Tertullian On Modesty I blush not at an error which I have ceased to hold, because I am delighted at having ceased to hold it, because I recognise myself to be better and more modest. No one blushes at his own improvement. Even in Christ, knowledge had its stages of growth;[10] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XIII ut to the spermatic principles, that one is short and little, another great, and another of middle height; but in the case of souls, it is our free-will, and actions of such a kind, and habits of such a kind, that furnish the reason why one is great, or little, or of middle height; and it is of our free-will either by advancing in stature to increase our size, or not advancing to be short. And so indeed I understand the words about Jesus having assumed a human soul, "Jesus advanced; "[152] Dialogue of Justin of God, by the revelation of His Father: and since we find it recorded in the memoirs of His apostles that He is the Son of God, and since we call Him the Son, we have understood that He proceeded before all creatures from the Father by His power and will (for He is addressed in the writings of the prophets in one way or another as Wisdom, and the Day,[385] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book I And to prove that this is true, it is written in the Gospel by Luke as follows: "And in the fifteenth year, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias." And again in the same book: "And Jesus was coming to His baptism, being about thirty years old,"[292] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius[155] Five Books in Reply to Marcion 115 Came suddenly to earth,[14] Origen Commentary on John Book VI Luke, like Mark, remembers the passage, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness," but lie for his part treats it as follows:[93] Tertullian Against Marcion Book V and hills and mountains may be filled up and levelled, and the crooked and the rough ways be made straight and smooth[109] Tertullian On Repentance John holds not his peace, saying, "Enter upon repentance, for now shall salvation approach the nations"[9] 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] Origen Commentary on John Book VI "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink." He it was. too, who said,[59] 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] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V For his seed is the Church, which receives the adoption to God through the Lord, as John the Baptist said: "For God is able from the stones to raise up children to Abraham."[279] 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 On Modesty was the herald of repentance no less to such as were on military service and to publicans, than to the sons of Abraham.[115] -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] 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] Origen Commentary on John Book VI "Ye have eaten false fruit," and they have false fruit,-" Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire," while to the multitudes which do not bear fruit at all,[96] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV For, because He knew that we would make a good use of our substance which we should possess by receiving it from another, He says, "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."[424] Tertullian Of Patience Who fears not to lose, finds it not irksome to give. Else how will one, when he has two coats, give the one of them to the naked,[77] Tertullian On Idolatry For albeit soldiers had come unto John, and had received the formula of their rule;[158] Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book II And, besides, even the soldiers and multitude of publicans, who came to hear the word of the Lord about repentance, heard this from the prophet John, after he had baptized them: "Do nothing more than that which is appointed you."[187] Dubious Hippolytus Fragments And before the judgment-seat of Christ shall stand those who once were kings and rulers, chief priests and priests; and they shall give an account of their administration, and of the fold, whoever of them through their negligence have lost one sheep out of the flock. And then shall be brought forward soldiers who were riot content with their provision,[112] Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book VIII If a soldier come, let him be taught to "do no injustice, to accuse no man falsely, and to be content with his allotted wages: "[165] Origen Commentary on John Book VI And from this outward similarity it came that with those who did not distinguish between the image itself and that which was according to the image, John was thought to be Christ[143] Origen Commentary on John Book VI at every soul that will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among His people," There was, therefore, an expectation of one particular prophet having a resemblance to Moses in mediating between God and the people and receiving a new covenant from God to give to those who accepted his teaching; and in the case of each of the prophets, the people of Israel recognized that he was not the person of whom Moses spoke. As, then, they doubted about John, whether he were not the Christ,[57] Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book II As a witness for simplicity in shoes let John suffice, who avowed that "he was not worthy to unloose the latchet of the Lord's shoes."[252] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book V while he, though speaking more perspicuously as no longer prophesying, but pointing out as now present, Him, who was proclaimed symbolically from the beginning, nevertheless said, "I am not worthy to loose the latchet of the Lord's shoe."[107] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book VII But we say that the fire sanctifies[54] A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer I think that we have fully followed out the announcement of John the Baptist, whence we began our discourse, when he said to the Jews, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He who cometh after me is greater than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."[60] Pseudo-Gregory Thaumaturgus Fourth Homily I acknowledge my own servitude, I proclaim Thy glorious greatness, I recognise Thy perfect lordship, I recognise my own perfect insignificance, I am not worthy to unloose the latchets of Thy shoes;[14] Origen Commentary on John Book VI "John preached, saying, There cometh after me He that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I baptized you with water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." And Luke says[103] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book I They also maintain that John indicated the same thing when he said, "The fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge the floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable."[51] 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] 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] Pseudo-Tertullian Against All Heresies came down on Jesus;[66] 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] Tertullian On Baptism He reposes: (He who) glided down on the Lord "in the shape of a dove,"[65] Gospel of Nicodemus II The Descent of Christ into Hell thus saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.[8] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book I And for this reason they affirm it was that the "Saviour"-for they do not please to call Him "Lord"-did no work in public during the space of thirty years,[13] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book II For how could He have had disciples, if He did not teach? And how could He have taught, unless He had reached the age of a Master? For when He came to be baptized, He had not yet completed His thirtieth year, but was beginning to be about thirty years of age (for thus Luke, who has mentioned His years, has expressed it: "Now Jesus was, as it were, beginning to be thirty years old,"[153] Julius Africanus The Epistle to Aristides But if, with Luke, we reckon them from Nathan the son of David, in like manner the third from the end is Melchi, whose son was Heli the father of Joseph. For Joseph was the son of Hell, the son of Melchi.[11] Tertullian On Fasting By and by the Lord Himself consecrated His own baptism (and, in His own, that of all) by fasts;[59] Martyrdom of the Holy and Glorious Apostle Bartholomew Then the Son of God having been born of the virgin, and having become perfect man, and having been baptized, and after His baptism having fasted forty days, the tempter came and said to Him: If thou art the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves. And He answered: Not on bread alone shall man live, but by every word of God.[8] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV And the devil looking at Him, and tempting Him, said: "If Thou art the Son of God; "[66] Tertullian On Fasting having (the power) to make "loaves out of stones,"[60] Tertullian On Fasting teaching man not to be studious of the stomach.[38] Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians Yea, thou even darest, most accursed one, to appropriate the works of God to thyself, and to declare that the dominion over these was delivered to thee.[52] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V He then, having been thus signally defeated, and then, as it were, concentrating his forces, drawing up in order all his available power for falsehood, in the third place "showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,"[189] If then he be a liar and the truth be not in him, he certainly did not speak truth, but a lie, when he said, "For all these things are delivered to me, and to whomsoever I will I give them."[199] 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] Tertullian On Prayer He Himself, when tempted by the devil, demonstrated who it is that presides over and is the originator of temptation.[61] 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] 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] Tertullian An Answer to the Jews of my family, for a light of Gentiles, that Thou mayst open the eyes of the blind"-of course, such as err-"to outloose from bonds the bound"-that is, to free them from sins-"and from the house of prison"-that is, of death-"such as sit in darkness"[256] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV But to Christ the title Nazarene was destined to become a suitable one, from the hiding-place of His infancy, for which He went down and dwelt at Nazareth,[201] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV [For this reason, ] those who knew not the Scriptures nor the promise of God, nor the dispensation of Christ, at last called him the father of the child. For this reason, too, did the Lord Himself read at Capernaum the prophecies of Isaiah:[336] Tertullian Against Praxeas Hear now also the Son's utterances respecting the Father: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel unto men."[117] Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments " And the Most Holy is none else but the Son of God alone, who, when He came and manifested Himself, said to them, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me; "[172] Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle , indeed, they shall return many fold, desiring to be set free from that most bitter captivity of the devil, especially remembering Him who said: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompense unto our God."[6] Origen Commentary on John Book I who "makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust," He does not despise those who are poor in soul. To them He preaches good tidings, as He Himself bears witness to us when He takes Isaiah[58] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV O Christ, even in Thy novelties Thou art old! Accordingly, when Peter, who had been an eye-witness of the miracle, and had compared it with the ancient precedents, and had discovered in them prophetic intimations of what should one day come to pass, answered (as the mouthpiece of them all) the Lord's inquiry, "Whom say ye that I am? "[793] Tertullian An Answer to the Jews I wait to hear what you understand thereby; for fear you may perhaps think some carpenter-king[220] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV But Christ will be (the Christ) of the prophets, wheresoever He is found in accordance with the prophets. And yet even at Nazareth He is not remarked as having preached anything new,[203] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV by reason of a simple proverb.[205] Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book II And if a presbyter comes from another parish, let him be received to communion by the presbyters; if a deacon, by the deacons; if a bishop, let him sit with the bishop, and be allowed the same honour with himself; and thou, O bishop, shalt desire him to speak to the people words of instruction: for the exhortation and admonition of strangers is very acceptable, and exceeding profitable. For, as the Scripture says, "no prophet is accepted in his own country."[257] Tertullian An Answer to the Jews with axes on the bank of the river Jordan, the iron flew off and sank in the stream; and so, on Elisha[290] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV to the exclusion of[244] so many lepers in Israel,[245] Now, although He said in a preceding chapter,[1393] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV He is said to have been rejected[204] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV But "they were all astonished at His doctrine." Of course they were; "for, says (St. Luke), "His word was with power[177] astonished at His doctrine; for He was teaching as one who had power."[427] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV In the same passage, "the spirit of an unclean devil" exclaims: "What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God."[181] Syriac Second Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians Henceforward all things were moved together, and the destruction of death was devised, and there was the commencement of that which was perfected in God.[14] Tertullian Against Marcion Book V and, according to the record which is common to both (Marcionites and ourselves) the evil spirit knew that Jesus was the Holy One of God, and that Jesus was His name, and that He was come to destroy them.[253] Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes But supposing that, as you say, Peter was pronounced blessed on the ground of his having said what was true, and that that messenger was reproved on account of the error he committed, tell me then why it is, that when the devils confessed Him, and said, "We know Thee, who Thou art, the holy God,"[591] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV In short, He did himself touch others, upon whom He laid His hands, which were capable of being felt, and conferred the blessings of healing,[210] Pseudo-Tertullian Against All Heresies not agreeing with Cerinthus in every point; in that he affirms the world[49] lord, "[50] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV Accordingly, wicked spirits (just in the manner of our former example) used to go forth with a testimony, exclaiming, "Thou art the Son of God,"[213] Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV -of prevarication, when he permitted himself to be feared by the demons as the Son of the Creator, that he might drive them out, not indeed by his own power, but by the authority of the Creator. "He departed, and went into a desert place."[225] When "stayed" by the crowds, He said," I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also."[230]