51. When Archelaus had
finished this speech, the crowds of people marvelled at the truth of
his doctrine, and expressed their vehement commendations of the man
with loud outcries, so that they exerted themselves most energetically,
and would have kept him from his return.2092
| 2092 The
text is, “et ultra ei non sinerent ad propria
remeare.” Routh suggests ultro for ultra. |
Thereafter, however, they withdrew.
After some time, again, when they were gathered together,
Archelaus
persuaded them to accede to his desire, and listen quietly to the
word. And among his auditors were not only those who were with
Diodorus, but also all who were present from his
province and from the
neighbouring
districts. When
silence, then, was
secured,
Archelaus proceeded to speak to them of Manes in the following
manner: You have heard, indeed, what is the character of the
doctrine which we
teach, and you have got some
proof of our
faith; for
I have
expounded the Scriptures before you all, precisely in accordance
with the views which I myself have been able to reach in studying
them. But I entreat you now to listen to me in all
silence, while
I speak with the utmost possible brevity, with the view of giving you
to understand who this person is who has made his
appearance among us,
and whence he comes, and what character he has, exactly as a certain
man of the name of Sisinius, one
2093
| 2093
Reading unus, instead of “vos, comitibus,”
etc. |
of his comrades, has indicated the facts
to me; which individual
2094
| 2094
Reading “quem etiam” instead of “quæ
etiam.” |
I am also prepared, if it please you, to summon in evidence of the
statements I am about to make. And, in
truth, this person did not
decline to
affirm the very same facts which we now adduce,
2095
| 2095 The
Codex Casinensis gives, “ipse quidem me dicere recusavit,”
etc. We adopt the correction in Migne, “sed ne ipse quidem
dicere recusavit,” etc. |
even when Manes
was present; for the above-mentioned individual became a
believer of
our
doctrine, as did also another person who was with me, named
Turbo. Accordingly, all that these parties have conveyed in their
testimony to me, and also all that we ourselves have
discovered in the
man, I shall not
suffer to be kept back from your
cognizance.
Then, indeed, the multitudes became all the more
excited, and crowded together to listen to Archelaus; for, in good
sooth, the statements which were made by him offered them the greatest
enjoyment. Accordingly, they earnestly urged him to tell them all
that he pleased, and all that he had on his mind; and they declared
themselves ready to listen to him there and then, and engaged to stay
on even to the evening, and until the lights should be lit.
Stimulated therefore by their heartiness,
Archelaus began his address with all confidence in the following
terms:—My brethren, you have heard, indeed, the primary
causes2096
| 2096
Superiores quidem causas Domini, etc. |
relating to my
Lord Jesus,—I mean those which are decided out of the
law and the
prophets; and of the subsidiary causes also relating to my
Lord Jesus
Christ, our Saviour, you are not ignorant. And why should I say
more? From the
loving desire for the Saviour we have been called
Christians, as the whole
world itself attests, and as the
apostles also
plainly declare. Yea, further, that
best master-builder of His,
Paul himself,
2097
| 2097
Reading “sed et optimus architectus ejus, fundamentum,”
etc. The Codex Casinensis has the corrupt lection, “sed et
optimos architectos ei fundamentum,” etc. [Had this been
said of Peter?] |
has laid our
foundation,
2098
that is, the
foundation of the
Church and has put us in
trust of the
law, ordaining
ministers, and presbyters,
2099
and
bishops in the same, and describing in the places severally
assigned to that purpose, in what manner and with what character the
ministers of
God ought to
conduct themselves, of what repute the
presbyters ought to be
possessed, and how they should be constituted,
and what manner of persons those also ought to be who desire the
office
of
bishop.
2100
| 2100 Cf.
1 Tim. iii. 1. [Clement cap. xliv., vol. i. p.
17, this series.] |
And all these
institutions, which were once settled well and rightly for us,
preserve
their proper standing and order with us to this day, and the regular
administration of these rules
abides amongst us still. But as to
this fellow, Manes by name, who has at present
burst boastfully forth
upon us from the
province of
Persia, and between whom and me
disputation has now for the second time been stirred, I shall tell you
about his
lineage, and that, too, in all fulness; and I shall also show
you most lucidly the source from which his
doctrine has
descended. This man is neither the first nor the only originator
of this type of
doctrine. But a certain person belonging to
Scythia, bearing the name Scythianus,
2101
| 2101
Various other forms are found for this name Scythianus.
Thus we find Scutianus and Excutianus,—forms which may have
arisen through mere clerical errors. The Codex Reg. Alex. Vat.
gives Stutianus. [But see Routh, R. S., vol. v. p.
186.] |
and living in the time of the
apostles, was
the founder and
leader of this
sect, just as many other apostates have
constituted themselves founders and
leaders, who from time to time,
through the ambitious desire of arrogating positions of superior
importance to themselves, have given out falsehoods for the truth, and
have perverted the simpler class of people to their own lustful
appetencies, on whose names and treacheries, however, time does not
permit us at present to descant. This Scythianus, then, was the
person who introduced this self-contradictory dualism; and for that,
too, he was himself indebted to Pythagoras, as also all the other
followers of this dogma have been, who all uphold the notion of a
dualism, and turn aside from the direct course of Scripture: but
they shall not gain any further success therein.
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