Sophia Scriptura

Octavius 35.6

Minucius Felix · Octavius · ca. 197–250 · Rome · Read in context

Summary: Christians avoid even sinful thoughts, and none are in prison except for their faith.

Latin text · CSEL 2:50

uos enim adulteria prohibetis et facitis, nos uxoribus nostris solummodo uiri nascimur: uos scelera admissa punitis, apud nos et cogitare peccare est: uos conscios timetis, nos etiam conscientiam solam, sine qua esse non possumus: denique de uestro numero carcer exaestuat, Christianus ibi nullus nisi aut reus suae religionis aut profugus.

English · Claude translation

For you forbid adulteries and commit them; we are born men for our own wives only. You punish crimes committed; with us even to think is to sin. You fear those who know of your deeds; we fear even conscience alone, without which we cannot exist. Finally, the prison is crowded with your number; there is no Christian there, unless he is either accused because of his religion or a deserter.

About this passage

Source
CSEL 2:50 · Karl Halm, ed., M. Minucii Felicis Octavius; Iulii Firmici Materni Liber de errore profanarum religionum, CSEL 2 (Vienna: Gerold, 1867), 1–56 · Latin text: K. Halm (CSEL 2, 1867), digitized by Open Greek and Latin, University of Leipzig (csel-dev), CC BY-SA 4.0
Text
As printed in CSEL 2. Manuscript variants and the editor's apparatus are not reproduced; no textual problem is noted in this passage.
Translation
Claude translation (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 · Translated by Claude from the Latin text of CSEL 2; made independently of existing English translations.
Compare
Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 4 (1885) (an older public-domain English translation, whole volume at CCEL; checked against ours only after ours was made) · Divided there by chapter only.
Scripture
Topics
Ethics, Marriage, Persecution

Notes

Translation notes

  • "Even to think is to sin" echoes Matt 5:28. A "deserter" is one who has abandoned the Christian faith.

Cite this passage

Minucius Felix, Oct. 35.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/minucius-octavius/35/6/).

Plain text
Minucius Felix, Oct. 35.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/minucius-octavius/35/6/).

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