He then goes on to rail against us after the manner of old wives.  “You,” says he, “mock and revile the statues of our gods; but if you had reviled Bacchus or Hercules in person, you would not perhaps have done so with impunity.  But those who crucified your God when present among men, suffered nothing for it, either at the time or during the whole of their lives.  And what new thing has there happened since then to make us believe that he was not an impostor, but the Son of God?  And forsooth, he who sent his Son with certain instructions for mankind, allowed him to be thus cruelly treated, and his instructions to perish with him, without ever during all this long time showing the slightest concern.  What father was ever so inhuman?  Perhaps, indeed, you may say that he suffered so much, because it was his wish to bear what came to him.  But it is open to those whom you maliciously revile, to adopt the same language, and say that they wish to be reviled, and therefore they bear it with patience; for it is best to deal equally with both sides,—although these (gods) severely punish the scorner, so that he must either flee and hide himself, or be taken and perish.”  Now to these statements I would answer that we revile no one, for we believe that “revilers will not inherit the kingdom of God.”⁴⁹³²

4932 1 Cor. vi. 10.

E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH