power of God.

Concerning chastity, He uttered such sentiments as these:18=20 "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed = adultery with=20 her already in his heart before God." And, "If thy right eye offend = thee, cut it=20 out; for it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of heaven with = one eye,=20 than, having two eyes, to be cast into everlasting fire." And, = "Whosoever shall=20 marry her that is divorced from another husband, committeth = adultery."19=20 And, "There are some who have been made eunuchs of men, and some who = were born=20 eunuchs, and some who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of = heaven's=20 sake; but all cannot receive this saying."20=20 So that all who, by human law, are twice married,21=20 are in the eye of our Master sinners, and those who look upon a woman to = lust=20 after her. For not only he who in act commits adultery is rejected by = Him, but=20 also he who desires to commit adultery: since not only our works, but = also our=20 thoughts, are open before God. And many, both men and women, who have = been=20 Christ's disciples from childhood, remain pure at the age of sixty or = seventy=20 years; and I boast that I could produce such from every race of men. For = what=20 shall I say, too, of the countless multitude of those who have reformed=20 intemperate habits, and learned these things? For Christ called not the = just nor=20 the chaste to repentance, but the ungodly, and the licentious, and the = unjust;=20 His words being, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to=20 repentance."22=20 For the heavenly Father desires rather the repentance than the = punishment of the=20 sinner. And of our love to all, He taught thus: "If ye love them that = love you,=20 what new thing do ye? for even fornicators do this. But I say unto you, = Pray for=20 your enemies, and love them that hate you, and bless them that curse = you, and=20 pray for them that despitefully use you."23=20 And that we should communicate to the needy, and do nothing for glory, = He said,=20 "Give to him that asketh, and from him that would borrow turn not away; = for if=20 ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what new thing do ye? even = the=20 publicans do this. Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where = moth and=20 rust doth corrupt, and where robbers break through; but lay up for = yourselves=20 treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. For what = is a man=20 profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or = what shall=20 a man give in exchange for it? Lay up treasure, therefore, in heaven, = where=20 neither moth nor rust doth corrupt."24=20 And, "Be ye kind and merciful, as your Father also is kind and merciful, = and=20 maketh His sun to rise on sinners, and the righteous, and the wicked. = Take no=20 thought what ye shall eat, or what ye shall put on: are ye not better = than the=20 birds and the beasts? And God feedeth them. Take no thought, therefore, = what ye=20 shall eat, or what ye shall put on; for your heavenly Father knoweth = that ye=20 have need of these things. But seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and all = these=20 things shall be added unto you. For where his treasure is, there also is = the=20 mind of a man."25=20 And, "Do not these things to be seen of men; otherwise ye have no reward = from=20 your Father which is in heaven."26=20

And concerning our being patient of injuries, and ready to serve all, = and=20 free from anger, this is what He said: "To him that smiteth thee on the = one=20 cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak or coat, = forbid=20 not. And whosoever shall be angry, is in danger of the fire. And every = one that=20 compelleth thee to go with him a mile, follow him two. And let your good = works=20 shine before men, that they, seeing them, may glorify your Father which = is in=20 heaven."27=20 For we ought not to strive; neither has He desired us to be imitators of = wicked=20 men, but He has exhorted us to lead all men, by patience and gentleness, = from=20 shame and the love of evil. And this indeed is proved in the case of = many who=20 once were of your way of thinking, but have changed their violent and = tyrannical=20 disposition, being overcome either by the constancy which they have = witnessed in=20 their neighbours' lives,28=20 or by the extraordinary forbearance they have observed in their=20 fellow-travellers when defrauded, or by the honesty of those with whom = they have=20 transacted business.

And with regard to our not swearing at all, and always speaking the = truth, He=20 enjoined as follows: "Swear not at all; but let your yea be yea, and = your nay,=20 nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."29=20 And that we ought to worship God alone, He thus persuaded us: "The = greatest=20 commandment is, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall = thou=20 serve, with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, the Lord God that = made=20 thee."30=20 And when a certain man came to Him and said, "Good Master," He answered = and=20 said, "There is none good but God only, who made all things."31=20 And let those who are not found living as He taught, be understood to be = no=20 Christians, even though they profess with the lip the precepts of = Christ; for=20 not those who make profession, but those who do the works, shall be = saved,=20 according to His word: "Not every one who saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall = enter=20 into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father = which is in=20 heaven. For whosoever heareth Me, and doeth My sayings, heareth Him that = sent=20 Me. And many will say unto Me, Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunk = in Thy=20 name, and done wonders? And then will I say unto them, Depart from Me, = ye=20 workers of iniquity. Then shall there be wailing and gnashing of teeth, = when the=20 righteous shall shine as the sun, and the wicked are sent into = everlasting fire.=20 For many shall come in My name, clothed outwardly in sheep's clothing, = but=20 inwardly being ravening wolves. By their works ye shall know them. And = every=20 tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the=20 fire."32=20 And as to those who are not living pursuant to these His teachings, and = are=20 Christians only in name, we demand that all such be punished by you.

And everywhere we, more readily than all men, endeavour to pay to = those=20 appointed by you the taxes both ordinary and extraordinary,33=20 as we have been taught by Him; for at that time some came to Him and = asked Him,=20 if one ought to pay tribute to Caesar; and He answered, "Tell Me, whose = image=20 does the coin bear? "And they said, "Caesar's." And again He answered = them,=20 "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the = things=20 that are God's."34=20 Whence to God alone we render worship, but in other things we gladly = serve you,=20 acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men, and praying that with your = kingly=20 power you be found to possess also sound judgment. But if you pay no = regard to=20 our prayers and frank explanations, we shall suffer no loss, since we = believe=20 (or rather, indeed, are persuaded) that every man will suffer punishment = in=20 eternal fire according to the merit of his deed, and will render account = according to the power he has received from God, as Christ intimated = when He=20 said, "To whom God has given more, of him shall more be = required."35=20

For reflect upon the end of each of the preceding kings, how they = died the=20 death common to all, which, if it issued in insensibility, would be a=20 godsend36=20 to all the wicked. But since sensation remains to all who have ever = lived, and=20 eternal punishment is laid up (i.e., for the wicked), see that ye = neglect not to=20 be convinced, and to hold as your belief, that these things are true. = For let=20 even necromancy, and the divinations you practise by immaculate = children,37=20 and the evoking of departed human souls,38=20 and those who are called among the magi, Dream-senders and = Assistant-spirits=20 (Familiars),39=20 and all that is done by those who are skilled in such matters-let these = persuade=20 you that even after death souls are in a state of sensation; and those = who are=20 seized and cast about by the spirits of the dead, whom all call = daemoniacs or=20 madmen;40=20 and what you repute as oracles, both of Amphilochus, Dodana, Pytho, and = as many=20 other such as exist; and the opinions of your authors, Empedocles and=20 Pythagoras, Plato and Socrates, and the pit of Homer,41=20 and the descent of Ulysses to inspect these things, and all that has = been=20 uttered of a like kind. Such favour as you grant to these, grant also to = us, who=20 not less but more firmly than they believe in God; since we expect to = receive=20 again our own bodies, though they be dead and cast into the earth, for = we=20 maintain that with God nothing is impossible.

And to any thoughtful person would anything appear more incredible, = than, if=20 we were not in the body, and some one were to say that it was possible = that from=20 a small drop of human seed bones and sinews and flesh be formed into a = shape=20 such as we see? For let this now be said hypothetically: if you = yourselves were=20 not such as you now are, and born of such parents [and causes], and one = were to=20 show you human seed and a picture of a man, and were to say with = confidence that=20 from such a substance such a being could be produced, would you believe = before=20 you saw the actual production? No one will dare to deny [that such a = statement=20 would surpass belief]. In the same way, then, you are now incredulous = because=20 you have never seen a dead man rise again. But as at first you would not = have=20 believed it possible that such persons could be produced from the small = drop,=20 and yet now you see them thus produced, so also judge ye that it is not=20 impossible that the bodies of men, after they have been dissolved, and = like=20 seeds resolved into earth, should in God's appointed time rise again and = put on=20 incorruption. For what power worthy of God those imagine who say, that = each=20 thing returns to that from which it was produced, and that beyond this = not even=20 God Himself can do anything, we are unable to conceive; but this we see = clearly,=20 that they would not have believed it possible that they could have = become such=20 and produced from such materials, as they now see both themselves and = the whole=20 world to be. And that it is better to believe even what is impossible to = our own=20 nature and to men, than to be unbelieving like the rest of the world, we = have=20 learned; for we know that our Master Jesus Christ said, that "what is = impossible=20 with men is possible with God,"42=20 and, "Fear not them that kill you, and after that can do no more; but = fear Him=20 who after death is able to cast both soul and body into hell."43=20 And hell is a place where those are to be punished who have lived = wickedly, and=20 who do not believe that those things which God has taught us by Christ = will come=20 to pass.

And the Sibyl44=20 and Hystaspes said that there should be a dissolution by God of things=20 corruptible. And the philosophers called Stoics teach that even God = Himself=20 shall be resolved into fire, and they say that the world is to be formed = anew by=20 this revolution; but we understand that God, the Creator of all things, = is=20 superior to the things that are to be changed. If, therefore, on some = points we=20 teach the same things as the poets and philosophers whom you honour, and = on=20 other points are fuller and more divine in our teaching, and if we alone = afford=20 proof of what we assert, why are we unjustly hated more than all others? = For=20 while we say that all things have been produced and arranged into a = world by=20 God, we shall seem to utter the doctrine of Plato; and while we say that = there=20 will be a burning up of all, we shall seem to utter the doctrine of the = Stoics:=20 and while we affirm that the souls of the wicked, being endowed with = sensation=20 even after death, are punished, and that those of the good being = delivered from=20 punishment spend a blessed existence, we shall seem to say the same = things as=20 the poets and philosophers; and while we maintain that men ought not to = worship=20 the works of their hands, we say the very things which have been said by = the=20 comic poet Menander, and other similar writers, for they have declared = that the=20 workman is greater than the work.

And when we say also that the Word, who is the first-birth45=20 of God, was produced without sexual union, and that He, Jesus Christ, = our=20 Teacher, was crucified and died, and rose again, and ascended into = heaven, we=20 propound nothing different from what you believe regarding those whom = you esteem=20 sons of Jupiter. For you know how many sons your esteemed writers = ascribed to=20 Jupiter: Mercury, the interpreting word and teacher of all; Aesculapius, = who,=20 though he was a great physician, was struck by a thunderbolt, and so = ascended to=20 heaven; and Bacchus too, after he had been torn limb from limb; and = Hercules,=20 when he had committed himself to the flames to escape his toils; and the = sons of=20 Leda, and Dioscuri; and Perseus, son of Danae; and Bellerophon, who, = though=20 sprung from mortals, rose to heaven on the horse Pegasus. For what shall = I say=20 of Ariadne, and those who, like her, have been declared to be set among = the=20 stars? And what of the emperors who die among yourselves, whom you deem = worthy=20 of deification, and in whose behalf you produce some one who swears he = has seen=20 the burning Caesar rise to heaven from the funeral pyre? And what kind = of deeds=20 are recorded of each of these reputed sons of Jupiter, it is needless to = tell to=20 those who already know. This only shall be said, that they are written = for the=20 advantage and encouragement46=20 of youthful scholars; for all reckon it an honourable thing to imitate = the gods.=20 But far be such a thought concerning the gods from every = well-conditioned soul,=20 as to believe that Jupiter himself, the governor and creator of all = things, was=20 both a parricide and the son of a parricide, and that being overcome by = the love=20 of base and shameful pleasures, he came in to Ganymede and those many = women whom=20 he had violated and that his sons did like actions. But, as we said = above,=20 wicked devils perpetrated these things. And we have learned that those = only are=20 deified who have lived near to God in holiness and virtue; and we = believe that=20 those who live wickedly and do not repent are punished in everlasting = fire.

Moreover, the Son of God called Jesus, even if only a man by ordinary = generation, yet, on account of His wisdom, is worthy to be called the = Son of=20 God; for all writers call God the Father of men and gods. And if we = assert that=20 the Word of God was born of God in a peculiar manner, different from = ordinary=20 generation, let this, as said above, be no extraordinary thing to you, = who say=20 that Mercury is the angelic word of God. But if any one objects that He = was=20 crucified, in this also He is on a par with those reputed sons of = Jupiter of=20 yours, who suffered as we have now enumerated. For their sufferings at = death are=20 recorded to have been not all alike, but diverse; so that not even by = the=20 peculiarity of His sufferings does He seem to be inferior to them; but, = on the=20 contrary, as we promised in the preceding part of this discourse, we = will now=20 prove Him superior-or rather have already proved Him to be so-for the = superior=20 is revealed by His actions. And if we even affirm that He was born of a = virgin,=20 accept this in common with what you accept of Perseus. And in that we = say that=20 He made whole the lame, the paralytic, and those born blind, we seem to = say what=20 is very similar to the deeds said to have been done by Aesculapius.

And that this may now become evident to you-(firstly47=20 ) that whatever we assert in conformity with what has been taught us by = Christ,=20 and by the prophets who preceded Him, are alone true, and are older than = all the=20 writers who have existed; that we claim to be acknowledged, not because = we say=20 the same things as these writers said, but because we say true things: = and=20 (secondly) that Jesus Christ is the only proper Son who has been = begotten by=20 God, being His Word and first-begotten, and power; and, becoming man = according=20 to His will, He taught us these things for the conversion and = restoration of the=20 human race: and (thirdly) that before He became a man among men, some,=20 influenced by the demons before mentioned, related beforehand, through = the=20 instrumentality of the poets, those circumstances as having really = happened,=20 which, having fictitiously devised, they narrated, in the same manner as = they=20 have caused to be fabricated the scandalous reports against us of = infamous and=20 impious actions,48=20 of which there is neither witness nor proof-we shall bring forward the = following=20 proof.

In the first place [we furnish proof], because, though we say things = similar=20 to what the Greeks say, we only are hated on account of the name of = Christ, and=20 though we do no wrong, are put to death as sinners; other men in other = places=20 worshipping trees and rivers, and mice and cats and crocodiles, and many = irrational animals. Nor are the same animals esteemed by all; but in one = place=20 one is worshipped, and another in another, so that all are profane in = the=20 judgment of one another, on account of their not worshipping the same = objects.=20 And this is the sole accusation you bring against us, that we do not = reverence=20 the same gods as you do, nor offer to the dead libations and the savour = of fat,=20 and crowns for their statues,49=20 and sacrifices. For you very well know that the same animals are with = some=20 esteemed gods, with others wild beasts, and with others sacrificial = victims.

And, secondly, because we-who, out of every race of men, used to = worship=20 Bacchus the son of Semele, and Apollo the son of Latona (who in their = loves with=20 men did such things as it is shameful even to mention), and Proserpine = and Venus=20 (who were maddened with love of Adonis, and whose mysteries also you = celebrate),=20 or Aesculapius, or some one or other of those who are called gods-have = now,=20 through Jesus Christ, learned to despise these, though we be threatened = with=20 death for it, and have dedicated ourselves to the unbegotten and = impossible God;=20 of whom we are persuaded that never was he goaded by lust of Antiope, or = such=20 other women, or of Ganymede, nor was rescued by that hundred-handed = giant whose=20 aid was obtained through Thetis, nor was anxious on this account50=20 that her son Achilles should destroy many of the Greeks because of his = concubine=20 Briseis. Those who believe these things we pity, and those who invented = them we=20 know to be devils.

And, thirdly, because after Christ's ascension into heaven the devils = put=20 forward certain men who said that they themselves were gods; and they = were not=20 only not persecuted by you, but even deemed worthy of honours. There was = a=20 Samaritan, Simon, a native of the village called Gitto, who in the reign = of=20 Claudius Caesar, and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of = magic, by=20 virtue of the art of the devils operating in him. He was considered a = god, and=20 as a god was honoured by you with a statue, which statue was erected on = the=20 river Tiber, between the two bridges, and bore this inscription, in the = language=20 of Rome:-"Simoni Deo Sancto,"51=20 "To Simon the holy God."And almost all the Samaritans, and a few even of = other=20 nations, worship him, and acknowledge him as the first god; and a woman, = Helena,=20 who went about with him at that time, and had formerly been a = prostitute, they=20 say is the first idea generated by him. And a man, Meander, also a = Samaritan, of=20 the town Capparetaea, a disciple of Simon, and inspired by devils, we = know to=20 have deceived many while he was in Antioch by his magical art. He = persuaded=20 those who adhered to him that they should never die, and even now there = are some=20 living who hold this opinion of his. And there is Marcion, a man of = Pontus, who=20 is even at this day alive, and teaching his disciples to believe in some = other=20 god greater than the Creator. And he, by the aid of the devils, has = caused many=20 of every nation to speak blasphemies, and to deny that God is the maker = of this=20 universe, and to assert that some other being, greater than He, has done = greater=20 works. All who take their opinions from these men, are, as we before=20 said,52=20 called Christians; just as also those who do not agree with the = philosophers in=20 their doctrines, have yet in common with them the name of philosophers = given to=20 them. And whether they perpetrate those fabulous and shameful = deeds53=20 -the upsetting of the lamp, and promiscuous intercourse, and eating = human=20 flesh-we know not; but we do know that they are neither persecuted nor = put to=20 death by you, at least on account of their opinions. But I have a = treatise=20 against all the heresies that have existed already composed, which, if = you wish=20 to read it, I will give you.

But as for us, we have been taught that to expose newly-born children = is the=20 part of wicked men; and this we have been taught lest we should do any = one an=20 injury, and lest we should sin against God, first, because we see that = almost=20 all so exposed (not only the girls, but also the males) are brought up = to=20 prostitution. And as the ancients are said to have reared herds of oxen, = or=20 goats, or sheep, or grazing horses, so now we see you rear children only = for=20 this shameful use; and for this pollution a multitude of females and=20 hermaphrodites, and those who commit unmentionable iniquities, are found = in=20 every nation. And you receive the hire of these, and duty and taxes from = them,=20 whom you ought to exterminate from your realm. And any one who uses such = persons, besides the godless and infamous and impure intercourse, may = possibly=20 be having intercourse with his own child, or relative, or brother. And = there are=20 some who prostitute even their own children and wives, and some are = openly=20 mutilated for the purpose of sodomy; and they refer these mysteries to = the=20 mother of the gods, and along with each of those whom you esteem gods = there is=20 painted a serpent,54=20 a great symbol and mystery. Indeed, the things55=20 which you do openly and with applause, as if the divine light were = overturned=20 and extinguished, these you lay to our charge; which, in truth, does no = harm to=20 us who shrink from doing any such things, but only to those who do them = and bear=20 false witness against us.

For among us the prince of the wicked spirits is called the serpent, = and=20 Satan, and the devil, as you can learn by looking into our writings. And = that he=20 would be sent into the fire with his host, and the men who follow him, = and would=20 be punished for an endless duration, Christ foretold. For the reason why = God has=20 delayed to do this, is His regard for the human race. For He foreknows = that some=20 are to be saved by repentance, some even that are perhaps not yet = born.56=20 In the beginning He made the human race with the power of thought and of = choosing the truth and doing right, so that all men are without excuse = before=20 God; for they have been born rational and contemplative. And if any one=20 disbelieves that God cares for these things,57=20 he will thereby either insinuate that God does not exist, or he will = assert that=20 though He exists He delights in vice, or exists like a stone, and that = neither=20 virtue nor vice are anything, but only in the opinion of men these = things are=20 reckoned good or evil. And this is the greatest profanity and = wickedness.

And again [we fear to expose children], lest some of them be not = picked up,=20 but die, and we become murderers. But whether we marry, it is only that = we may=20 bring up children; or whether we decline marriage, we live continently. = And that=20 you may understand that promiscuous intercourse is not one of our = mysteries, one=20 of our number a short time ago presented to Felix the governor in = Alexandria a=20 petition, craving that permission might be given to a surgeon to make = him an=20 eunuch. For the surgeons there said that they were forbidden to do this = without=20 the permission of the governor. And when Felix absolutely refused to = sign such a=20 permission, the youth remained single, and was satisfied with his own = approving=20 conscience, and the approval of those who thought as he did. And it is = not out=20 of place, we think, to mention here Antinous, who was alive but lately, = and whom=20 all were prompt, through fear, to worship as a god, though they knew = both who he=20 was and what was his origin.58=20

But lest any one should meet us with the question, What should = prevent that=20 He whom we call Christ, being a man born of men, performed what we call = His=20 mighty works by magical art, and by this appeared to be the Son of God? = we will=20 now offer proof, not trusting mere assertions, but being of necessity = persuaded=20 by those who prophesied [of Him] before these things came to pass, for = with our=20 own eyes we behold things that have happened and are happening just as = they were=20 predicted; and this will, we think appear even to you the strongest and = truest=20 evidence.

There were, then, among the Jews certain men who were prophets of = God,=20 through whom the prophetic Spirit published beforehand things that were = to come=20 to pass, ere ever they happened. And their prophecies, as they were = spoken and=20 when they were uttered, the kings who happened to be reigning among the = Jews at=20 the several times carefully preserved in their possession, when they had = been=20 arranged in books by the prophets themselves in their own Hebrew = language. And=20 when Ptolemy king of Egypt formed a library, and endeavoured to collect = the=20 writings of all men, he heard also of these prophets, and sent to Herod, = who was=20 at that time king of the Jews,59=20 requesting that the books of the prophets be sent to him. And Herod the = king did=20 indeed send them, written, as they were, in the foresaid Hebrew = language. And=20 when their contents were found to be unintelligible to the Egyptians, he = again=20 sent and requested that men be commissioned to translate them into the = Greek=20 language. And when this was done, the books remained with the Egyptians, = where=20 they are until now. They are also in the possession of all Jews = throughout the=20 world; but they, though they read, do not understand what is said, but = count us=20 foes and enemies; and, like yourselves, they kill and punish us whenever = they=20 have the power, as you can well believe. For in the Jewish war which = lately=20 raged, Barchochebas, the leader of the revolt of the Jews, gave orders = that=20 Christians alone should be led to cruel punishments, unless they would = deny=20 Jesus Christ and utter blasphemy. In these books, then, of the prophets = we found=20 Jesus our Christ foretold as coming, born of a virgin, growing up to = man's=20 estate, and healing every disease and every sickness, and raising the = dead, and=20 being hated, and unrecognised, and crucified, and dying, and rising = again, and=20 ascending into heaven, and being, and being called, the Son of God. We = find it=20 also predicted that certain persons should be sent by Him into every = nation to=20 publish these things, and that rather among the Gentiles [than among the = Jews]=20 men should believe on Him. And He was predicted before He appeared, = first 5000=20 years before, and again 3000, then 2000, then 1000, and yet again 800; = for in=20 the succession of generations prophets after prophets arose.

Moses then, who was the first of the prophets, spoke in these very = words:=20 "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between = his feet,=20 until He come for whom it is reserved; and He shall be the desire of the = nations, binding His foal to the vine, washing His robe in the blood of = the=20 grape."60=20 It is yours to make accurate inquiry, and ascertain up to whose time the = Jews=20 had a lawgiver and king of their own. Up to the time of Jesus Christ, = who taught=20 us, and interpreted the prophecies which were not yet understood, [they = had a=20 lawgiver] as was foretold by the holy and divine Spirit of prophecy = through=20 Moses, "that a ruler would not fail the Jews until He should come for = whom the=20 kingdom was reserved" (for Judah was the forefather of the Jews, from = whom also=20 they have their name of Jews); and after He (i.e., Christ) appeared, you = began=20 to rule the Jews, and gained possession of all their territory. And the=20 prophecy, "He shall be the expectation of the nations," signified that = there=20 would be some of all nations who should look for Him to come again. And = this=20 indeed you can see for yourselves, and be convinced of by fact. For of = all races=20 of men there are some who look for Him who was crucified in Judaea, and = after=20 whose crucifixion the land was straightway surrendered to you as spoil = of war.=20 And the prophecy, "binding His foal to the vine, and washing His robe in = the=20 blood of the grape," was a significant symbol of the things that were to = happen=20 to Christ, and of what He was to do. For the foal of an ass stood bound = to a=20 vine at the entrance of a village, and He ordered His acquaintances to = bring it=20 to Him then; and when it was brought, He mounted and sat upon it, and = entered=20 Jerusalem, where was the vast temple of the Jews which was afterwards = destroyed=20 by you. And after this He was crucified, that the rest of the prophecy = might be=20 fulfilled. For this "washing His robe in the blood of the grape" was = predictive=20 of the passion He was to endure, cleansing by His blood those who = believe on=20 Him. For what is called by the Divine Spirit through the prophet "His = robe," are=20 those men who believe in Him in whom abideth the seed61=20 of God, the Word. And what is spoken of as "the blood of the grape," = signifies=20 that He who should appear would have blood, though not of the seed of = man, but=20 of the power of God. And the first power after God the Father and Lord = of all is=20 the Word, who is also the Son; and of Him we will, in what follows, = relate how=20 He took flesh and became man. For as man did not make the blood of the = vine, but=20 God, so it was hereby intimated that the blood should not be of human = seed, but=20 of divine power, as we have said above. And Isaiah, another prophet, = foretelling=20 the same things in other words, spoke thus: "A star shall rise out of = Jacob, and=20 a flower shall spring from the root of Jesse; and His arm shall the = nations=20 trust.62=20 And a star of light has arisen, and a flower has sprung from the root of = Jesse-this Christ. For by the power of God He was conceived by a virgin = of the=20 seed of Jacob, who was the father of Judah, who, as we have shown, was = the=20 father of the Jews; and Jesse was His forefather according to the = oracle, and He=20 was the son of Jacob and Judah according to lineal descent.

And hear again how Isaiah in express words foretold that He should be = born of=20 a virgin; for he spoke thus: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bring = forth a=20 son, and they shall say for His name, `God with us.'"63=20 For things which were incredible and seemed impossible with men, these = God=20 predicted by the Spirit of prophecy as about to come to pass, in order = that,=20 when they came to pass, there might be no unbelief, but faith, because = of their=20 prediction. But lest some, not understanding the prophecy now cited, = should=20 charge us with the very things we have been laying to the charge of the = poets=20 who say that Jupiter went in to women through lust, let us try to = explain the=20 words. This, then, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive," signifies that a = virgin=20 should conceive without intercourse. For if she had had intercourse with = any one=20 whatever, she was no longer a virgin; but the power of God having come = upon the=20 virgin, overshadowed her, and caused her while yet a virgin to conceive. = And the=20 angel of God who was sent to the same virgin at that time brought her = good news,=20 saying, "Behold, thou shalt conceive of the Holy Ghost, and shalt bear a = Son,=20 and He shall be called the Son of the Highest, and thou shalt call His = name=20 Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins,"64=20 -as they who have recorded all that concerns our Saviour Jesus Christ = have=20 taught, whom we believed, since by Isaiah also, whom we have now = adduced, the=20 Spirit of prophecy declared that He should be born as we intimated = before. It is=20 wrong, therefore, to understand the Spirit and the power of God as = anything else=20 than the Word, who is also the first-born of God, as the foresaid = prophet Moses=20 declared; and it was this which, when it came upon the virgin and = overshadowed=20 her, caused her to conceive, not by intercourse, but by power. And the = name=20 Jesus in the Hebrew language means Swth/r = (Saviour) in=20 the Greek tongue. Wherefore, too, the angel said to the virgin, "Thou = shalt call=20 His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." And that = the=20 prophets are inspired65=20 by no other than the Divine Word, even you, as I fancy, will grant.

And hear what part of earth He was to be born in, as another prophet, = Micah,=20 foretold. He spoke thus: "And thou, Bethlehem, the land of Judah, art = not the=20 least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come forth a = Governor,=20 who shall feed My people."66=20 Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, thirty-five stadia from=20 Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can ascertain also = from the=20 registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in=20 Judaea.

And how Christ after He was born was to escape the notice of other = men until=20 He grew to man's estate, which also came to pass, hear what was foretold = regarding this. There are the following predictions:67=20 -"Unto us a child is born, and unto us a young man is given, and the = government=20 shall be upon His shoulders; "68=20 which is significant of the power of the cross, for to it, when He was=20 crucified, He applied His shoulders, as shall be more clearly made out = in the=20 ensuing discourse. And again the same prophet Isaiah, being inspired by = the=20 prophetic Spirit, said, "I have spread out my hands to a disobedient and = gainsaying people, to those who walk in a way that is not good. They now = ask of=20 me judgment, and dare to draw near to God."69=20 And again in other words, through another prophet, He says, "They = pierced My=20 hands and My feet, and for My vesture they cast lots."70=20 And indeed David, the king and prophet, who uttered these things, = suffered none=20 of them; but Jesus Christ stretched forth His hands, being crucified by = the Jews=20 speaking against Him, and denying that He was the Christ. And as the = prophet=20 spoke, they tormented Him, and set Him on the judgment-seat, and said, = Judge us.=20 And the expression, "They pierced my hands and my feet," was used in = reference=20 to the nails of the cross which were fixed in His hands and feet. And = after He=20 was crucified they cast lots upon His vesture, and they that crucified = Him=20 parted it among them. And that these things did happen, you can = ascertain from=20 the Acts of Pontius Pilate.71=20 And we will cite the prophetic utterances of another prophet, = Zephaniah,72=20 to the effect that He was foretold expressly as to sit upon the foal of = an ass=20 and to enter Jerusalem. The words are these: "Rejoice greatly, O = daughter of=20 Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; = lowly,=20 and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."73=20

But when you hear the utterances of the prophets spoken as it were=20 personally, you must not suppose that they are spoken by the inspired=20 themselves, but by the Divine Word who moves them. For sometimes He = declares=20 things that are to come to pass, in the manner of one who foretells the = future;=20 sometimes He speaks as from the person of God the Lord and Father of = all;=20 sometimes as from the person of Christ; sometimes as from the person of = the=20 people answering the Lord or His Father, just as you can see even in = your own=20 writers, one man being the writer of the whole, but introducing the = persons who=20 converse. And this the Jews who possessed the books of the prophets did = not=20 understand, and therefore did not recognise Christ even when He came, = but even=20 hate us who say that He has come, and who prove that, as was predicted, = He was=20 crucified by them.

And that this too may be clear to you, there were spoken from the = person of=20 the Father through Isaiah the prophet, the following words: "The ox = knoweth his=20 owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, and My = people=20 hath not understood. Woe, sinful nation, a people full of sins, a wicked = seed,=20 children that are transgressors, ye have forsaken the Lord."74=20 And again elsewhere, when the same prophet speaks in like manner from = the person=20 of the Father, "What is the house that ye will build for Me? saith the = Lord. The=20 heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool."75=20 And again, in another place, "Your new moons and your sabbaths My soul = hateth;=20 and the great day of the fast and of ceasing from labour I cannot away = with;=20 nor, if ye come to be seen of Me, will I hear you: your hands are full = of blood;=20 and if ye bring fine flour, incense, it is abomination unto Me: the fat = of lambs=20 and the blood of bulls I do not desire. For who hath required this at = your=20 hands? But loose every bond of wickedness, tear asunder the tight knots = of=20 violent contracts, cover the houseless and naked deal thy bread to the=20 hungry."76=20 What kind of things are taught through the prophets from [the person of] = God,=20 you can now perceive.

And when the Spirit of prophecy speaks from the person of Christ, the = utterances are of this sort: "I have spread out My hands to a = disobedient and=20 gainsaying people, to those who walk in a way that is not good."77=20 And again: "I gave My back to the scourges, and My cheeks to the = buffetings; I=20 turned not away My face from the shame of spittings; and the Lord was My = helper:=20 therefore was I not confounded: but I set My face as a firm rock; and I = knew=20 that I should not be ashamed, for He is near that justifieth Me."78=20 And again, when He says, "They cast lots upon My vesture, and pierced My = hands=20 and My feet. And I lay down and slept, and rose again, because the Lord=20 sustained Me."79=20 And again, when He says, "They spake with their lips, they wagged the = head,=20 saying, Let Him deliver Himself."80=20 And that all these things happened to Christ at the hands of the Jews, = you can=20 ascertain. For when He was crucified, they did shoot out the lip, and = wagged=20 their heads, saying, "Let Him who raised the dead save Himself."81=20

And when the Spirit of prophecy speaks as predicting things that are = to come=20 to pass, He speaks in this way: "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, = and the=20 word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, = and shall=20 rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, = and=20 their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against = nation,=20 neither shall they learn war any more."82=20 And that it did so come to pass, we can convince you. For from Jerusalem = there=20 went out into the world, men, twelve in number, and these illiterate, of = no=20 ability in speaking: but by the power of God they proclaimed to every = race of=20 men that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the word of God; and = we who=20 formerly used to murder one another do not only now refrain from making = war upon=20 our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, = willingly=20 die confessing Christ. For that saying, "The tongue has sworn but the = mind is=20 unsworn,"83=20 might be imitated by us in this matter. But if the soldiers enrolled by = you, and=20 who have taken the military oath, prefer their allegiance to their own = life, and=20 parents, and country, and all kindred, though you can offer them nothing = incorruptible, it were verily ridiculous if we, who earnestly long for=20 incorruption, should not endure all things, in order to obtain what we = desire=20 from Him who is able to grant it.

And hear how it was foretold concerning those who published His = doctrine and=20 proclaimed His appearance, the above-mentioned prophet and king speaking = thus by=20 the Spirit of prophecy "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto = night=20 showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is = not=20 heard. Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to = the ends=20 of the world. In the sun hath He set His tabernacle, and he as a = bridegroom=20 going out of his chamber shall rejoice as a giant to run his = course."84=20 And we have thought it right and relevant to mention some other = prophetic=20 utterances of David besides these; from which you may learn how the = Spirit of=20 prophecy exhorts men to live, and how He foretold the conspiracy which = was=20 formed against Christ by Herod the king of the Jews, and the Jews = themselves,=20 and Pilate, who was your governor among them, with his soldiers; and how = He=20 should be believed on by men of every race; and how God calls Him His = Son, and=20 has declared that He will subdue all His enemies under Him; and how the = devils,=20 as much as they can, strive to escape the power of God the Father and = Lord of=20 all, and the power of Christ Himself; and how God calls all to = repentance before=20 the day of judgment comes. These things were uttered thus: "Blessed is = the man=20 who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way = of=20 sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the = law of=20 the Lord; and in His law will he meditate day and night. And he shall be = like a=20 tree planted by the rivers of waters, which shall give his fruit in his = season;=20 and his leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. = The=20 ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away = from the=20 face of the earth. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the = judgment, nor=20 sinners in the council of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of = the=20 righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Why do the heathen = rage, and=20 the people imagine new things? The kings of the earth set themselves, = and the=20 rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His = Anointed,=20 saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast their yoke from us. = He that=20 dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh at them, and the Lord shall have = them in=20 derision. Then shall He speak to them in His wrath, and vex them in His = sore=20 displeasure. Yet have I been set by Him a King on Zion His holy hill, = declaring=20 the decree of the Lord. The Lord said to Me, Thou art My Son; this day = have I=20 begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine=20 inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Thy possession. = Thou shall=20 herd them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shalt Thou dash = them in=20 pieces. Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, all ye judges = of the=20 earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Embrace=20 instruction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the = right=20 way, when His wrath has been suddenly kindled. Blessed are all they that = put=20 their trust in Him."85=20

And again, in another prophecy, the Spirit of prophecy, through the = same=20 David, intimated that Christ, after He had been crucified, should reign, = and=20 spoke as follows: "Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and day by day = declare His=20 salvation. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, to be = feared above=20 all the gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols of devils; but = God made=20 the heavens. Glory and praise are before His face, strength and glorying = are in=20 the habitation of His holiness. Give Glory to the Lord, the Father = everlasting.=20 Receive grace, and enter His presence, and worship in His holy courts. = Let all=20 the earth fear before His face; let it be established, and not shaken. = Let them=20 rejoice among the nations. The Lord hath reigned from the tree."86=20

But when the Spirit of prophecy speaks of things that are about to = come to=20 pass as if they had already taken place,-as may be observed even in the = passages=20 already cited by me,-that this circumstance may afford no excuse to = readers [for=20 misinterpreting them], we will make even this also quite plain. The = things which=20 He absolutely knows will take place, He predicts as if already they had = taken=20 place. And that the utterances must be thus received, you will perceive, = if you=20 give your attention to them. The words cited above, David uttered = 150087=20 years before Christ became a man and was crucified; and no one of those = who=20 lived before Him, nor yet of His contemporaries, afforded joy to the = Gentiles by=20 being crucified. But our Jesus Christ, being crucified and dead, rose = again, and=20 having ascended to heaven, reigned; and by those things which were = published in=20 His name among all nations by the apostles, there is joy afforded to = those who=20 expect the immortality promised by Him.

But lest some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we say = that=20 whatever happens, happens by a fatal necessity, because it is foretold = as known=20 beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned from the prophets, and = we hold=20 it to be true, that punishments, and chastisements, and good rewards, = are=20 rendered according to the merit of each man's actions. Since if it be = not so,=20 but all things happen by fate, neither is anything at all in our own = power. For=20 if it be fated that this man, e.g., be good, and this other evil, = neither is the=20 former meritorious nor the latter to be blamed. And again, unless the = human race=20 have the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they = are not=20 accountable for their actions, of whatever kind they be. But that it is = by free=20 choice they both walk uprightly and stumble, we thus demonstrate. We see = the=20 same man making a transition to opposite things. Now, if it had been = fated that=20 he were to be either good or bad, he could never have been capable of = both the=20 opposites, nor of so many transitions. But not even would some be good = and=20 others bad, since we thus make fate the cause of evil, and exhibit her = as acting=20 in opposition to herself; or that which has been already stated would = seem to be=20 true, that neither virtue nor vice is anything, but that things are only = reckoned good or evil by opinion; which, as the true word shows, is the = greatest=20 impiety and wickedness. But this we assert is inevitable fate, that they = who=20 choose the good have worthy rewards, and they who choose the opposite = have their=20 merited awards. For not like other things, as trees and quadrupeds, = which cannot=20 act by choice, did God make man: for neither would he be worthy of = reward or=20 praise did he not of himself choose the good, but were created for this=20 end;88=20 nor, if he were evil, would he be worthy of punishment, not being evil = of=20 himself, but being able to be nothing else than what he was made.

And the holy Spirit of prophecy taught us this, telling us by Moses = that God=20 spoke thus to the man first created: "Behold, before thy face are good = and evil:=20 choose the good."89=20 And again, by the other prophet Isaiah, that the following utterance was = made as=20 if from God the Father and Lord of all: "Wash you, make you clean; put = away=20 evils from your souls; learn to do well; judge the orphan, and plead for = the=20 widow: and come and let us reason together, saith the Lord: And if your = sins be=20 as scarlet, I will make them white as wool; and if they be red like as = crimson,=20 I will make them white as snow. And if ye be willing and obey Me, ye = shall eat=20 the good of the land; but if ye do not obey Me, the sword shall devour = you: for=20 the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."90=20 And that expression, "The sword shall devour you," does not mean that = the=20 disobedient shall be slain by the sword, but the sword of God is fire, = of which=20 they who choose to do wickedly become the fuel. Wherefore He says, "The = sword=20 shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." And if He = had=20 spoken concerning a sword that cuts and at once despatches, He would not = have=20 said, shall devour. And so, too, Plato, when he says, "The blame = is his=20 who chooses, and God is blameless,"91=20 took this from the prophet Moses and uttered it. For Moses is more = ancient than=20 all the Greek writers. And whatever both philosophers and poets have = said=20 concerning the immortality of the soul, or punishments after death, or=20 contemplation of things heavenly, or doctrines of the like kind, they = have=20 received such suggestions from the prophets as have enabled them to = understand=20 and interpret these things. And hence there seem to be seeds of truth = among all=20 men; but they are charged with not accurately understanding [the truth] = when=20 they assert contradictories. So that what we say about future events = being=20 foretold, we do not say it as if they came about by a fatal necessity; = but God=20 foreknowing all that shall be done by all men, and it being His decree = that the=20 future actions of men shall all be recompensed according to their = several value,=20 He foretells by the Spirit of prophecy that He will bestow meet rewards=20 according to the merit of the actions done, always urging the human race = to=20 effort and recollection, showing that He cares and provides for men. But = by the=20 agency of the devils death has been decreed against those who read the = books of=20 Hystaspes, or of the Sibyl,92=20 or of the prophets, that through fear they may prevent men who read them = from=20 receiving the knowledge of the good, and may retain them in slavery to=20 themselves; which, however, they could not always effect. For not only = do we=20 fearlessly read them, but, as you see, bring them for your inspection, = knowing=20 that their contents will be pleasing to all. And if we persuade even a = few, our=20 gain will be very great; for, as good husbandmen, we shall receive the = reward=20 from the Master.

And that God the Father of all would bring Christ to heaven after He = had=20 raised Him from the dead, and would keep Him there93=20 until He has subdued His enemies the devils, and until the number of = those who=20 are foreknown by Him as good and virtuous is complete, on whose account = He has=20 still delayed the consummation-hear what was said by the prophet David. = These=20 are his words: "The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, = until I=20 make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The Lord shall send to Thee the rod of = power=20 out of Jerusalem; and rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. With Thee = is the=20 government in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of Thy saints: from = the womb=20 of morning94=20 have I begotten Thee."95=20 That which he says, "He shall send to Thee the rod of power out of = Jerusalem,"=20 is predictive of the mighty, word, which His apostles, going forth from=20 Jerusalem, preached everywhere; and though death is decreed against = those who=20 teach or at all confess the name of Christ, we everywhere both embrace = and teach=20 it. And if you also read these words in a hostile spirit, ye can do no = more, as=20 I said before, than kill us; which indeed does no harm to us, but to you = and all=20 who unjustly hate us, and do not repent, brings eternal punishment by = fire.

But lest some should, without reason, and for the perversion of what = we=20 teach, maintain that we say that Christ was born one hundred and fifty = years ago=20 under Cyrenius, and subsequently, in the time of Pontius Pilate, taught = what we=20 say He taught; and should cry out against us as though all men who were = born=20 before Him were irresponsible-let us anticipate and solve the = difficulty. We=20 have been taught that Christ is the first-born of God, and we have = declared=20 above that He is the Word of whom every race of men were partakers; and = those=20 who lived reasonably96=20 are Christians, even though they have been thought atheists; as, among = the=20 Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus, and men like them; and among the = barbarians,=20 Abraham, and Ananias, and Azarias, and Misael, and Elias, and many = others whose=20 actions and names we now decline to recount, because we know it would be = tedious. So that even they who lived before Christ, and lived without = reason,=20 were wicked and hostile to Christ, and slew those who lived reasonably. = But who,=20 through the power of the Word, according to the will of God the Father = and Lord=20 of all, He was born of a virgin as a man, and was named Jesus, and was=20 crucified, and died, and rose again, and ascended into heaven, an = intelligent=20 man will be able to comprehend from what has been already so largely = said. And=20 we, since the proof of this subject is less needful now, will pass for = the=20 present to the proof of those things which are urgent.

That the land of the Jews, then, was to be laid waste, hear what was = said by=20 the Spirit of prophecy. And the words were spoken as if from the person = of the=20 people wondering at what had happened. They are these: "Sion is a = wilderness,=20 Jerusalem a desolation. The house of our sanctuary has become a curse, = and the=20 glory which our fathers blessed is burned up with fire, and all its = glorious=20 things are laid waste: and Thou refrainest Thyself at these things, and = hast=20 held Thy peace, and hast humbled us very sore."97=20 And ye are convinced that Jerusalem has been laid waste, as was = predicted. And=20 concerning its desolation, and that no one should be permitted to = inhabit it,=20 there was the following prophecy by Isaiah: "Their land is desolate, = their=20 enemies consume it before them, and none of them shall dwell = therein."98=20 And that it is guarded by you lest any one dwell in it, and that death = is=20 decreed against a Jew apprehended entering it, you know very = well.99=20

And that it was predicted that our Christ should heal all diseases = and raise=20 the dead, hear what was said. There are these words: "At His coming the = lame=20 shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerer shall be clear = speaking:=20 the blind shall see, and the lepers shall be cleansed; and the dead = shall rise,=20 and walk about."100=20 And that He did those things, you can learn from the Acts of Pontius = Pilate. And=20 how it was predicted by the Spirit of prophecy that He and those who = hoped in=20 Him should be slain, hear what was said by Isaiah. These are the words: = "Behold=20 now the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and just men = are=20 taken away, and no man considereth. From the presence of wickedness is = the=20 righteous man taken, and his burial shall be in peace: he is taken from = our=20 midst."101=20

And again, how it was said by the same Isaiah, that the Gentile = nations who=20 were not looking for Him should worship Him, but the Jews who always = expected=20 Him should not recognize Him when He came. And the words are spoken as = from the=20 person of Christ; and they are these "I was manifest to them that asked = not for=20 Me; I was found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, to a = nation that=20 called not on My name. I spread out My hands to a disobedient and = gainsaying=20 people, to those who walked in a way that is not good, but follow after = their=20 own sins; a people that provoketh Me to anger to My face."102=20 For the Jews having the prophecies, and being always in expectation of = the=20 Christ to come, did not recognise Him; and not only so, but even treated = Him=20 shamefully. But the Gentiles, who had never heard anything about Christ, = until=20 the apostles set out from Jerusalem and preached concerning Him, and = gave them=20 the prophecies, were filled with joy and faith, and cast away their = idols, and=20 dedicated themselves to the Unbegotten God through Christ. And that it = was=20 foreknown that these infamous things should be uttered against those who = confessed Christ, and that those who slandered Him, and said that it was = well to=20 preserve the ancient customs, should be miserable, hear what was briefly = said by=20 Isaiah; it is this: "Woe unto them that call sweet bitter, and bitter=20 sweet."103=20

But that, having become man for our sakes, He endured to suffer and = to be=20 dishonoured, and that He shall come again with glory, hear the = prophecies which=20 relate to this; they are these: "Because they delivered His soul unto = death, and=20 He was numbered with the transgressors, He has borne the sin of many, = and shall=20 make intercession for the transgressors. For, behold, My Servant shall = deal=20 prudently, and shall be exalted, and shall be greatly extolled. As many = were=20 astonished at Thee, so marred shall Thy form be before men, and so = hidden from=20 them Thy glory; so shall many nations wonder, and the kings shall shut = their=20 mouths at Him. For they to whom it was not told concerning Him, and they = who=20 have not heard, shall understand. O Lord, who hath believed our report? = and to=20 whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared before Him as a = child, as=20 a root in a dry ground. He had no form, nor glory; and we saw Him, and = there was=20 no form nor comeliness: but His form was dishonoured and marred more = than the=20 sons of men. A man under the stroke, and knowing how to bear infirmity, = because=20 His face was turned away: He was despised, and of no reputation. It is = He who=20 bears our sins, and is afflicted for us; yet we did esteem Him smitten,=20 stricken, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He = was=20 bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of peace was upon Him, by = His=20 stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; every man = has=20 wandered in his own way. And He delivered Him for our sins; and He = opened not=20 His mouth for all His affliction. He was brought as a sheep to the = slaughter,=20 and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. = In His=20 humiliation, His judgment was taken away."104=20 Accordingly, after He was crucified, even all His acquaintances forsook = Him,=20 having denied Him; and afterwards, when He had risen from the dead and = appeared=20 to them, and had taught them to read the prophecies in which all these = things=20 were foretold as coming to pass, and when they had seen Him ascending = into=20 heaven, and had believed, and had received power sent thence by Him upon = them,=20 and went to every race of men, they taught these things, and were called = apostles.

And that the Spirit of prophecy might signify to us that He who = suffers these=20 things has an ineffable origin, and rules His enemies, He spake thus: = "His=20 generation who shall declare? because His life is cut off from the = earth: for=20 their transgressions He comes to death. And I will give the wicked for = His=20 burial, and the rich for His death; because He did no violence, neither = was any=20 deceit in His mouth. And the Lord is pleased to cleanse Him from the = stripe. If=20 He be given for sin, your soul shall see His seed prolonged in days. And = the=20 Lord is pleased to deliver His soul from grief, to show Him light, and = to form=20 Him with knowledge, to justify the righteous who richly serveth many. = And He=20 shall bear our iniquities. Therefore He shall inherit many, and He shall = divide=20 the spoil of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death: and He = was=20 numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sins of many, and He = was=20 delivered up for their transgressions."105=20 Hear, too, how He was to ascend into heaven according to prophecy. It = was thus=20 spoken: "Lift up the gates of heaven; be ye opened, that the King of = glory may=20 come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty."106=20 And how also He should come again out of heaven with glory, hear what = was spoken=20 in reference to this by the prophet Jeremiah.107=20 His words are: "Behold, as the Son of man He cometh in the clouds of = heaven, and=20 His angels with Him."108=20

Since, then, we prove that all things which have already happened had = been=20 predicted by the prophets before they came to pass, we must necessarily = believe=20 also that those things which are in like manner predicted, but are yet = to come=20 to pass, shall certainly happen. For as the things which have already = taken=20 place came to pass when foretold, and even though unknown, so shall the = things=20 that remain, even though they be unknown and disbelieved, yet come to = pass. For=20 the prophets have proclaimed two advents of His: the one, that which is = already=20 past, when He came as a dishonoured and suffering Man; but the second, = when,=20 according to prophecy, He shall come from heaven with glory, accompanied = by His=20 angelic host, when also He shall raise the bodies of all men who have = lived, and=20 shall clothe those of the worthy with immortality, and shall send those = of the=20 wicked, endued with eternal sensibility, into everlasting fire with the = wicked=20 devils. And that these things also have been foretold as yet to be, we = will=20 prove. By Ezekiel the prophet it was said: "Joint shall be joined to = joint, and=20 bone to bone, and flesh shall grow again; and every knee shall bow to = the Lord,=20 and every tongue shall confess Him."109=20 And in what kind of sensation and punishment the wicked are to be, hear = from=20 what was said in like manner with reference to this; it is as follows: = "Their=20 worm shall not rest, and their fire shall not be quenched; "110=20 and then shall they repent, when it profits them not. And what the = people of the=20 Jews shall say and do, when they see Him coming in glory, has been thus=20 predicted by Zechariah the prophet: "I will command the four winds to = gather the=20 scattered children; I will command the north wind to bring them, and the = south=20 wind, that it keep not back. And then in Jerusalem there shall be great=20 lamentation, not the lamentation of mouths or of lips, but the = lamentation of=20 the heart; and they shall rend not their garments, but their hearts. = Tribe by=20 tribe they shall mourn, and then they shall look on Him whom they have = pierced;=20 and they shall say, Why, O Lord, hast Thou made us to err from Thy way? = The=20 glory which our fathers blessed, has for us been turned into = shame."111=20

Though we could bring forward many other prophecies, we forbear, = judging=20 these sufficient for the persuasion of those who have ears to hear and=20 understand; and considering also that those persons are able to see that = we do=20 not make mere assertions without being able to produce proof, like those = fables=20 that are told of the so-called sons of Jupiter. For with what reason = should we=20 believe of a crucified man that He is the first-born of the unbegotten = God, and=20 Himself will pass judgment on the whole human race, unless we had found=20 testimonies concerning Him published before He came and was born as man, = and=20 unless we saw that things had happened accordingly-the devastation of = the land=20 of the Jews, and men of every race persuaded by His teaching through the = apostles, and rejecting their old habits, in which, being deceived, they = had=20 their conversation; yea, seeing ourselves too, and knowing that the = Christians=20 from among the Gentiles are both more numerous and more true than those = from=20 among the Jews and Samaritans? For all the other human races are called = Gentiles=20 by the Spirit of prophecy; but the Jewish and Samaritan races are called = the=20 tribe of Israel, and the house of Jacob. And the prophecy in which it = was=20 predicted that there should be more believers from the Gentiles than = from the=20 Jews and Samaritans, we will produce: it ran thus: "Rejoice, O barren, = thou that=20 dost not bear; break forth and shout, thou that dost not travail, = because many=20 more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an = husband."112=20 For all the Gentiles were "desolate" of the true God, serving the works = of their=20 hands; but the Jews and Samaritans, having the word of God delivered to = them by=20 the prophets, and always expecting the Christ, did not recognise Him = when He=20 came, except some few, of whom the Spirit of prophecy by Isaiah had = predicted=20 that they should be saved. He spoke as from their person: "Except the = Lord had=20 left us a seed, we should have been as Sodom and Gomorrah."113=20 For Sodom and Gomorrah are related by Moses to have been cities of = ungodly men,=20 which God burned with fire and brimstone, and overthrew, no one of their = inhabitants being saved except a certain stranger, a Chaldaean by birth, = whose=20 name was Lot; with whom also his daughters were rescued. And those who = care may=20 yet see their whole country desolate and burned, and remaining barren. = And to=20 show how those from among the Gentiles were foretold as more true and = more=20 believing, we will cite what was said by Isaiah114=20 the prophet; for he spoke as follows "Israel is uncircumcised in heart, = but the=20 Gentiles are uncircumcised in the flesh." So many things therefore, as = these,=20 when they are seen with the eye, are enough to produce conviction and = belief in=20 those who embrace the truth, and are not bigoted in their opinions, nor = are=20 governed by their passions.

But those who hand down the myths which the poets have made, adduce = no proof=20 to the youths who learn them; and we proceed to demonstrate that they = have been=20 uttered by the influence of the wicked demons, to deceive and lead = astray the=20 human race. For having heard it proclaimed through the prophets that the = Christ=20 was to come, and that the ungodly among men were to be punished by fire, = they=20 put forward many to be called sons of Jupiter, under the impression that = they=20 would be able to produce in men the idea that the things which were said = with=20 regard to Christ were mere marvellous tales, like the things which were = said by=20 the poets. And these things were said both among the Greeks and among = all=20 nations where they [the demons] heard the prophets foretelling that = Christ would=20 specially be believed in; but that in hearing what was said by the = prophets they=20 did not accurately understand it, but imitated what was said of our = Christ, like=20 men who are in error, we will make plain. The prophet Moses, then, was, = as we=20 have already said, older than all writers; and by him, as we have also = said=20 before, it was thus predicted: "There shall not fail a prince from = Judah, nor a=20 lawgiver from between his feet, until He come for whom it is reserved; = and He=20 shall be the desire of the Gentiles, binding His foal to the vine, = washing His=20 robe in the blood of the grape."115=20 The devils, accordingly, when they heard these prophetic words, said = that=20 Bacchus was the son of Jupiter, and gave out that he was the discoverer = of the=20 vine, and they number wine116=20 [or, the ass] among his mysteries; and they taught that, having been = torn in=20 pieces, he ascended into heaven. And because in the prophecy of Moses it = had not=20 been expressly intimated whether He who was to come was the Son of God, = and=20 whether He would, riding on the foal, remain on earth or ascend into = heaven, and=20 because the name of "foal" could mean either the foal of an ass or the = foal of a=20 horse, they, not knowing whether He who was foretold would bring the = foal of an=20 ass or of a horse as the sign of His coming, nor whether He was the Son = of God,=20 as we said above, or of man, gave out that Bellerophon, a man born of = man,=20 himself ascended to heaven on his horse Pegasus. And when they heard it = said by=20 the other prophet Isaiah, that He should be born of a virgin, and by His = own=20 means ascend into heaven, they pretended that Perseus was spoken of. And = when=20 they knew what was said, as has been cited above, in the prophecies = written=20 aforetime, "Strong as a giant to run his course,"117=20 they said that Hercules was strong, and had journeyed over the whole = earth. And=20 when, again, they learned that it had been foretold that He should heal = every=20 sickness, and raise the dead, they produced Aesculapius.

But in no instance, not even in any of those called sons of Jupiter, = did they=20 imitate the being crucified; for it was not understood by them, all the = things=20 said of it having been put symbolically. And this, as the prophet = foretold, is=20 the greatest symbol of His power and role; as is also proved by the = things which=20 fall under our observation. For consider all the things in the world, = whether=20 without this form they could be administered or have any community. For = the sea=20 is not traversed except that trophy which is called a sail abide safe in = the=20 ship; and the earth is not ploughed without it: diggers and mechanics do = not=20 their work, except with tools which have this shape. And the human form = differs=20 from that of the irrational animals in nothing else than in its being = erect and=20 having the hands extended, and having on the face extending from the = forehead=20 what is called the nose, through which there is respiration for the = living=20 creature; and this shows no other form than that of the cross. And so it = was=20 said by the prophet, "The breath before our face is the Lord = Christ."118=20 And the power of this form is shown by your own symbols on what are = called=20 "vexilla" [banners] and trophies, with which all your state possessions = are=20 made, using these as the insignia of your power and government, even = though you=20 do so unwittingly.119=20 And with this form you consecrate the images of your emperors when they = die, and=20 you name them gods by inscriptions. Since, therefore, we have urged you = both by=20 reason and by an evident form, and to the utmost of our ability, we know = that=20 now we are blameless even though you disbelieve; for our part is done = and=20 finished.

But the evil spirits were not satisfied with saying, before Christ's=20 appearance, that those who were said to be sons of Jupiter were born of = him; but=20 after He had appeared, and been born among men, and when they learned = how He had=20 been foretold by the prophets, and knew that He should be believed on = and looked=20 for by every nation, they again, as was said above, put forward other = men, the=20 Samaritans Simon and Menander, who did many mighty works by magic, and = deceived=20 many, and still keep them deceived. For even among yourselves, as we = said=20 before,120=20 Simon was in the royal city Rome in the reign of Claudius Caesar, and so = greatly=20 astonished the sacred senate and people of the Romans, that he was = considered a=20 god, and honoured, like the others whom you honour as gods, with a = statue.=20 Wherefore we pray that the sacred senate and your people may, along with = yourselves, be arbiters of this our memorial, in order that if any one = be=20 entangled by that man's doctrines, he may learn the truth, and so be = able to=20 escape error; and as for the statue, if you please, destroy it.

Nor can the devils persuade men that there will be no conflagration = for the=20 punishment of the wicked; as they were unable to effect that Christ = should be=20 hidden after He came. But this only can they effect, that they who live=20 irrationally, and were brought up licentiously in wicked customs, and = are=20 prejudiced in their own opinions, should kill and hate us; whom we not = only do=20 not hate, but, as is proved, pity and endeavour to lead to repentance. = For we do=20 not fear death, since it is acknowledged we must surely die; and there = is=20 nothing new, but all things continue the same in this administration of = things;=20 and if satiety overtakes those who enjoy even one year of these things, = they=20 ought to give heed to our doctrines, that they may live eternally free = both from=20 suffering and from want. But if they believe that there is nothing after = death,=20 but declare that those who die pass into insensibility, then they become = our=20 benefactors when they set us free from sufferings and necessities of = this life,=20 and prove themselves to be wicked, and inhuman, and bigoted. For they = kill us=20 with no intention of delivering us, but cut us off that we may be = deprived of=20 life and pleasure.

And, as we said before, the devils put forward Marcion of Pontus, who = is even=20 now teaching men to deny that God is the maker of all things in heaven = and on=20 earth, and that the Christ predicted by the prophets is His Son, and = preaches=20 another god besides the Creator of all, and likewise another son. And = this man=20 many have believed, as if he alone knew the truth, and laugh at us, = though they=20 have no proof of what they say, but are carried away irrationally as = lambs by a=20 wolf, and become the prey of atheistical doctrines, and of devils. For = they who=20 are called devils attempt nothing else than to seduce men from God who = made=20 them, and from Christ His first-begotten; and those who are unable to = raise=20 themselves above the earth they have riveted, and do now rivet, to = things=20 earthly, and to the works of their own hands; but those who devote = themselves to=20 the contemplation of things divine, they secretly beat back; and if they = have=20 not a wise sober-mindedness, and a pure and passionless life, they drive = them=20 into godlessness.

And that you may learn that it was from our teachers-we mean the = account=20 given through the prophets-that Plato borrowed his statement that God, = having=20 altered matter which was shapeless, made the world, hear the very words = spoken=20 through Moses, who, as above shown, was the first prophet, and of = greater=20 antiquity than the Greek writers; and through whom the Spirit of = prophecy,=20 signifying how and from what materials God at first formed the world, = spake=20 thus: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the = earth was=20 invisible and unfurnished, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; = and the=20 Spirit of God moved over the waters. And God said, Let there be light; = and it=20 was so." So that both Plato and they who agree with him, and we = ourselves, have=20 learned, and you also can be convinced, that by the word of God the = whole world=20 was made out of the substance spoken of before by Moses. And that which = the=20 poets call Erebus, we know was spoken of formerly by Moses.121=20

And the physiological discussion122=20 concerning the Son of God in the Timoeus of Plato, where he says, = "He=20 placed him crosswise123=20 in the universe," he borrowed in like manner from Moses; for in the = writings of=20 Moses it is related how at that time, when the Israelites went out of = Egypt and=20 were in the wilderness, they fell in with poisonous beasts, both vipers = and=20 asps, and every kind of serpent, which slew the people; and that Moses, = by the=20 inspiration and influence of God, took brass, and made it into the = figure of a=20 cross, and set it in the holy tabernacle, and said to the people, "If ye = look to=20 this figure, and believe, ye shall be saved thereby."124=20 And when this was done, it is recorded that the serpents died, and it is = handed=20 down that the people thus escaped death. Which things Plato reading, and = not=20 accurately understanding, and not apprehending that it was the figure of = the=20 cross, but taking it to be a placing crosswise, he said that the power = next to=20 the first God was placed crosswise in the universe. And as to his = speaking of a=20 third, he did this because he read, as we said above, that which was = spoken by=20 Moses, "that the Spirit of God moved over the waters." For he gives the = second=20 place to the Logos which is with God, who he said was placed crosswise = in the=20 universe; and the third place to the Spirit who was said to be borne = upon the=20 water, saying, "And the third around the third."125=20 And hear how the Spirit of prophecy signified through Moses that there = should be=20 a conflagration. He spoke thus: "Everlasting fire shall descend, and = shall=20 devour to the pit beneath."126=20 It is not, then, that we hold the same opinions as others, but that all = speak in=20 imitation of ours. Among us these things can be heard and learned from = persons=20 who do not even know the forms of the letters, who are uneducated and = barbarous=20 in speech, though wise and believing in mind; some, indeed, even maimed = and=20 deprived of eyesight; so that you may understand that these things are = not the=20 effect of human wisdom, but are uttered by the power of God.

I will also relate the manner in which we dedicated ourselves to God = when we=20 had been made new through Christ; lest, if we omit this, we seem to be = unfair in=20 the explanation we are making. As many as are persuaded and believe that = what we=20 teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are = instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of = their=20 sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are = brought by=20 us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which = we were=20 ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of = the=20 universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they = then=20 receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, "Except ye be born = again,=20 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.127=20 Now, that it is impossible for those who have once been born to enter = into their=20 mothers' wombs, is manifest to all. And how those who have sinned and = repent=20 shall escape their sins, is declared by Esaias the prophet, as I wrote=20 above;128=20 he thus speaks: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your = doings from=20 your souls; learn to do well; judge the fatherless, and plead for the = widow: and=20 come and let us reason together, saith the Lord. And though your sins be = as=20 scarlet, I will make them white like wool; and though they be as = crimson, I will=20 make them white as snow. But if ye refuse and rebel, the sword shall = devour you:=20 for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."129=20

And for this [rite] we have learned from the apostles this reason. = Since at=20 our birth we were born without our own knowledge or choice, by our = parents=20 coming together, and were brought up in bad habits and wicked training; = in order=20 that we may not remain the children of necessity and of ignorance, but = may=20 become the children of choice and knowledge, and may obtain in the water = the=20 remission of sins formerly committed, there is pronounced over him who = chooses=20 to be born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of God the = Father and=20 Lord of the universe; he who leads to the laver the person that is to be = washed=20 calling him by this name alone. For no one can utter the name of the = ineffable=20 God; and if any one dare to say that there is a name, he raves with a = hopeless=20 madness. And this washing is called illumination, because they who learn = these=20 things are illuminated in their understandings. And in the name of Jesus = Christ,=20 who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy = Ghost, who=20 through the prophets foretold all things about Jesus, he who is = illuminated is=20 washed.

And the devils, indeed, having heard this washing published by the = prophet,=20 instigated those who enter their temples, and are about to approach them = with=20 libations and burnt-offerings, also to sprinkle themselves; and they = cause them=20 also to wash themselves entirely, as they depart [from the sacrifice], = before=20 they enter into the shrines in which their images are set. And the = command, too,=20 given by the priests to those who enter and worship in the temples, that = they=20 take off their shoes, the devils, learning what happened to the = above-mentioned=20 prophet Moses, have given in imitation of these things. For at that = juncture,=20 when Moses was ordered to go down into Egypt and lead out the people of = the=20 Israelites who were there, and while he was tending the flocks of his = maternal=20 uncle130=20 in the land of Arabia, our Christ conversed with him under the = appearance of=20 fire from a bush, and said, "Put off thy shoes, and draw near and hear." = And he,=20 when he had put off his shoes and drawn near, heard that he was to go = down into=20 Egypt and lead out the people of the Israelites there; and he received = mighty=20 power from Christ, who spoke to him in the appearance of fire, and went = down and=20 led out the people, having done great and marvellous things; which, if = you=20 desire to know, you will learn them accurately from his writings.

And all the Jews even now teach that the nameless God spake to Moses; = whence=20 the Spirit of prophecy, accusing them by Isaiah the prophet mentioned = above,=20 said "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but = Israel doth=20 not know Me, and My people do not understand."131=20 And Jesus the Christ, because the Jews knew not what the Father was, and = what=20 the Son, in like manner accused them; and Himself said, "No one knoweth = the=20 Father, but the Son; nor the Son, but the Father, and they to whom the = Son=20 revealeth Him."132=20 Now the Word of God is His Son, as we have before said. And He is called = Angel=20 and Apostle; for He declares whatever we ought to know, and is sent = forth to=20 declare whatever is revealed; as our Lord Himself says, "He that heareth = Me,=20 heareth Him that sent Me."133=20 From the writings of Moses also this will be manifest; for thus it is = written in=20 them, "And the Angel of God spake to Moses, in a flame of fire out of = the bush,=20 and said, I am that I am, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God = of=20 Jacob, the God of thy fathers; go down into Egypt, and bring forth My=20 people."134=20 And if you wish to learn what follows, you can do so from the same = writings; for=20 it is impossible to relate the whole here. But so much is written for = the sake=20 of proving that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God and His Apostle, = being of old=20 the Word, and appearing sometimes in the form of fire, and sometimes in = the=20 likeness of angels; but now, by the will of God, having become man for = the human=20 race, He endured all the sufferings which the devils instigated the = senseless=20 Jews to inflict upon Him; who, though they have it expressly affirmed in = the=20 writings of Moses, "And the angel of God spake to Moses in a flame of = fire in a=20 bush, and said, I am that I am, the God of Abraham, and the God of = Isaac, and=20 the God of Jacob," yet maintain that He who said this was the Father and = Creator=20 of the universe. Whence also the Spirit of prophecy rebukes them, and = says,=20 "Israel doth not know Me, my people have not understood Me."135=20 And again, Jesus, as we have already shown, while He was with them, = said, "No=20 one knoweth the Father, but the Son; nor the Son but the Father, and = those to=20 whom the Son will reveal Him."136=20 The Jews, accordingly, being throughout of opinion that it was the = Father of the=20 universe who spake to Moses, though He who spake to him was indeed the = Son of=20 God, who is called both Angel and Apostle, are justly charged, both by = the=20 Spirit of prophecy and by Christ Himself, with knowing neither the = Father nor=20 the Son. For they who affirm that the Son is the Father, are proved = neither to=20 have become acquainted with the Father, nor to know that the Father of = the=20 universe has a Son; who also, being the first-begotten Word of God, is = even God.=20 And of old He appeared in the shape of fire and in the likeness of an = angel to=20 Moses and to the other prophets; but now in the times of your = reign,137=20 having, as we before said, become Man by a virgin, according to the = counsel of=20 the Father, for the salvation of those who believe on Him, He endured = both to be=20 set at nought and to suffer, that by dying and rising again He might = conquer=20 death. And that which was said out of the bush to Moses, "I am that I = am, the=20 God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and the God = of your=20 fathers,"138=20 this signified that they, even though dead, are let in existence, and = are men=20 belonging to Christ Himself. For they were the first of all men to busy=20 themselves in the search after God; Abraham being the father of Isaac, = and Isaac=20 of Jacob, as Moses wrote.

From what has been already said, you can understand how the devils, = in=20 imitation of what was said by Moses, asserted that Proserpine was the = daughter=20 of Jupiter, and instigated the people to set up an image of her under = the name=20 of Kore [Cora, i.e., the maiden or daughter] at the spring-heads. For, = as we=20 wrote above,139=20 Moses said, "In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth. And the = earth=20 was without form and unfurnished: and the Spirit of God moved upon the = face of=20 the waters." In imitation, therefore, of what is here said of the Spirit = of God=20 moving on the waters, they said that Proserpine [or Coral was the = daughter of=20 Jupiter.140=20 And in like manner also they craftily feigned that Minerva was the = daughter of=20 Jupiter, not by sexual union, but, knowing that God conceived and made = the world=20 by the Word, they say that Minerva is the first conception [e=20 !nnoia]; which we consider to be very absurd, bringing forward = the form=20 of the conception in a female shape. And in like manner the actions of = those=20 others who are called sons of Jupiter sufficiently condemn them.

But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has = assented=20 to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called = brethren are=20 assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for = ourselves and=20 for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every = place, that=20 we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our = works also=20 to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we = may be=20 saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute = one=20 another with a kiss.141=20 There is then brought to the president of the brethren142=20 bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives = praise and=20 glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of = the Holy=20 Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted = worthy to=20 receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers = and=20 thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying = Amen. This=20 word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to ge/noito=20 [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people = have=20 expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each = of those=20 present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the = thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away = a=20 portion.

And this food is called among us Eu0xaristi/a143=20 [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who = believes=20 that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with = the=20 washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and = who is so=20 living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink = do we=20 receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having = been made=20 flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so = likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the = prayer of His=20 word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, = is the=20 flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.144=20 For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called = Gospels,=20 have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took = bread,=20 and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance of = Me,145=20 this is My body; "and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup = and=20 given thanks, He said, "This is My blood; "and gave it to them alone. = Which the=20 wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the = same=20 thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with = certain=20 incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you = either know=20 or can learn.

And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And = the=20 wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for = all things=20 wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son = Jesus=20 Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday,146=20 all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, = and the=20 memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as = long as=20 time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally=20 instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we = all rise=20 together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, = bread and=20 wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers = prayers and=20 thanksgivings, according to his ability,147=20 and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, = and a=20 participation of that over which thanks have been given,148=20 and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they = who are=20 well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is = collected is=20 deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and = those who,=20 through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in = bonds and=20 the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who = are in=20 need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, = because it=20 is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness = and=20 matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day = rose from=20 the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn = (Saturday); and=20 on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having = appeared to=20 His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have = submitted=20 to you also for your consideration.

And if these things seem to you to be reasonable and true, honour = them; but=20 if they seem nonsensical, despise them as nonsense, and do not decree = death=20 against those who have done no wrong, as you would against enemies. For = we=20 forewarn you, that you shall not escape the coming judgment of God, if = you=20 continue in your injustice; and we ourselves will invite you to do that = which is=20 pleasing to God. And though from the letter of the greatest and most = illustrious=20 Emperor Adrian, your father, we could demand that you order judgment to = be given=20 as we have desired, yet we have made this appeal and explanation, not on = the=20 ground of Adrian's decision, but because we know that what we ask is = just. And=20 we have subjoined the copy of Adrian's epistle, that you may know that = we are=20 speaking truly about this. And the following is the copy:-

I have received the letter addressed to me by your predecessor = Serenius=20 Granianus, a most illustrious man; and this communication I am unwilling = to pass=20 over in silence, lest innocent persons be disturbed, and occasion be = given to=20 the informers for practising villany. Accordingly, if the inhabitants of = your=20 province will so far sustain this petition of theirs as to accuse the = Christians=20 in some court of law, I do not prohibit them from doing so. But I will = not=20 suffer them to make use of mere entreaties and outcries. For it is far = more=20 just, if any one desires to make an accusation, that you give judgment = upon it.=20 If, therefore, any one makes the accusation, and furnishes proof that = the said=20 men do anything contrary to the laws, you shall adjudge punishments in=20 proportion to the offences. And this, by Hercules; you shall give = special heed=20 to, that if any man shall, through mere calumny, bring an accusation = against any=20 of these persons, you shall award to him more severe punishments in = proportion=20 to his wickedness.

The Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, = Supreme=20 Pontiff, in the fifteenth year of his tribuneship, Consul for the third = time,=20 Father of the fatherland, to the Common Assembly of Asia, greeting: I = should=20 have thought that the gods themselves would see to it that such = offenders should=20 not escape. For if they had the power, they themselves would much rather = punish=20 those who refuse to worship them; but it is you who bring trouble on = these=20 persons, and accuse as the opinion of atheists that which they hold, and = lay to=20 their charge certain other things which we are unable to prove. But it = would be=20 advantageous to them that they should be thought to die for that of = which they=20 are accused, and they conquer you by being lavish of their lives rather = than=20 yield that obedience which you require of them. And regarding the = earthquakes=20 which have already happened and are now occurring, it is not seemly that = you=20 remind us of them, losing heart whenever they occur, and thus set your = conduct=20 in contrast with that of these men; for they have much greater = confidence=20 towards God than you yourselves have. And you, indeed, seem at such = times to=20 ignore the gods, and you neglect the temples, and make no recognition of = the=20 worship of God. And hence you are jealous of those who do serve Him, and = persecute them to the death. Concerning such persons, some others also = of the=20 governors of provinces wrote to my most divine father; to whom he = replied that=20 they should not at all disturb such persons, unless they were found to = be=20 attempting anything against the Roman government. And to myself many = have sent=20 intimations regarding such persons, to whom I also replied in pursuance = of my=20 father's judgment. But if any one has a matter to bring against any = person of=20 this class, merely as such a person,151=20 let the accused be acquitted of the charge, even though he should be = found to be=20 such an one; but let the accuser he amenable to justice.

The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Germanicus, Parthicus,=20 Sarmaticus, to the People of Rome, and to the sacred Senate greeting: I=20 explained to you my grand design, and what advantages I gained on the = confines=20 of Germany, with much labour and suffering, in consequence of the = circumstance=20 that I was surrounded by the enemy; I myself being shut up in Carnuntum = by=20 seventy-four cohorts, nine miles off. And the enemy being at hand, the = scouts=20 pointed out to us, and our general Pompeianus showed us that there was = close on=20 us a mass of a mixed multitude of 977, 000 men, which indeed we saw; and = I was=20 shut up by this vast host, having with me only a battalion composed of = the=20 first, tenth, double and marine legions. Having then examined my own = position,=20 and my host, with respect to the vast mass of barbarians and of the = enemy, I=20 quickly betook myself to prayer to the gods of my country. But being = disregarded=20 by them, I summoned those who among us go by the name of Christians. And = having=20 made inquiry, I discovered a great number and vast host of them, and = raged=20 against them, which was by no means becoming; for afterwards I learned = their=20 power. Wherefore they began the battle, not by preparing weapons, nor = arms, nor=20 bugles; for such preparation is hateful to them, on account of the God = they bear=20 about in their conscience. Therefore it is probable that those whom we = suppose=20 to be atheists, have God as their ruling power entrenched in their = conscience.=20 For having cast themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me, = but also=20 for the whole army as it stood, that they might be delivered from the = present=20 thirst and famine. For during five days we had got no water, because = there was=20 none; for we were in the heart of Germany, and in the enemy's territory. = And=20 simultaneously with their casting themselves on the ground, and praying = to God=20 (a God of whom I am ignorant), water poured from heaven, upon us most=20 refreshingly cool, but upon the enemies of Rome a withering153=20 hail. And immediately we recognised the presence of God following on the = prayer-a God unconquerable and indestructible. Founding upon this, then, = let us=20 pardon such as are Christians, lest they pray for and obtain such a = weapon=20 against ourselves. And I counsel that no such person be accused on the = ground of=20 his being a Christian. But if any one be found laying to the charge of a = Christian that he is a Christian, I desire that it be made manifest that = he who=20 is accused as a Christian, and acknowledges that he is one, is accused = of=20 nothing else than only this, that he is a Christian; but that he who = arraigns=20 him be burned alive. And I further desire, that he who is entrusted with = the=20 government of the province shall not compel the Christian, who confesses = and=20 certifies such a matter, to retract; neither shall he commit him. And I = desire=20 that these things be confirmed by a decree of the Senate. And I command = this my=20 edict to be published in the Forum of Trajan, in order that it may be = read. The=20 prefect Vitrasius Pollio will see that it be transmitted to all the = provinces=20 round about, and that no one who wishes to make use of or to possess it = be=20 hindered from obtaining a copy from the document I now publish.

3D"Previous3D"Top3D"Next

------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/pix/MROONPPV.GIF R0lGODlhNwANALP/AP///+/e3t69vc6trcacnLWEhKVjY8xmZr1aWsDAwKVCQoQxMZQpKXsQEGYA AAAAACH5BAEAAAkALAAAAAA3AA0AQASa0MlJq70451TX+YdGKcAyFaUSFI4BGA7ACsGiNBVHNQoo TiSATNIQ4iQoIUwgBChyv6h0qrscp1iRrge6RkmEAQC3Iggkg0CFJhCYKFULI/vjeTFxuj6aJ/b2 GXY/VTwgN1IkBigmBgErEi4wCk80Nnc6DR6GUwsAAQJPRU04A2cxMysFlxcMCCFfThMCBBJmtU1L TU9wgL1aEQA7 ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/pix/MROONTOC.GIF R0lGODlhNwANALP/AP///+/e3t69vc6trcacnLWEhKVjY8xmZsDAwKVCQoQxMZQpKXsQEGYAAAAA AAAAACH5BAEAAAgALAAAAAA3AA0AQAR4sMlJq704Z6S7LsAUDAwTEM0CEExicV5MATRQNEpAC4xk 6IGXbEjcFI9ImOTAbDKXhyFIogC4GlMDoHdRIokKLiUhnni/aOPE6YSmwxayMH1JEKy9UenUYKxa c3QWUzhWEgVBWmUUXmxNbjKEODoAPD5AgYKaEggRADs= ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/pix/MROONPNX.GIF R0lGODlhNwANALP/AP///+/e3t69vc6trcacnLWEhKVjY8xmZr1aWsDAwKVCQoQxMZQpKXsQEGYA AAAAACH5BAEAAAkALAAAAAA3AA0AQASb0MlJq70450TR+YtmKUAoFaUSFI4BGA7ACsGiNBQ3fcct ViSATNIQ4k7Cl0OQVOR+0KhUR5Rarw7qpMHrQUmEAQC3Iggkg0CFJhCYJFoG9trwabTzvEjbO+o1 dX4YWnU8dj8kBighBgErEi4wCk40NoKEC11OUAsAAQJORUk4A2cxMysFlxQHCHJXJJtLBBJmtUkw TEKyWX++GxEAOw== ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/pix/mroonspm.gif R0lGODlhWAIFAMT/AP///+/e3t69vc6trcacnLWEhKVjY8xmZr1aWoxCQqVCQoQxMZQpKXsQEGYA AMDAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAEA AP8ALAAAAABYAgUAQAVboCOOZGmeaKqubOu+cCzPdG3feK7vfO//wKBwSCwaj8ikcslsOp9Q3GFK rVqv2Kx2y+16v+CweEwum8/otHrNbrvf8Lh8bo3a7/i8fs/v+/+AgYKDhIWGh4g+IQA7 ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/pix/MROONTOP.GIF R0lGODlhNwANALP/AP///+/e3t69vc6trcacnLWEhKVjY8xmZr1aWsDAwKVCQoQxMZQpKXsQEGYA AAAAACH5BAEAAAkALAAAAAA3AA0AQASG0MlJq70450TVUY6HaFoBTMHQNAERAgvGVd5BakAOFM4S 5ILGK8erzG7IJPLYUTqVzNBhantOTJIFAOTAKgCEAUBIiVqVC/LNfG5vLI1DzH1JJ6Px6dyqIGyF KSstLwYmexJMeQ0IBwxtWD1bEgUBkQECXGUTihJTjlaQPT8AQS+ZRnSpGxEAOw== ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0 Content-Type: text/css; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/fathers.css BODY { BACKGROUND: #f7f8d1 } UNKNOWN { FONT-SIZE: 90%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.4in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0.4in } UNKNOWN { MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: right } P.Body { MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.4in } P.Unindented { MARGIN-TOP: 0in } P.Body2 { MARGIN-TOP: 12pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.4in } P.Unindented2 { MARGIN-TOP: 12pt } P.ChapterSummary { FONT-SIZE: 110%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.4in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0.4in; TEXT-ALIGN: = center } P.List1 { MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in } P.List1a { MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in } P.List2 { MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in } P.HeaderInfo { BACKGROUND: #ffee77; FONT-FAMILY: Ariel, Helvetica } ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C72CC1.E3DCB0F0--