Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X We must therefore inquire whether, by the expression, "His own country," is meant Nazareth or Bethlehem,-Nazareth, because of the saying, "He shall be called a Nazarene,"[96] The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew After no long time the angel said to Joseph: Return to the land of Judah, for they are dead who sought the child's life.[56] Tertullian On Repentance John holds not his peace, saying, "Enter upon repentance, for now shall salvation approach the nations"[9] Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book II of the Virgin; those a little before His bodily appearance by John His forerunner, and the same by the same person after Christ's birth, saying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; "[244] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X and proved by example and absolute demonstration, can one understand the kingdom of heaven, so that he who abounds in knowledge free from error is in the kingdom of the multitude of what are here represented as "heavens." So, too, you will allegorise the word, "Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand,"[70] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XII And perhaps, also, each virtue is a kingdom of heaven, and all together are a kingdom of the heavens; so that according to this he is already in the kingdom of the heavens who lives according to the virtues, so that according to this the saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,"[103] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough into smooth ways; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."[69] Tertullian On Baptism of baptism, "make the paths straight"[46] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus Fourth Homily I cannot keep silence while Thou art present, for I am a voice; yea, I am the voice, as it is said, of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.[9] Gospel of Nicodemus II The Descent of Christ into Hell Then there came into the midst another, an ascetic from the desert; and the patriarchs said to him: Who art thou? And he said: I am John, the last of the prophets, who made the paths of the Son of God straight,[3] Tertullian On Baptism even of the baptism of John: "They were baptized," saith (the Scripture), "confessing their own sins."[203] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham [to our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."[68] Clement of Alexandria Exhortation to the Heathen Again, therefore, some venomous and false hypocrites, who plotted against righteousness, He once called "a brood of vipers."[6] Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book I And in the Gospel by John He says, "Serpents, brood of vipers."[203] Tertullian A Treatise on the Soul If so, then "God will not be able any longer to raise up from the stones children unto Abraham; nor to make a generation of vipers bring forth fruits of repentance."[170] Tertullian On Baptism In fact, the doctors of the law and the Pharisees, who were unwilling to "believe," did not "repent" either.[101] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments Wherefore John, the forerunner of the Lord, who before knew not this mystery, on learning that He is Lord in truth, cried out, and spake to those who came to be baptized of him, "O generation of vipers,"[383] Origen Commentary on John Book VI They send envoys who deal in rebukes, and so far as their power extends debar him from baptizing; their envoys ask, Why baptizest thou, then, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? And if we were to stitch together into one statement what is written in the various Gospels, we should say that at this time they spoke as is here reported, but that at a later time, when they wished to received baptism, they heard the address of John:[84] And we have to observe how, when Matthew reports that there went out to John Jerusalem and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, to be baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins, it was not these people who heard from the Baptist any word of rebuke or refutation, but only those many Pharisees and Sadducees whom he saw coming. They it was who were greeted with the address, "Ye offspring of vipers," etc.[92] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus First Homily "that should bring forth fruits meet for repentance,"[6] Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians For Christ is one, in whom every nation that believes, and every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. And those that were of a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God;[72] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV as John the Baptist says: "For God is able from these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."[76] For thus it had behoved the sons of Abraham [to be], whom God has raised up to him from the stones,[344] The skill of God, therefore, is not defective, for He has power of the stones to raise up children to Abraham;[627] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V Now I have shown a short time ago that the church is the seed of Abraham; and for this reason, that we may know that He who in the New Testament "raises up from the stones children unto Abraham,"[302] Clement of Alexandria Exhortation to the Heathen As our witness, let us adduce the voice of prophecy accordant with truth, and bewailing those who are crushed in ignorance and folly: "For God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham; "[5] Tertullian Against Hermogenes if nature admits of change from evil to good in Matter, it can be changed from good to evil in God. Here some man will say, Then will "children not be raised up to Abraham from the stones? "[120] had been by nature evil, why might it not have been changed by God as the more powerful Being, as able to convert the nature of stones into children of Abraham?[404] Tertullian On Monogamy (nations) who, as the fruit of the "faith" which precedes digamy, had to be accounted "sons of Abraham."[36] Tertullian On Modesty -and in their stead must be under-strewn stones polished and apt for conjunction, and firm,-such as are made (by God) into (sons) of Abraham,[262] Cyprian Epistle LXII Whence in the Gospel we find that "children of Abraham are raised from stones, that is, are gathered from the Gentiles."[9] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV "For every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire; "[100] that all may know, "that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire."[574] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V For that the word of God is likened to an axe, John the Baptist declares [when he says] in reference to it, "But now also is the axe laid to the root of the trees."[153] Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus "The axe unto the root,"[51] Tertullian De Corona There the blood of the Lord serves for your purple robe, and your broad stripe is His own cross; there the axe is already laid to the trunk of the tree;[50] Tertullian On Repentance and shall not see fire,"[30] nor "axe."[31] Tertullian On Exhortation to Chastity The wood was the old order, which is being pruned down by the new Gospel, in which withal "the axe has been laid at the roots."[30] Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book V This, he says, is what is spoken: "Every tree not producing good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire."[105] Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book VI For somewhere near, he says, is the axe (which is laid) at the roots of the tree. Every tree, he says, which does not produce good fruit, is hewn down and cast into fire.[25] Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews In the Gospel according to Matthew: "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire."[548] Pseudo-Cyprian On the Glory of Martyrdom For things passing away ought not to move us, seeing that they are always being pressed forward to their own overthrow, not only by the law proposed to them, but even by the very end of time. John exclaims, and says, "Now is the axe laid to the root of the tree; "[24] Origen Commentary on John Book VI But both classes see John point to the stones aforesaid and declare that even from these children can be raised up to Abraham, rising up out of unconsciousness and deadness. And observe how it is said to the Pharisees,[94] Dialogue of Justin He cried, as he sat by the river Jordan: `I baptize you with water to repentance; but He that is stronger than I shall come, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into the barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.'[154] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV Now, who this Lord is that brings such a day about, John the Baptist points out, when he says of Christ, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, having His fan in His hand to cleanse His floor; and He will gather His fruit into the garner, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire."[44] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book VII But we say that the fire sanctifies[54] Tertullian On Baptism celestial in John-the Spirit of prophecy-so completely failed, after the transfer of the whole Spirit to the Lord, that he presently sent to inquire whether He whom he had himself preached,[105] and again, by saying that he "baptized in repentance only, but that One would shortly come who would baptize in the Spirit and fire; "[112] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments "There comes One mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."[389] Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews Moreover, in the Gospel according to Matthew, John says: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."[59] A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer t is, from the most ancient baptism of Moses, and preparing the way of the new and true grace, both preoccupied the ears of the Jews gradually by the baptism of water and of repentance which for the time he practised, and took possession of them with the announcement of a spiritual baptism that was to come, exhorting them, and saying, "He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire; "[5] Excerpts of Theodotus John says: "I indeed baptize you with water, but there cometh after me He that baptizeth with the Spirit and fire."[42] Origen Commentary on John Book VI Matthew reports that the Baptist, when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, after the words of rebuke which we have already studied, went on:[101] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV and slaying the impious with the breath of His lips, and having a fan in His hands, and cleansing His floor, and gathering the wheat indeed into His barn, but burning the chaff with unquenchable fire.[468] Others again, speaking of Him as a judge, and [referring], as if it were a burning furnace, [to] the day of the Lord, who "gathers the wheat into His barn, but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire,"[500] Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book I "For the fan is in the Lord's hand, by which the chaff due to the fire is separated from the wheat."[219] Tertullian The Prescription Against Heretics and He carries "His fan in His hand to purge His threshing-floor."[26] Tertullian On Repentance and "dust of the threshing-floor,"[26] Tertullian To His Wife Book I At Rome, for instance, they who have to do with the type of that "inextinguishable fire,"[68] Tertullian De Fuga in Persecutione This is that fan which even now cleanses the Lord's threshing-floor-the Church, I mean-winnowing the mixed heap of believers, and separating the grain[2] Excerpts of Theodotus But some, as Heraclius says, marked with fire the ears of those who were sealed; understanding so the apostolic saying, "For His fan is in His hand, to purge His floor: and He will gather the wheat into the garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire un-quenchable."[43] Recognitions of Clement III But as the rain given by God equally nourishes the corn and the tares, but at the time of harvest the crops are gathered into the barn, but the chaff or the tares are burnt in the fire,[20] Acts and Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Andrew The holy Andrew said: Listen, O son of death and chaff made ready for eternal burnings,[15] Pseudo-Tertullian Against All Heresies came down on Jesus;[66] Tertullian On Baptism ;[83] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments and was baptized in the Jordan.[377] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus Fourth Homily Come, let us view the image of our regeneration, as it is emblematically presented in these waters. "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him."[3] And Jesus answered and said to him: Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.[19] The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour And from this day He began to hide His miracles and mysteries and secrets, and to give attention to the law, until He completed His thirtieth year, when His Father publicly declared Him at the Jordan by this voice sent down from heaven: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; the Holy Spirit being present in the form of a white dove.[25] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments Wherefore John, on seeing so great a humbling of Himself, was struck with astonishment at the affair, and began to prevent Him, saying, as ye have just heard, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? "[394] Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans of God; that He was truly born of a virgin, was baptized by John, in order that all righteousness might be fulfilled[5] by the Virgin Mary; was baptized by John, that all righteousness might be fulfilled[10] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments And what saith the Lord to him? "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."[396] Cyprian Epistle LXXI t in the warmth of their faith, and believing in the Lord with their whole heart; and when, filled with the Spirit, they blessed God in divers tongues, still none the less the blessed Apostle Peter, mindful of the divine precept and the Gospel, commanded that those same men should be baptized who had already been filled with the Holy Spirit, that nothing might seem to be neglected to the observance by the apostolic instruction in all things of the law of the divine precept and Gospel.[5] A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer And their hearts being purified, God bestowed upon them at the same time, in virtue of their faith, remission of sins; so that the subsequent baptism conferred upon them this benefit alone, that they received also the invocation of the name of Jesus Christ, that nothing might appear to be wanting to the integrity of their service and faith.[14] Lactantius Divine Institutes Book IV away in the spiritual layer not His own sins, for it is evident that He had none, but those of the flesh,[165] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III And then, [speaking of His] baptism, Matthew says, "The heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God, as a dove, coming upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."[80] Tertullian Against Marcion Book III -that is, simply like a dove.[379] Tertullian On the Flesh of Christ of a dove, and sat upon the Lord.[47] Tertullian On Baptism He reposes: (He who) glided down on the Lord "in the shape of a dove,"[65] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and the heavens were opened unto Him; and, lo, the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and rested upon Him. And a voice (came) from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."[398] and descended in flight upon Christ.[413] Dialogue of Justin For this devil, when [Jesus] went up from the river Jordan, at the time when the voice spake to Him, `Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten Thee, '[397] Tertullian A Treatise on the Soul really hear the Father's voice testifying of Himself;[124] Tertullian Against Praxeas -as, for instance, when He said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him."[232] Origen Against Celsus Book II Accordingly, the voice from heaven which proclaimed Him to be the Son of God, in the words, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,"[195] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus On the Trinity And on the mount the Father spake, and said, "This is my beloved Son."[5] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus Twelve Topics on the Faith He became man and was born in Bethlehem, and was brought up in Nazareth, and advanced in age, and on completing the set number of years (appeared in public and) was baptized in the Jordan, and received this testimony from the Father, "This is my beloved Son,"[5] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus Fourth Homily ture the Father of the Only-begotten, He who alone knoweth perfectly Him whom He alone in passionless fashion begat, to correct the erroneous imaginations of the Jews, opened the gates of the heavens, and sent down the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, lighting upon the head of Jesus, pointing out thereby the new Noah, yea the maker of Noah, and the good pilot of the nature which is in shipwreck. And He Himself calls with clear voice out of heaven, and says: "This is my beloved Son,"[22] Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes And whose, too, was that voice which was sent forth out of heaven, and which gave Him this testimony, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased? "[611] of Mary? For just as no other had the capacity sufficient for sustaining the burden of the Paraclete except only the disciples and the blessed Paul, so also no other was able to bear the Spirit who descended from heaven, and through whom that voice of the Father gave its testimony in these terms, "This is my beloved Son,"[636] Alexander Epistles on the Arian Heresy For to distinguish Him from those who are not properly sons, He said that He was His own Son. And in the Gospel we read: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."[21] Lactantius Divine Institutes Book IV of the purifying dew. Then a voice from heaven was heard: "Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee."[167] Recognitions of Clement I But after Aaron, who was a priest, another is taken out of the waters. I do not speak of Moses, but of Him who, in the waters of baptism, was called by God His Son.[47] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X Precious, then, is a lamp to men in darkness, and there is need of a lamp until the sun rise; and precious also is the glory in the face of Moses, and of the prophets also, I think, and a beautiful sight, by which we are introduced so as to be able to see the glory of Christ, to which the Father bears witness, saying, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased."[38] Tertullian Against Marcion Book V , whereas even the devil according to our Gospel recognised Jesus in the temptation,[252] Tertullian On Baptism showed, by maintaining a fast of forty days, that the man of God lives "not by bread alone," but "by the word of God; "[212] Dionysius The Gospel According to Luke Thus Jesus was led up of the Spirit, not indeed to enter into temptation, but to be tempted of the devil.[30] Dionysius An Exposition of Luke XXII. 46 Thus Jesus was led up of the Spirit, not indeed to enter into temptation, but "to be tempted of the devil."[9] Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes and here, my Lord Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness when He was tempted of the devil, and fasted in like manner forty days.[527] The Protevangelium of James and there pitched his tent, and fasted forty days and forty nights,[8] Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians But after His [lengthened] fast thou didst again assume thy wonted audacity, and didst tempt Him when hungry, as if He had been an ordinary man, not knowing who He was. For thou saidst, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."[42] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV And the devil looking at Him, and tempting Him, said: "If Thou art the Son of God; "[66] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V For, when tempting Him, he said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."[183] Tertullian Against Praxeas serpent has fallen out with himself, since, when he tempted Christ after John's baptism, he approached Him as "the Son of God; "surely intimating that God had a Son, even on the testimony of the very Scriptures, out of which he was at the moment forging his temptation: "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."[3] ."[369] Tertullian On Fasting having (the power) to make "loaves out of stones,"[60] Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments As John says these things to the multitude, and as the people watch in eager expectation of seeing some strange spectacle with their bodily eyes, and the devil[391] Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes For forthwith Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil; and as the devil had no correct knowledge of Him, he said to Him, "If thou be the Son of God."[632] Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book II "For the righteous shall not live by bread."[15] Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book III Notwithstanding let him read what follows: "For the righteous man shall not live by bread alone, but by the word of the Lord,"[71] Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh You will reckon, (I suppose) onions and truffles among earth's bounties, since the Lord declares that "man shall not live on bread alone!"[187] For even so early was the principle consecrated: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."[468] Tertullian On Fasting teaching man not to be studious of the stomach.[38] Hegesippus Do thou, therefore, persuade the people not to entertain erroneous opinions concerning Jesus: for all the people, and we also, listen to thy persuasion. Take thy stand, then, upon the summit[5] Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians from the very highest glory, to say to the Lord, "Cast thyself down from hence[47] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V Then in the Gospel, casting down the apostasy by means of these expressions, He did both overcome the strong man by His Father's voice, and He acknowledges the commandment of the law to express His own sentiments, when He says, "Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God."[194] Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians And thou dost set forth thine own fall as an example to the Lord, and dost promise to give Him what is really His own, if He would fall down and worship thee.[53] Dialogue of Justin is recorded in the memoirs of the apostles to have come to Him and tempted Him, even so far as to say to Him, `Worship me; 'and Christ answered him, `Get thee behind me, Satan: thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'[398] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V As therefore the devil lied at the beginning, so did he also in the end, when he said, "All these are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give them."[206] Origen Against Celsus Book VIII For we worship the Lord our God, and Him only do we serve, and desire to be followers of Christ, who, when the devil said to Him, "All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me," answered him by the words, "Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall thou serve."[115] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XII with that said to the devil (who said to Him, "All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me"),[150] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XIII He was delivered into the hands of men, not by His own servants, but by the prince of this age who says, concerning the powers which are in the sphere of the invisible, the kingdoms which are set up against men. "All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship Me."[74] Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians But the Lord is long-suffering, and does not reduce to nothing him who in his ignorance dares [to utter] such words, but meekly replies, "Get thee hence, Satan."[56] For I know Who I am, and by Whom I have been sent, and Whom it behoves Me to worship. For "thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."[57] Dialogue of Justin For He answers him, `It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall thou serve.'[491] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V " The Lord then, exposing him in his true character, says, "Depart, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."[190] Tertullian On Prayer He Himself, when tempted by the devil, demonstrated who it is that presides over and is the originator of temptation.[61] Origen Against Celsus Book VII and again, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."[151] Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes But because it was God who first gave the commandment, the Lord Jesus Himself said to the devil, "Get thee behind me, Satan; "[294] and, without doubt, to go behind God is the sign of being His servant. And again He says, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."[295] Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle And when they shall have, during these days, exercised themselves much, and constantly fasted, then let them watch in prayer, meditating upon what was spoken by the Lord to him who tempted Him to fall down and worship him: "Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."[5] Recognitions of Clement IV Therefore our Lord, confirming the worship of one God, answered him: `It is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'[28] Recognitions of Clement V Imitate Him, therefore, and fear Him, as the commandment is given to men, `Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'[10] Clementine Homily X "Therefore you shall be able to persuade yourselves with respect to the things that are profitable, if, like charmers, you say to the horrible serpent which lurks in your heart, `The Lord God thou shall fear, and Him alone thou shall serve.'[2] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XII "get thee hence,"[151] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X And those who attended to the net which was cast into the sea are Jesus Christ, the master of the net, and "the angels who came and ministered unto Him,"[54] Tertullian An Answer to the Jews while the light from on high would beam upon us who were sitting in darkness, and were being detained in the shadow of death.[88] Tertullian On Fasting By and by the Lord Himself consecrated His own baptism (and, in His own, that of all) by fasts;[59] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI and that, because of their being suspected of plotting against Him, it is said, "He withdrew," is manifest from the passage, "And when He heard that John was delivered up He withdrew into Galilee."[154] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV As Isaiah says: "Drink in this first, and be prompt, O region of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, and ye others who (inhabit) the sea-coast, and that of Jordan, Galilee of the nations, ye people who sit in darkness, behold a great light; upon you, who inhabit (that) land, sitting in the shadow of death, the light hath arisen."[167] Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments " And that this is said prophetically of the Church of the Gentiles, is made apparent to us in the Gospel: "The land of Zabulun, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light."[19] And he (Naphtali) is adopted as a figure of things pertaining to us, as the Gospel shows: "The land of Zabulun, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan,"[35] Tertullian Against Marcion Book V -to them, that is, "who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death? "[531] Origen Against Celsus Book VI For "the people that sat in darkness-the Gentiles-saw a great light, and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up,"[347] The First Epistle of Clement Concerning Virginity giving light to "those who sit in darkness,"[11] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XIII no longer sitting "in the region and shadow of death,"[79] Clement of Alexandria Exhortation to the Heathen For this, and nothing but this, is His only work-the salvation of man. Therefore He Himself, urging them on to salvation, cries, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."[115] Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments etc.; and, "To them that sat in darkness light has arisen."[36] Origen Commentary on John Book X and him who is seen by Jesus when walking by the sea of Galilee,[23] Origen Against Celsus Book I el relates of them, and in respect to which Celsus believes that they speak the truth, inasmuch as it is their own ignorance which they record), discoursing boldly not only among the Jews of faith in Jesus, but also preaching Him with success among other nations, would not inquire whence they derived this power of persuasion, as theirs was certainly not the common method followed by the multitude? And who would not say that the promise, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,"[117] The Teaching of Addaeus the Apostle For there was no one who saw them that did not run to meet them, that he might salute them respectfully, because the very sight of them shed peace upon the beholden: for just like a net[90] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XII " But that Peter was formerly behind the Son of God, before he committed this sin, is manifest from the words, "Come ye behind Me, and I will make you fishers of men."[148] without the addition, "behind Me; "for to be behind Jesus is a good tiling. Wherefore it was said, "Come ye behind Me and I will make you fishers of men."[152] Tertullian On Idolatry and handicrafts, and trades, are to be quite left behind for the Lord's sake; while James and John, called by the Lord, do leave quite behind both father and ship;[88] Tertullian On Baptism deserted father and ship, and the craft by which he gained his living;[134] Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians and was a perfect man, and not merely one dwelling in a man? But how came this magician into existence, who of old formed all nature that can be apprehended either by the senses or intellect, according to the will of the Father; and, when He became incarnate, healed every kind of disease and infirmity?[33] Excerpt on Edessa from the History of the Church of the country, to Jesus, the good Saviour, who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem: Peace. I have heard about Thee,[20]