Anf-02 ii.iv.vi Pg 12.2
Anf-03 v.iii.iii Pg 26
2 Tim. i. 15; ii. 17; 1 Tim. i. 20.
the betrayer of Christ was himself one of the apostles. We are surprised at seeing His churches forsaken by some men, although the things which we suffer after the example of Christ Himself, show us to be Christians. “They went out from us,” says (St. John,) “but they were not of us. If they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.”1882 1882
Anf-03 v.vii.xvi Pg 3
Although Tertullian dignifies him with an ille, we have no particulars of this man. [It may be that this is an epithet, rather than a name, given to some enemy of truth like Alexander the “Coppersmith” (2 Tim. iv. 14) or like that (1 Tim. i. 20), blasphemer, whose character suits the case.]
too, instigated by his love of disputation in the true fashion of heretical temper, has made himself conspicuous against us; he will have us say that Christ put on flesh of an earthly origin,7168 7168 Census.
in order that He might in His own person abolish sinful flesh.7169 7169 So Bp. Kaye renders “carnem peccati.” [See his valuable note, p. 253.]
Now, even if we did assert this as our opinion, we should be able to defend it in such a way as completely to avoid the extravagant folly which he ascribes to us in making us suppose that the very flesh of Christ was in Himself abolished as being sinful; because we mention our belief (in public),7170 7170 We take the meminerimus to refer “to the Creed.”
that it is sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven; and we further declare that it will come again from thence in all the pomp7171 7171 Suggestu.
of the Father’s glory: it is therefore just as impossible for us to say that it is abolished, as it is for us to maintain that it is sinful, and so made void, since in it there has been no fault. We maintain, moreover, that what has been abolished in Christ is not carnem peccati, “sinful flesh,” but peccatum carnis, “sin in the flesh,”—not the material thing, but its condition;7172 7172 Naturam.
not the substance, but its flaw;7173 7173 Culpam.
and (this we aver) on the authority of the apostle, who says, “He abolished sin in the flesh.”7174 7174
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 1
VERSE (20) - 2Ti 2:17
