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| Chapter I.—Introductory.
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Chapter I.—Introductory.2153
| 2153 [“The Epistles of the New Testament have all a particular reference to the condition and usages of the Christian world at the time they were written. Therefore as they cannot be thoroughly understood, unless that condition and those usages are known and attended to, so futher, though they be known, yet if they be discontinued or changed … references to such circumstances, now ceased or altered, cannot, at this time, be urged in that manner and with that force which they were to the primitive Christians.” This quotation from one of Bishop Butler’s Ethical Sermons has many bearings on the study of our author; but the sermon itself, with its sequel, On Human Nature, may well be read in connection with the Stromata. See Butler, Ethical Discourses, p. 77. Philadelphia, 1855.] |
As Scripture has called the Greeks pilferers
of the Barbarian2154
| 2154 Referring in particular to the Jews. | philosophy, it will next
have to be considered how this may be briefly demonstrated. For we
shall not only show that they have imitated and copied the marvels
recorded in our books; but we shall prove, besides, that they have
plagiarized and falsified (our writings being, as we have shown, older)
the chief dogmas they hold, both on faith and knowledge and science,
and hope and love, and also on repentance and temperance and the fear
of God,—a whole swarm, verily, of the virtues of truth.
Whatever the explication necessary on the point in
hand shall demand, shall be embraced, and especially what is occult in
the barbarian philosophy, the department of symbol and enigma; which those
who have subjected the teaching of the ancients to systematic philosophic
study have affected, as being in the highest degree serviceable, nay,
absolutely necessary to the knowledge of truth. In addition, it will in my
opinion form an appropriate sequel to defend those tenets, on account of
which the Greeks assail us, making use of a few Scriptures, if perchance
the Jew also may listen2155
and be able quietly to turn from
what he has believed to Him on whom he has not believed. The ingenuous
among the philosophers will then with propriety be taken up in a friendly
exposure both of their life and of the discovery of new dogmas, not in
the way of our avenging ourselves on our detractors (for that is far
from being the case with those who have learned to bless those who curse,
even though they needlessly discharge on us words of blasphemy), but with
a view to their conversion; if by any means these adepts in wisdom may
feel ashamed, being brought to their senses by barbarian demonstration;
so as to be able, although late, to see clearly of what sort are the
intellectual acquisitions for which they make pilgrimages over the
seas. Those they have stolen are to be pointed out, that we may thereby
pull down their conceit; and of those on the discovery of which through
investigation they plume themselves, the refutation will be furnished. By
consequence, also we must treat of what is called the curriculum of
study—how far it is serviceable;2156
| 2156 The text reads ἄχρηστος:
Sylburg prefers the reading εὔχρηστος. |
and of astrology, and mathematics, and magic, and sorcery. For all
the Greeks boast of these as the highest sciences. “He who
reproves boldly is a peacemaker.”2157
We lave often said
already that we have neither practiced nor do we study the expressing
ourselves in pure Greek; for this suits those who seduce the multitude
from the truth. But true philosophic demonstration will contribute to
the profit not of the listeners’ tongues, but of their minds.
And, in my opinion, he who is solicitous about truth ought not to
frame his language with artfulness and care, but only to try to
express his meaning as he best can. For those who are particular
about words, and devote their time to them, miss the things.2158
| 2158 [διαδιδράσκει
τὰ πράγματα.
A truly Platonic thrust at sophistical rhetoricians.] | It is
a feat fit for the gardener to pluck without injury the rose that is
growing among the thorns; and for the craftsman to find out the pearl
buried in the oyster’s flesh. And they say that fowls have flesh
of the most agreeable quality, when, through not being supplied with
abundance of food, they pick their sustenance with difficulty, scraping
with their feet. If any one, then, speculating on what is
similar, wants to
arrive2159
| 2159 δειληλυθέναι,
suggested by Sylb. As more suitable than the διαλεληθέναι
of the text. | at the truth [that is] in the numerous Greek
plausibilities, like the real face beneath masks, he will hunt it out with
much pains. For the power that appeared in the vision to Hermas said,
“Whatever may be revealed to you, shall be revealed.”2160
| 2160 Hermas—close of third vision, [cap. 13. p. 17,
supra.] | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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