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| Chapter LXXIV
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Chapter
LXXIV.
After this he returns to the subject of
Marcion’s opinions (having already spoken frequently of them),
and states some of them correctly, while others he has misunderstood;
these, however, it is not necessary for us to answer or refute.
Again, after this he brings forward the various arguments that may be
urged on Marcion’s behalf, and also against him, enumerating what
the opinions are which exonerate him from the charges, and what expose
him to them; and when he desires to support the statement which
declares that Jesus has been the subject of prophecy,—in order to
found a charge against Marcion and his followers,—he distinctly
asks, “How could he, who was punished in such a manner, be shown
to be God’s Son, unless these things had been predicted of
him?” He next proceeds to jest, and, as his custom is, to
pour ridicule upon the subject, introducing “two sons of God, one
the son of the Creator,4661
and the other the
son of Marcion’s God; and he portrays their single combats,
saying that the Theomachies of the Fathers are like the battles between
quails;4662
or that the
Fathers, becoming useless through age, and falling into their
dotage4663
do not meddle at
all with one another, but leave their sons to fight it
out.” The remark which he made formerly we will turn
against himself: “What old woman would not be ashamed to
lull a child to sleep with such stories as he has inserted in the work
which he entitles A True Discourse? For when he ought
seriously4664
to apply himself to
argument, he leaves serious argument aside, and betakes himself to
jesting and buffoonery, imagining that he is writing mimes or scoffing
verses; not observing that such a method of procedure defeats his
purpose, which is to make us abandon Christianity and give in our
adherence to his opinions, which, perhaps, had they been stated with
some degree of gravity,4665
would have appeared
more likely to convince, whereas since he continues to ridicule, and
scoff, and play the buffoon, we answer that it is because he has no
argument of weight4666
(for such he
neither had, nor could understand) that he has betaken himself to such
drivelling.”4667
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