Tertullian A Treatise on the Soul Read the testimony of John: "That which we have seen, which we have heard, which we have looked upon with our eyes, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."[131] Tertullian Against Praxeas But the very same apostles testify that they had both seen and "handled" Christ.[175] "That," says John, "which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."[176] Tertullian Of Patience but what is that which, in a certain way, has been grasped by hand[15] Tertullian To His Wife Book I To God their beauty, to God their youth (is dedicated). With Him they live; with Him they converse; Him they "handle"[39] Five Books in Reply to Marcion From death recovered body,[182] Origen Against Celsus Book I and a sense of touch, by which John says that he "handled with his hands of the Word of life; "[81] Origen Against Celsus Book VII -no one is so foolish as not to see that the word "hands" is taken figuratively, as when John says, "Our hands have handled the Word of life."[81] Fragments of Caius nativity, His passion, His resurrection, His conversation with His disciples, and His twofold advent,-the first in the humiliation of rejection, which is now past, and the second in the glory of royal power, which is yet in the future. What marvel is it, then, that John brings forward these several things[31] Dionysius Extant Fragments Part I " The evangelist, on the other hand, has not prefixed his name even to the catholic epistle; but without any circumlocution, he has commenced at once with the mystery of the divine revelation itself in these terms: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes."[17] Tertullian On the Flesh of Christ For its salvation is endangered, not by its being ignorant of itself, but of the word of God. "The life," says He, "was manifested,"[179] Tertullian Against Praxeas , ) Son Jesus Christ, that "our fellowship may be with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."[399] Tertullian On Repentance Draw whatever (veil of) darkness you please over your deeds, "God is light."[53] Tertullian On Modesty Nay, but this whole world is the one house of all; in which world it is more the heathen, who is found in darkness, whom the grace of God enlightens, than the Christian, who is already in God's light.[87] Origen de Principiis Book I Now, I should like to ask these persons what they have to say respecting that passage where it is declared that God is light; as John writes in his Epistle, "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all."[3] Origen de Principiis Book IV Nor, seeing He is called the Son of (His) love, will it appear absurd if in this way He be called the Son of (His) will. Nay, John also indicates that "God is Light,"[19] Origen Against Celsus Book II hearing it declared in one passage, that "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all; "[192] Origen Against Celsus Book V But even this rational light itself ought not to be worshipped by him who beholds and understands the true light, by sharing in which these also are enlightened; nor by him who beholds God, the Father of the true light,-of whom it has been said, "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all."[37] Origen Commentary on John Book II "They knew not, they understood not, they walk in darkness." Consider, however, this passage,[75] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book III Si autem in luce ambulamus, sicut et ipse est in luce, societatem habemus cum ipso, et sanguis Jesu filii ejus emundat nos a peccato."[25] Origen Commentary on John Book II And again that darkness is brought upon men by their evil deeds, we learn from John himself, when he says in his epistle,[73] Tertullian On Modesty From the Epistle also of John they forthwith cull (a proof). It is said: "The blood of His Son purifieth us utterly from every sin."[240] Tertullian On Modesty If we confess our sins, faithful and just is He to remit them to us, and utterly purify us from every unrighteousness."[243] Cyprian Treatise VIII On Works and Alms And again, in his epistle, John lays it down, and says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."[10] Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews Also in the Epistle of John: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."[644] Gregory Thaumaturgus A Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes Wisdom availeth more in the way of help than a band of the most powerful men in a city, and it often also pardons righteously those who fail in duty. For there is not one that stumbleth not.[50] Genuine Acts of Peter of Alexandria and another, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."[40] Tertullian On Modesty For see yet again: "If we say," he says, "that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."[244]