hands was cut out of a great mountain, has been imitated by them, and that they have attempted likewise to imitate the whole of Isaiah’s2210 2210 The text here has ταῦτα ποιῆσαι ὁμοίως. Maranus suggests ᾽Ησαίου for ποιῆσαι; and so we have translated.
words?2211 2211 Justin says that the priests of Mithras imitated all the words of Isaiah about to be quoted; and to prove it, is content with a single example, namely, the precepts of righteousness, which they were wont to relate to him, as in these words of Isaiah: “He who walks in righteousness,” etc. Justin omitted many other passages, as easy and obvious. For since Mithras is the same as fire, it manifestly answers to the fire of which Isaiah speaks. And since Justin reminded them who are initiated, that they are said to be initiated by Mithras himself, it was not necessary to remind them that the words of Isaiah are imitated in this: “You shall see the King with glory.” Bread and water are referred to by Isaiah: so also in these mysteries of Mithras, Justin testifies that bread and a cup of water are placed before them (Apol. i.).—Maranus.
For they2212 2212 i.e., the devils.
contrived that the words of righteousness be quoted also by them.2213 2213 i.e., the priests of Mithras.
But I must repeat to you the words of Isaiah referred to, in order that from them you may know that these things are so. They are these: ‘Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; those that are near shall know my might. The sinners in Zion are removed; trembling shall seize the impious. Who shall announce to you the everlasting place? The man who walks in righteousness, speaks in the right way, hates sin and unrighteousness, and keeps his hands pure from bribes, stops the ears from hearing the unjust judgment of blood closes the eyes from seeing unrighteousness: he shall dwell in the lofty cave of the strong rock. Bread shall be given to him, and his water [shall be] sure. Ye shall see the King with glory, and your eyes shall look far off. Your soul shall pursue diligently the fear of the Lord. Where is the scribe? where are the counsellors? where is he that numbers those who are nourished,—the small and great people? with whom they did not take counsel, nor knew the depth of the voices, so that they heard not. The people who are become depreciated, and there is no understanding in him who hears.’2214 2214
Npnf-201 iii.xvi.iv Pg 92
Npnf-201 iii.xvi.iv Pg 102
Anf-03 v.v.xxxiv Pg 14
Isa. xli. 17.
Even “the sea shall be no more.”6501 6501
Anf-03 v.iv.iv.v Pg 10
Isa. xli. 18, 19, inexactly quoted.
In like manner, when, foretelling the conversion of the Gentiles, He says, “The beasts of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls,” He surely never meant to derive3151 3151 Relaturus.
His fortunate omens from the young of birds and foxes, and from the songsters of marvel and fable. But why enlarge on such a subject? When the very apostle whom our heretics adopt,3152 3152 Hæreticorum apostolus. We have already referred to Marcion’s acceptance of St. Paul’s epistles. It has been suggested that Tertullian in the text uses hæreticorum apostolus as synonymous with ethnicorum apostolus="apostle of the Gentiles,” in which case allusion to St. Paul would of course be equally clear. But this interpretation is unnecessary.
interprets the law which allows an unmuzzled mouth to the oxen that tread out the corn, not of cattle, but of ourselves;3153 3153
Anf-02 vi.iv.vi.vi Pg 32.1
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xiii Pg 19
Isa. xliii. 20.
); as if they were to be gems to shed lustre upon the church’s sacred robe, which Christ, the High Priest of the Father, puts on; as if, also, they were to be stones massive in their faith, which the true Joshua took out of the laver of the Jordan, and placed in the sanctuary of His covenant. What equally good defence of such a number has Marcion’s Christ to show? It is impossible that anything can be shown to have been done by him unconnectedly,3921 3921 Simpliciter: i.e., simply or without relation to any types or prophecies.
which cannot be shown to have been done by my Christ in connection (with preceding types).3922 3922 Non simpliciter.
To him will appertain the event3923 3923 Res.
in whom is discovered the preparation for the same.3924 3924 Rei præparatura.
Again, He changes the name of Simon to Peter,3925 3925
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xxxix Pg 19
Isa. xliv. 5.
Now, what plea is wiser and more irresistible than the simple and open5032 5032 Exserta.
confession made in a martyr’s cause, who “prevails with God”—which is what “Israel” means?5033 5033
Anf-03 v.x.vii Pg 5
Isa. xliv. 5.
O good mother! I myself also wish to be put among the number of her sons, that I may be slain by her; I wish to be slain, that I may become a son. But does she merely murder her sons, or also torture them? For I hear God also, in another passage, say, “I will burn them as gold is burned, and will try them as silver is tried.”8260 8260
Anf-03 iv.ix.iv Pg 9
I am not acquainted with any such passage. Oehler refers to Isa. xlix. in his margin, but gives no verse, and omits to notice this passage of the present treatise in his index.
Thus, therefore, before this temporal sabbath, there was withal an eternal sabbath foreshown and foretold; just as before the carnal circumcision there was withal a spiritual circumcision foreshown. In short, let them teach us, as we have already premised, that Adam observed the sabbath; or that Abel, when offering to God a holy victim, pleased Him by a religious reverence for the sabbath; or that Enoch, when translated, had been a keeper of the sabbath; or that Noah the ark-builder observed, on account of the deluge, an immense sabbath; or that Abraham, in observance of the sabbath, offered Isaac his son; or that Melchizedek in his priesthood received the law of the sabbath.
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 47
VERSE (8) - Isa 35:1,7; 41:17-19; 43:20; 44:3-5; 49:9 Jer 31:9
