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| Chapter IX.—Christ’s Sayings Respecting Martyrdom.
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Chapter IX.—Christ’s Sayings Respecting Martyrdom.
On martyrdom the Lord hath spoken explicitly,
and what is written in different places we bring together. “But
I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess in Me before men, the Son of
man also shall confess before the angels of God; but whosoever shall
deny Me before men, him will I deny before the angels.”2782
“Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me or of My words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man also be ashamed when
He cometh in the glory of His Father with His angels.
Whosoever therefore shall confess in Me
before men, him will I also confess before my Father in heaven.2783
“And when they bring you before synagogues, and rulers, and
powers, think not beforehand how ye shall make your defence, or what
ye shall say. For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what
ye must say.”2784
In explanation of this passage, Heracleon,
the most distinguished of the school of Valentinians, says expressly,
“that there is a confession by faith and conduct, and one with
the voice. The confession that is made with the voice, and before the
authorities, is what the most reckon the only confession. Not soundly:
and hypocrites also can confess with this confession. But neither will
this utterance be found to be spoken universally; for all the saved
have confessed with the confession made by the voice, and departed.2785
| 2785 [Rom. x. 10. The indifference
of our times is based on an abuse of the principle that God sees the
heart, and needs no public (sacramental) profession of faith. Had
this been Christ’s teaching, there would have been no martyrs
and no visible Church to hand down the faith.] | Of whom are
Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. And confession by the
lip is not universal, but partial. But that which He specifies now is
universal, that which is by deeds and actions corresponding to faith in
Him. This confession is followed by that which is partial, that before
the authorities, if necessary, and reason dictate. For he will confess
rightly with his voice who has first confessed by his disposition.2786
| 2786 [Rom. x. 10. The indifference
of our times is based on an abuse of the principle that God sees the
heart, and needs no public (sacramental) profession of faith. Had
this been Christ’s teaching, there would have been no martyrs and no
visible Church to hand down the faith.] | And he has well used,
with regard to those who confess, the expression ‘in Me,’
and applied to those who deny the expression‘Me.’ For those,
though they confess Him with the voice, yet deny Him, not confessing
Him in their conduct. But those alone confess ‘in Him,’
who live in the confession and conduct according to Him, in which He
also confesses, who is contained in them and held by them. Wherefore
‘He never can deny Himself.’ And those deny Him who are
not in Him. For He said not, ‘Whosoever shall deny’ in Me,
but ‘Me.’ For no one who is in Him will ever deny Him. And
the expression ‘before men’ applies both to the saved and
the heathen similarly by conduct before the one, and by voice before the
other. Wherefore they never can deny Him. But those deny Him who are not
in Him.” So far Heracleon. And in other things he seems to be of
the same sentiments with us in this section; but he has not adverted to
this, that if some have not by conduct and in their life “confessed
Christ before men,” they are manifested to have believed with the
heart; by confessing Him with the mouth at the tribunals, and not denying
Him when tortured to the death. And the disposition being confessed,
and especially not being changed by death at any time, cuts away all
passions which were engendered by corporeal desire. For there is,
so to speak, at the close of life a sudden repentance in action, and
a true confession toward Christ, in the testimony of the voice. But
if the Spirit of the Father testifies in us, how can we be any more
hypocrites, who are said to bear testimony with the voice alone? But it
will be given to some, if expedient, to make a defence, that by their
witness and confession all may be benefited—those in the Church
being confirmed, and those of the heathen who have devoted themselves
to the search after salvation wondering and being led to the faith;
and the rest seized with amazement. So that confession is by all means
necessary.2787
| 2787 [Absolutely
necessary (i.e., open profession of Chirst) to the conversion of others,
and the perpetuation of the Christian Church.] | For it is
in our power. But to make a defence for our faith is not universally
necessary. For that does not depend on us. “But he that endureth
to the end shall be saved.” For who of those who are wise would
not choose to reign in God, and even to serve? So some “confess
that they know God,” according to the apostle; “but in works
they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work
reprobate.”2788
And these, though they confess nothing but
this, will have done at the end one good work. Their witness, then,
appears to be the cleansing away of sins with glory. For instance, the
Shepherd2789
| 2789 [See p. 18,
this volume.] | says: “You will escape the energy of
the wild beast, if your heart become pure and blameless.” Also
the Lord Himself says: “Satan hath desired to sift you; but I
have prayed.”2790
Alone, therefore, the Lord, for the
purification of the men who plotted against Him and disbelieved
Him, “drank the cup;” in imitation of whom the apostles,
that they might be in reality Gnostics, and perfect, suffered for the
Churches which they founded. So, then, also the Gnostics who tread in
the footsteps of the apostles ought to be sinless, and, out of love
to the Lord, to love also their brother; so that, if occasion call,
enduring without stumbling, afflictions for the Church, “they
may drink the cup.” Those who witness in their life by deed, and
at the tribunal by word, whether entertaining hope or surmising fear,
are better than those who confess salvation by their mouth alone. But
if one ascend also to love, he is a really blessed and true martyr,
having confessed perfectly both to the commandments and to God, by the
Lord; whom having loved, he acknowledged a brother, giving himself up
wholly for God, resigning pleasantly and lovingly the man when asked,
like a deposit.2791
| 2791
[As a reflection of the condition and fidelity of Christians, still
“sheep for the slaughter.” At such a period the tone and
argument of this touching chapter are suggestive.] |
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