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| The Apostolic Churches the Voice of the Apostles. Let the Heretics Examine Their Apostolic Claims, in Each Case, Indisputable. The Church of Rome Doubly Apostolic; Its Early Eminence and Excellence. Heresy, as Perverting the Truth, is Connected Therewith. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter XXXVI.—The
Apostolic Churches the Voice of the Apostles. Let the Heretics Examine
Their Apostolic Claims, in Each Case, Indisputable. The Church of Rome
Doubly Apostolic; Its Early Eminence and Excellence. Heresy, as
Perverting the Truth, is Connected Therewith.
Come now, you who would indulge a better
curiosity, if you would apply it to the business of your salvation, run
over the apostolic churches, in which the very thrones2230 of the apostles are still pre-eminent in
their places,2231
2231 Suis locis
præsident. | in which their own
authentic writings2232
2232 Authenticæ.
This much disputed phrase may refer to the autographs or
the Greek originals (rather than the Latin translations), or
full unmutilated copies as opposed to the garbled ones of the
heretics. The second sense is probably the correct one. | are read, uttering
the voice and representing the face of each of them severally. Achaia
is very near you, (in which) you find Corinth. Since you are not far
from Macedonia, you have Philippi; (and there too) you have the
Thessalonians. Since you are able to cross to Asia, you get Ephesus.
Since, moreover, you are close upon Italy,2233
2233 [Note, those
near by may resort to this ancient and glorious church; not as any
better than Corinth, or Philippi, or having any higher Apostolic
throne. See Irenæus, Vol. I. p. 415, (note) and Elucid. p.
460.] |
you have Rome, from which there comes even into our own hands the very
authority (of apostles themselves).2234
2234 Compare our
Anti-Marcion, iv. 5, p. 186. | How happy is
its church, on which apostles poured forth all their doctrine along
with their blood! where Peter endures a passion like his Lord’s!
where Paul wins his crown in a death like John’s2235 where the Apostle John was first plunged,
unhurt, into boiling oil, and thence remitted to his island-exile! See
what she has learned, what taught, what fellowship has had with even
(our) churches in Africa!2236
2236
[Observe—“even with us in Africa.” If this implies
noteworthy love, it proves that there was no organic relation requiring
such particular fellowship, even in the West.] | One Lord God does
she acknowledge, the Creator of the universe, and Christ Jesus (born)
of the Virgin Mary, the Son of God the Creator; and the Resurrection of
the flesh; the law and the prophets she unites2237 in
one volume with the writings of evangelists and apostles, from which
she drinks in her faith. This she seals with the water (of baptism),
arrays with the Holy Ghost, feeds with the Eucharist, cheers
with martyrdom,2238
2238 We have taken
Oehler’s hint in favour of “martyrio.” The usual
reading “martyrium” (meaning “she exhorts to
martyrdom”) is stiff, and unsuited to the context. | and against such a
discipline thus (maintained) she admits no gainsayer. This is the
discipline which I no longer say foretold that heresies should come,
but from2239 which they
proceeded. However, they were not of her, because they were opposed to
her.2240
2240 Or, “they
were not of it, because they were opposed to it,”
i.e., the discipline or teaching. | Even the rough wild-olive arises from the
germ2241 of the fruitful, rich, and genuine2242 olive; also from the seed2243
2243 Papavere.
“Ego cum aliis papaver ficus interpretor de
seminalibus ficus, non de ipso fructu” (Oehler). | of the mellowest and sweetest fig there
springs the empty and useless wild-fig. In the same way heresies, too,
come from our plant,2244 although not of our
kind; (they come) from the grain of truth,2245
2245 We again follow
Oehler’s hint, who would like to read “de grano
veritatis.” The texts are obscure, and vary much here. |
but, owing to their falsehood, they have only wild leaves to
show.2246
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