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| Chapter XIII
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Chapter
XIII.
Now, if these arguments hold good, why should we
not defend, in the same way, the existence of heresies in
Christianity? And respecting these, Paul appears to me to speak
in a very striking manner when he says, “For there must be
heresies among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest
among you.”3475
For as that
man is “approved” in medicine who, on account of his
experience in various (medical) heresies, and his honest examination of
the majority of them, has selected the preferable system,—and as
the great proficient in philosophy is he who, after acquainting himself
experimentally with the various views, has given in his adhesion to the
best,—so I would say that the wisest Christian was he who had
carefully studied the heresies both of Judaism and Christianity.
Whereas he who finds fault with Christianity because of its heresies
would find fault also with the teaching of Socrates, from whose school
have issued many others of discordant views. Nay, the opinions of
Plato might be chargeable with error, on account of Aristotle’s
having separated from his school, and founded a new one,—on which
subject we have remarked in the preceding book. But it appears to
me that Celsus has
become acquainted with certain heresies which do not possess even the
name of Jesus in common with us. Perhaps he had heard of
the sects called Ophites and Cainites, or some others of a similar
nature, which had departed in all points from the teaching of
Jesus. And yet surely this furnishes no ground for a charge
against the Christian doctrine.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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