Book of Heresies

Contents

Reading pages: 0.1–36.5 · 37.1–79.8 · 80.1–101.4 · 102.1–114.2 · 115.1–129.10 · 130.1–146.1 · 147.1–155.11 · 156.1–156.10

1. 0.1Philastrius opens his catalogue of heresies by comparing the devil to the prophet's partridge.
2. 0.2The partridge hatches others' eggs, but the young leave it when they recognize their true parents.
3. 0.3The parable means that people leave the devil once they recognize Christ, fulfilling Jeremiah's saying about the partridge.
4. 0.4The nations turning from idols to Christ fulfil the psalm, and the list of heresies begins.
5. 1.1The Ophites worship the serpent as the bringer of knowledge.
6. 1.2The Ophites hold that the serpent was cast from the first heaven and will return.
7. 2.1The Cainites praise Cain.
8. 2.2The Cainites say Cain came from a stronger power than Abel and so prevailed.
9. 3.1The Sethians venerate Seth and speak of a female heavenly power.
10. 3.2The Sethians say the heavenly mother placed great power in Seth.
11. 3.3Some Sethians identify Seth with Christ.
12. 4.1Dositheus taught living by the flesh and denied the resurrection.
13. 4.2Dositheus denied the Spirit, angels and the judgment.
14. 5.1The Sadducees, named after Saddoc, a disciple of Dositheus, live by the flesh alone.
15. 5.2The Sadducees follow Epicurus rather than the law, and the Lord preached against them.
16. 6.1The Pharisees accept the resurrection but expect Christ as a mere man.
17. 6.2The Pharisees reject the gospels.
18. 7.1The Samaritans accept only part of the law and deny the resurrection and judgment.
19. 7.2The Samaritans deny the soul's immortality and are like the senseless cattle of the psalm.
20. 8.1The Nazoreans hold that justification lies in carnal observance.
21. 8.2The Nazoreans grow their hair after Samson, whom the pagans imitated in Hercules.
22. 9.1The Essenes live like monks.
23. 9.2The Essenes do good works but expect Christ only as a prophet.
24. 10.1The sun-worshippers do not know that the sun serves God's command.
25. 10.2Hermes Trismegistus taught sun-worship, which the Jews practised according to Ezekiel.
26. 11.1Some worship the frogs of the Egyptian plague.
27. 11.2The frog-worshippers think they appease God's wrath.
28. 12.1The mouse-worshippers derive their cult from the Philistines' golden mice.
29. 12.2The mouse-worshippers accept the law but do not see the folly of their cult.
30. 13.1Some worship the fly-god of Ekron, consulted by the sick king.
31. 13.2Elijah foretold the king's death for seeking help from the fly-god.
32. 14.1The Troglodytes worshipped idols in caves, as Ezekiel saw.
33. 15.1Some Jews worshipped the Queen of Heaven, called Caelestis in Africa.
34. 15.2Jeremiah wrote Lamentations because of the people's worship of the Queen of Heaven.
35. 16.1Baal-worship under Ahab and Jezebel drew Elijah's rebuke.
36. 16.2Elijah called the people to choose between God and Baal.
37. 17.1Some worshipped Astarte and Chemosh, bringing captivity on Israel.
38. 17.2Almost all the kings except a few allowed idolatry.
39. 18.1Stephen rebuked the Jews for the worship of Moloch and Rephan.
40. 18.2The Lord threatened exile for this idolatry.
41. 19.1Some sacrificed their children to demons at Topheth.
42. 19.2The prophet condemns child sacrifice at Topheth.
43. 20.1The well-worshippers ignore God, the fountain of living water.
44. 20.2Christ's living water, the grace of baptism, fulfils the prophecy.
45. 21.1Some Jews sacrificed to Moses's bronze serpent until Hezekiah.
46. 21.2The bronze serpent became an object of worship, along with engraved amulets.
47. 21.3They used charms and amulets that the law forbade.
48. 21.4Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent and was delivered from the Assyrians.
49. 21.5An angel struck down the besieging army.
50. 22.1Ezekiel saw seventy elders worshipping in a cave.
51. 22.2The elders offered incense to carved images.
52. 23.1Ezekiel saw women mourning Tammuz.
53. 23.2The women worshipped Tammuz, whom Philastrius identifies with Moses's Pharaoh.
54. 24.1Some Jews worshipped the Baals as many gods and goddesses.
55. 24.2The Baalites take their name from King Belus and his descendants.
56. 24.3The Baalites were named like a family after their ancestor.
57. 24.4Israel was punished with captivity for worshipping Belus and his family.
58. 25.1Some say the idol Baal is named after Balaam.
59. 25.2Balaam became a false prophet and an idol was made of him.
60. 26.1Some believe the medium of Endor truly raised Samuel's soul.
61. 26.2An impious medium cannot raise a righteous soul; Saul, departing from God, was ruled by an unclean spirit.
62. 26.3Ahab believed false prophets rather than Micaiah, though given time to repent.
63. 26.4The lying spirit sent to Ahab shows how Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
64. 26.5Demons deceive by appearances of truth, as Ahab was deceived.
65. 27.1Worship of Ashtaroth after Joshua led to captivity; such gods were deified kings.
66. 27.2This impiety came from the Canaanites, whom Moses was told to root out.
67. 28.1The Herodians expected Herod as the Christ.
68. 29.1Simon Magus, a Samaritan magician, claimed to be the highest power of God.
69. 29.2The Samaritans honour Simon as their founder.
70. 29.3Simon, baptized by the apostles, fell away and taught that he suffered only in appearance.
71. 29.4Simon taught that angels made the world.
72. 29.5Simon identified his Thought with Helen of Troy.
73. 29.6The world-making powers fought out of desire for Helen.
74. 29.7Helen awaited Simon to save her.
75. 29.8Simon allegorized the Trojan horse; his Helen was a prostitute from Tyre.
76. 29.9Simon was defeated by Peter at Rome and perished.
77. 30.1Menander followed Simon.
78. 31.1Saturnilus taught that angels made the world and planned to make man.
79. 31.2A light from above stirred the angels' desire and returned to heaven.
80. 31.3The angels made man after the light's image, but he was powerless.
81. 31.4The higher power sent a spark to give man life.
82. 31.5Only the spark is saved.
83. 31.6Saturnilus held that Christ only appeared to have flesh.
84. 32.1Basilides spoke from Scripture but violated Christian truth.
85. 32.2Basilides taught a chain of emanations from the unbegotten God.
86. 32.3Basilides taught that successive angels made 365 heavens.
87. 32.4Basilides called the God of the Jews an angel.
88. 32.5The God of the Jews, in Basilides' account, provoked the other angels.
89. 32.6Basilides taught that Simon of Cyrene suffered in Christ's place.
90. 32.7Basilides permitted vice and forbade martyrdom.
91. 32.8Basilides argued that one cannot confess a crucified Christ.
92. 33.1Nicolaus, one of the seven deacons, fell from sound doctrine.
93. 33.2The Gnostics, who venerate Barbelo, arose from Nicolaus.
94. 33.4The Nicolaitans taught that darkness begot the Aeons.
95. 33.5From a union with the power were born gods.
96. 33.6From her were born men, angels, demons and prophets.
97. 33.7Some claim a gospel of the consummation and visions.
98. 33.8Some Gnostics venerate Ialdabaoth or Caulacau.
99. 34.1Some praise Judas for betraying the Saviour.
100. 34.2They say Judas betrayed Christ so that he might suffer and save men.
101. 34.3The praise of Judas is accursed, since prophet, Lord and apostles condemned him.
102. 35.1Carpocras taught that lower powers made the visible world.
103. 35.2Carpocras held that Christ was Joseph's son.
104. 35.3Carpocras praised Christ only for his upright life.
105. 35.4Carpocratians deny the salvation of the flesh.
106. 36.1Cerinthus followed Carpocras but partly accepted the law.
107. 36.2Cerinthus taught circumcision and denied that Christ had yet risen.
108. 36.3Cerinthus rejected Paul, Acts and three gospels.
109. 36.4Cerinthus caused the circumcision dispute settled in Acts.
110. 36.5The apostles freed gentile believers from circumcision.
111. 37.1Ebion held that Christ was Joseph's son and not divine.
112. 37.2Ebion made Christ a mere prophet, against Scripture.
113. 38.1Valentinus, more Pythagorean than Christian, taught a doctrine of numbers.
114. 38.2Valentinus fell into error in Cyprus.
115. 38.3Valentinus taught the first pairs of Aeons.
116. 38.4Valentinus counted thirty Aeons.
117. 38.5Valentinus said Christ was sent by the Depth.
118. 38.6Valentinus said Christ's flesh came from heaven and passed through Mary like water.
119. 39.1Ptolemy, a Valentinian, taught further Aeons.
120. 40.1Secundus taught infinite Aeons and a phantom Christ.
121. 41.1Heracleon taught a generation of many principles.
122. 42.1Marcus devised a system of letters and numbers.
123. 42.2Marcus taught that the Christ descended on Jesus as a dove.
124. 42.3Marcus held that Christ suffered only in appearance.
125. 43.1Colorbasus placed human life under letters and the stars.
126. 44.1Cerdon taught a good god and an evil god.
127. 44.2Cerdon held that Christ was only a shadow.
128. 45.1Marcion came to Rome and questioned the presbyters.
129. 45.2Marcion appealed to the sayings about new wine and good and bad trees.
130. 45.3Marcion rejected the presbyters' interpretation and taught two gods.
131. 45.4Marcion denied Christ's true flesh.
132. 45.5Marcion accepted only Luke's gospel.
133. 45.6Marcion kept only passages about Christ as man.
134. 45.7Marcion, driven from Ephesus by John, spread his heresy at Rome.
135. 46.1Lucanus followed Marcion.
136. 47.1Apelles, Marcion's disciple, rejected two coeternal principles.
137. 47.2Apelles taught one first God and a second, world-making god.
138. 47.3Apelles' world-maker is not good but obeys the first God.
139. 47.4Philastrius links the Arians to Apelles; Apelles granted Christ flesh not from heaven.
140. 47.5Apelles denied the resurrection of the flesh.
141. 47.6Apelles said Christ returned his elemental body and ascended without flesh.
142. 48.1Tatian, Justin's disciple, taught Aeons and denied Adam's salvation.
143. 48.2Tatian rejected marriage.
144. 49.1The Cataphrygians share much of the catholic faith.
145. 49.2The Cataphrygians follow Montanus, Priscilla and Maximilla.
146. 49.3They claim the fullness of the Spirit came through their prophets.
147. 49.4They baptize the dead and call Pepuza Jerusalem.
148. 49.5Philastrius repeats the charge that they use an infant's blood.
149. 50.1Theodotus, who denied Christ in persecution, called him a mere man.
150. 50.2Theodotus taught this to excuse his denial.
151. 50.3The Theodotians use only passages about Christ's humanity.
152. 51.1Some teach that the Son is poured into the Father like a vessel into a vessel.
153. 51.2Father, Son and Spirit are equally infinite.
154. 51.3Philastrius states the Trinity of three equal persons, the Son and Spirit from the Father.
155. 52.1The Melchizedekians call Melchizedek a great power of God.
156. 53.1Noetus identified the Father with Christ.
157. 54.1Sabellius followed Noetus; his followers were cast out.
158. 55.1Seleucus and Hermias held matter coeternal with God.
159. 55.2They deny creation from nothing and say the soul is from the earth.
160. 55.3They say Christ left his flesh in the sun, misreading the psalm.
161. 55.4They reject water baptism, citing John's saying about Spirit and fire.
162. 55.5They make angels the creators of souls and deny the future resurrection.
163. 56.1The Proclianites interpret Ezekiel's four creatures as nations.
164. 56.2They use Sirach and deny the incarnation and resurrection.
165. 56.3They are the little foxes of the Song of Songs.
166. 57.1The Florians or Carpocratians practise promiscuous intercourse at night.
167. 57.2They misuse the command to multiply and live like cattle.
168. 58.1The Quartodecimans keep Pascha on the fourteenth of the moon.
169. 58.2They do not always keep Pascha on a Sunday.
170. 58.3They ignore the reckoning by which the true Paschal day is fixed.
171. 59.1The Chiliasts expect a carnal thousand-year reign.
172. 59.2The Lord answered those who expected such things.
173. 59.3Christ and Paul show that the kingdom is not carnal.
174. 60.1Some reject John's gospel and Apocalypse.
175. 60.2They ascribe John's writings to Cerinthus.
176. 61.1The Manichees arose from Mani in Persia.
177. 61.2The Manichees teach two warring gods.
178. 61.3The Manichees make the body the devil's work and worship the elements.
179. 61.4Archelaus defeated the Manichees in debate.
180. 61.5Manichees lurk in Spain and southern Gaul.
181. 62.1The Patricians say human flesh was made by the devil.
182. 62.2Some Patricians killed themselves out of contempt for the flesh.
183. 63.1The Symmachians preach serving the desires of the flesh.
184. 64.1Paul of Samosata denied that the Word is a personal, eternal Son.
185. 64.2Paul of Samosata taught Christ as a mere man and taught Zenobia to Judaize.
186. 65.1Photinus followed Paul of Samosata and was deposed at Sirmium.
187. 66.1The Arians, from Arius of Alexandria, call the Son like God.
188. 66.2Calling the Son only like God makes him like a creature.
189. 66.3Only the Son is begotten of the Father's substance; creatures are made from nothing.
190. 66.4The Son is true God because begotten of the Father's substance.
191. 66.5The Son's likeness to the Father lies in his works, since he is begotten, not made.
192. 67.1The Semi-Arians deny the Spirit's divinity.
193. 67.2Christ joined the Spirit to the Father and Son in baptism.
194. 67.3John 1:3 does not imply that the Spirit was made.
195. 67.4The psalm shows the Trinity creating all things.
196. 67.5Blasphemy against the Spirit is unforgivable, which shows his divinity.
197. 68.1The Eunomians teach three unequal substances.
198. 68.2The Eunomians deny that the Son is like the Father.
199. 69.1Some deny that Christ took a human soul.
200. 69.2Christ's words show he had a human soul.
201. 69.3Christ took both body and soul.
202. 69.4Christ had a rational soul and a body able to suffer.
203. 69.5The Spirit formed Christ's flesh, and Christ spoke of his soul.
204. 69.6The risen Christ's words and Peter's sermon show his true flesh and soul.
205. 69.7The catholic church confesses Christ as man and true God.
206. 70.1The Tropites wrongly say the Word was changed into flesh.
207. 70.2The Word assumed visible flesh without change.
208. 71.1Some say Christ laid aside his flesh at the passion.
209. 71.2Salvation depends on Christ's bodily resurrection and ascension.
210. 71.3The angels at the ascension promised his return.
211. 72.1The Aerians or Encratites practise abstinence.
212. 72.2They reject foods and marriage.
213. 73.1The Borborians praise carnal desire.
214. 73.2The Borborians smear themselves with mud.
215. 73.3Vice comes from human will, not God's law.
216. 74.1The Artotyrites offer bread and cheese.
217. 75.1The Ascodrugites dance round a wineskin, misreading Christ's saying.
218. 75.2Paul declares the old things passed away in Christ.
219. 75.3The saying contrasts the law with Christ's fullness, as Paul contrasts the two men.
220. 75.4Christ showed the fulfilment of the law's shadow.
221. 76.1The Passalorynchites keep silence with a finger on the mouth.
222. 76.2They appeal to the psalmist's prayer for a guard on the mouth.
223. 76.3Their silence follows Pythagoras rather than the prophets.
224. 77.1The Aquarians offer water in the Eucharist.
225. 78.1Some claim that prophecy continues, though the prophets ended with John.
226. 79.1Colluthus and his opponent disputed whether God makes evils.
227. 79.2Isaiah and Amos speak of God creating evils.
228. 79.3Such evils are punishments that God permits for sin.
229. 79.4Genesis and Wisdom show that God made nothing evil by nature.
230. 79.5God brings such evils on men to convert them.
231. 79.6Corrective evils are full of benefit.
232. 79.7Trials prove the righteous and correct or remove the sinner.
233. 79.8Death frees the sinner from further sin.
234. 80.1Some deny that the world will be changed.
235. 80.2The elements will be changed into a new creation.
236. 80.3The elements will be restored, though God could destroy them.
237. 80.4God's power could destroy the world, but what he made does not perish.
238. 80.5As in the resurrection of the body, what God made comes to greater glory.
239. 80.6Paul teaches that creation will share the glory of God's children.
240. 80.7The elements will pass into greater glory.
241. 80.8Christ's power appears in the glorifying of the elements.
242. 81.1Some walk barefoot after Moses and Isaiah.
243. 82.1The Novatians arose from Novatus.
244. 82.2The Novatians objected to the readmission of the lapsed.
245. 82.3The Novatians deny repentance after baptism.
246. 82.4The prophet and Christ speak of a second baptism of repentance.
247. 82.5Christ's baptism of the passion shows that repentance is granted after baptism.
248. 82.6Through repentance the fallen may rise and win.
249. 82.7Paul grieved over the unrepentant.
250. 82.8Peter and Paul offered repentance; the lapsed may lose rank but not salvation.
251. 83.1The Donatists rebaptize.
252. 84.1Abstinents in Gaul and Spain separate married couples.
253. 84.2Continence is a voluntary grace, not a command.
254. 84.3Separation is lawful only by mutual consent, not imposed against the law.
255. 84.4Abstinence is praiseworthy when voluntary.
256. 84.5God gave all foods to eat.
257. 84.6They aim to teach that creation is the devil's work.
258. 85.1The Circumcellions seek violent death as martyrdom.
259. 85.2Their suicides bring them judgment, not glory.
260. 86.1Some refuse to eat with others and deny the Spirit's divinity.
261. 87.1Some keep Pascha with the Jews.
262. 87.2Keeping Pascha with the Jews strengthens their error.
263. 88.1Some use only apocryphal books and reject the canonical Scriptures.
264. 88.2Readers of the apocrypha teach against the canonical Scriptures.
265. 88.3Manichees and Gnostics prefer apocryphal Acts to the canon.
266. 88.4Philastrius lists the books to be read in the catholic church.
267. 88.5The apocrypha may be read by the mature but not by all.
268. 88.6The Manichees use apocryphal Acts of Andrew, John, Peter and Paul.
269. 88.7From the talking animals of these Acts heretics concluded that human souls are like animals'.
270. 89.1Some ascribe Hebrews to Barnabas or Clement.
271. 89.2Some ascribe Hebrews to Luke; the letter to the Laodiceans is not read in church.
272. 89.3Hebrews is doubted for its style, its word “made”, and its teaching on repentance.
273. 89.4Hebrews calls Christ “made” in his body, not his divinity.
274. 89.5Hebrews does not exclude repentance but distinguishes ranks.
275. 89.6Martyrdom or a worthy life restores the penitent.
276. 89.7Hebrews excludes rebaptism, not repentance.
277. 89.8God forgets the past sins of those who persevere in good works.
278. 90.1Meletius, once Arian, was received back into the church.
279. 90.2The Meletians communicated with both heretics and catholics and were excluded.
280. 91.1Rhetorius praised all heresies.
281. 91.2Rhetorius's view would praise even Photinus.
282. 91.3Christ's word on blasphemy against the Spirit condemns Rhetorius.
283. 92.1Some say Christ's divinity suffered pain on the cross.
284. 92.2Christ suffered in the flesh, not in his divinity.
285. 92.3The prophets foretold God's coming and his cup of suffering.
286. 92.4Christ suffered in his flesh while his divinity remained united to it.
287. 92.5Paul joins Christ's divinity and flesh at the cross; Peter distinguishes them.
288. 92.6In Christ's passion the united God-man defeated the enemy for us.
289. 92.7The divinity did not suffer; the passion fulfilled the prophesied mystery.
290. 93.1Some make God a composite of three parts.
291. 93.2There are three true persons, the sender and those sent.
292. 93.3The three persons share one equal substance and divinity.
293. 93.4The Trinity is known by faith and exceeds human speech.
294. 93.5Sending distinguishes the persons without separating them in place.
295. 93.6The Son sent by the Father remains everywhere with him.
296. 93.7Christ taught three true persons of one substance.
297. 93.8In the flesh Christ condescended so that we might know God in part.
298. 94.1Genesis speaks of heaven made on the first day and the firmament called heaven.
299. 94.2David and Solomon speak of several heavens.
300. 94.3Any of these counts of heavens is acceptable.
301. 94.4Scripture's different counts of heavens are complementary.
302. 95.1Philastrius distinguishes a first, invisible earth, the matter of all things.
303. 95.2Our earth is founded on the water.
304. 95.3The first earth contains the water and our fruitful earth.
305. 96.1Water too was made by God.
306. 96.2David and the three young men confirm that water was made.
307. 96.3This earth will be renewed.
308. 96.4Our earth draws its substance from the first earth.
309. 97.1Some say the body was made first and is God's image.
310. 97.2Genesis 1 speaks of the making of the rational soul.
311. 97.3“Male and female” in Gen 1 signifies ruling and subject soul.
312. 97.4Adam's body was formed later, from the clay.
313. 97.5The soul was made first, then the body, then the woman from the rib.
314. 97.6The order is soul, body, woman, then the inbreathed grace of the Spirit.
315. 97.7David's psalms confirm this order.
316. 98.1The inbreathing is a grace given to the soul, not the soul itself.
317. 98.2Christ breathing the Spirit on the apostles shows the inbreathing is grace.
318. 98.3The same Christ breathed into Adam and the apostles.
319. 98.4The soul is made and subject to judgment, so it is not the divine breath.
320. 98.5The inbreathing is a grace that grows in the righteous.
321. 98.6The wicked lose this grace, like Saul.
322. 99.1The soul was named soul by God from its creation, not after a fall from heaven.
323. 99.2The psalms speak of the soul.
324. 99.3The theory of a soul fallen from heaven is philosophers', not Scripture's.
325. 100.1Some say animals are rational like men.
326. 100.2Animals lack a rational, immortal soul.
327. 100.3The psalms deny understanding to animals.
328. 100.4Understanding belongs only to the human soul, which rules creation.
329. 101.1Some say God sends evil kings and false prophets.
330. 101.2Scripture shows that evil kings and false prophets act by their own will.
331. 101.3God permits the evil to destroy the evil but does not send them.
332. 101.4The good await reward; the wicked are partly punished now.
333. 102.1Some deny that earthquakes come from God.
334. 102.2Philosophers ascribe earthquakes to nature.
335. 102.3God moves creation to bring sinners to repentance.
336. 103.1Scripture gives few names of stars; pagans multiplied them.
337. 103.2Job names a few stars; God alone names them all.
338. 103.3Only Christ, the creator, knows the names of all the stars.
339. 104.1Scripture speaks of one language and of many.
340. 104.2The confusion of tongues came in Eber's time because of Babel.
341. 104.3The builders of Babel lost the God-given knowledge of all tongues.
342. 104.4After Babel languages had to be learned with effort.
343. 104.5At Pentecost the Lord restored the gift of tongues.
344. 104.6Faith in Christ gives the angelic knowledge of tongues.
345. 104.7Gentile believers too received the gift of tongues.
346. 105.1Some say the name of language came first from the Jews or the pagans.
347. 105.2Reason came before any named language.
348. 105.3The Hebrews are named after Eber, who did not join the builders of Babel.
349. 105.4Eber preceded both pagans and Jews.
350. 105.5The poets' myth of the giants piling mountains derives from Babel.
351. 106.1Some reckon 365 years from Christ's coming to the end.
352. 106.2More than four hundred years have already passed.
353. 106.3Only Christ's one year of ministry was written down.
354. 106.4Isaiah's “year” is the one year of Christ's ministry.
355. 107.1Philastrius disputes reckonings of the end and appeals to a period of about five hundred years.
356. 107.2Daniel's seventy weeks lead to Christ.
357. 107.3A similar number of years runs after the incarnation.
358. 107.4Christ foretold signs of the end and spoke to Peter in a riddle.
359. 107.5Peter asked how often to forgive.
360. 107.6Seventy times seven means unlimited forgiveness.
361. 107.7The vengeance of Cain and Lamech prefigures two peoples.
362. 107.8Daniel's 490 years led to Christ, and a similar span leads to the end.
363. 107.9The seventy weeks are 490 years, linked with the jubilee.
364. 107.10A greater jubilee of about five hundred years marks Christ's coming and the end.
365. 107.11Spiritually, the period ends with the Jews deceived by the Antichrist.
366. 107.12The remnant of Israel will then turn to Christ.
367. 107.13Christ and Paul foretell Israel's salvation.
368. 107.14Christ applied Isaiah's acceptable year to himself.
369. 107.15Christ declared Isaiah fulfilled; Daniel's prophecy points to his coming.
370. 108.1The giants were men like Nimrod, not offspring of angels.
371. 108.2The giants were violent, outsized men.
372. 108.3The giants of Kingdoms, such as the six-fingered man, were human.
373. 108.4Goliath and his like were men given to violence.
374. 108.5Fallen angels act by entering and persuading men.
375. 108.6Unclean spirits entered men's souls, as Satan entered Judas.
376. 108.7Belief in angels taking flesh is like pagan myths.
377. 108.8“Giant” is used in a good sense of Christ.
378. 109.1Some say God instituted paganism, but the Trinity was known from the beginning.
379. 109.2Genesis shows God speaking and making.
380. 109.3Genesis already reveals the Trinity.
381. 109.4Genesis and the psalms speak of the Spirit.
382. 109.5Idolatry came from human will and was condemned by the prophets.
383. 109.6God never commanded the worship of angels, elements or idols.
384. 109.7The Trinity was preached from the beginning, as the psalms show.
385. 109.8Solomon traces idolatry to a grieving father's image of his son.
386. 110.1Some say Christians are newer than Jews and pagans.
387. 110.2The righteous before Moses already confessed the Trinity.
388. 110.3Genesis 19:24 and David announce the Trinity.
389. 110.4The psalms and prophets speak of the Word and the Spirit.
390. 110.5Christian faith and life go back before Jews and pagans.
391. 110.6The righteous before Abraham pleased God without circumcision or sacrifice.
392. 110.7Melchizedek's offering shows that Christianity is from the beginning.
393. 110.8In Christ the mystery foretold in the law is fulfilled.
394. 110.9The prophets' chastity foreshadowed virginity, while marriage remained lawful.
395. 110.10Christians are joined to the saints before the law.
396. 111.1Some say we are born pagans; but the earliest peoples were neither pagans nor Jews.
397. 111.2Philastrius discusses the origin of the word “pagan”.
398. 111.3Idols were invented by men.
399. 111.4The pagans are said to be named from a king, son of Deucalion.
400. 111.5Peoples are named after kings, not idols.
401. 111.6The Greeks were named after Graecus, son of Deucalion.
402. 112.1Philastrius sets out the chronology from Adam to Abraham.
403. 112.2The chronology continues to Philastrius's own time.
404. 112.3The Christian faith was known from the world's beginning.
405. 112.4The law's shadow reflects the people's weakness, not God's envy.
406. 112.5Christ's baptismal command confirms the ancient faith.
407. 112.6No one is born Jew or pagan by nature.
408. 112.7Nature is from God; true teaching joins it to faith.
409. 112.8The fault lies in the will, which God invites to obey.
410. 113.1Some say God named the days after the planets.
411. 113.2God named the days by number; the planetary names are Greek inventions.
412. 114.1Some teach innumerable worlds.
413. 114.2Democritus taught many worlds.
414. 115.1Some say God expelled Adam out of envy.
415. 115.2They hold that two gods made soul and flesh.
416. 115.3One God made Adam and expelled him for transgression.
417. 115.4Ignoring Christ's mercy leads to eternal death.
418. 115.5God expelled Adam out of care, to prevent greater sins.
419. 115.6Christ judged Adam fairly and left the devil room to repent.
420. 115.7Man was readier to repent than the devil, who awaits greater judgment.
421. 115.8Adam repented and was pardoned.
422. 115.9The unrepentant devil is kept for the eternal fire.
423. 116.1Some say Adam and Eve were blind before the fall, but Eve saw the tree.
424. 116.2Their nakedness was the loss of immortality.
425. 116.3Paul and the parable of the wedding garment explain spiritual nakedness.
426. 117.1Some take the tunics of skin to be bodies.
427. 117.2God gave them the skill to make clothes.
428. 117.3Or God made the tunics from nothing.
429. 117.4Either reading is acceptable.
430. 117.5Women wove for the temple.
431. 118.1Some are troubled that the angel sought to kill Moses.
432. 118.2The fault for the uncircumcised child lay with the parents.
433. 118.3The mother circumcised the child and the angel withdrew.
434. 118.4It was Moses's son, not Moses, who was circumcised.
435. 119.1Deuteronomy repeats the earlier law.
436. 119.2Deuteronomy adds the prophecy of a prophet like Moses.
437. 119.3Some explain the name Deuteronomy from the second tablets.
438. 119.4Deuteronomy points from the law's shadow to Christ.
439. 120.1Some misread Psalm 51:5 as condemning marriage.
440. 120.2The saints sanctified in the womb were not conceived in sin through marriage.
441. 120.3David spoke of the transgression of Adam and Eve.
442. 120.4David was born of lawful marriage and chosen by God.
443. 120.5The psalm refers to the first parents' sin.
444. 120.6All inherit the first parents' transgression.
445. 120.7Marriage is blessed, and rebirth in baptism brings joy.
446. 120.8The same psalm foretells baptism.
447. 121.1Noah, not the Greeks, divided the world among his sons.
448. 121.2Shem received the East.
449. 121.3Ham received Syria, Egypt and Africa.
450. 121.4Japheth received the North and West.
451. 121.5Noah promised Japheth enlargement.
452. 121.6Japheth's descendants would rule widely.
453. 121.7The Romans descend from Japheth.
454. 121.8Greek learning is recent, as Solon heard in Egypt.
455. 121.9The Egyptian priest calls the Greeks children.
456. 121.10Greek historians hide their recentness.
457. 121.11The many historians who agree should be believed.
458. 122.1Some say Deucalion's flood preceded Noah's.
459. 122.2Deucalion's flood was local; Noah's was universal.
460. 123.1Some say birth is governed by the zodiac.
461. 123.2Paul condemns serving the creature and empty philosophy.
462. 123.3The zodiac signs are really regions and climates.
463. 123.4God's power mixes the winds for the health of all.
464. 124.1Some teach transmigration of evil souls into animals.
465. 124.2Each soul will be judged for its own deeds.
466. 124.3Evil souls resemble beasts in morals, not nature.
467. 124.4Christ and John called the wicked children of the devil and vipers in a moral sense.
468. 125.1Some say the dead could be saved by confessing in the underworld.
469. 125.2Lighter punishment does not mean salvation.
470. 125.3Pagan poets and philosophers cannot be saved after death.
471. 125.4Repentance belongs to this life; the impious will not appear.
472. 125.5After death comes judgment, not a second chance.
473. 125.6Those who believed in the Father before Christ escape judgment.
474. 125.7Punishments vary with sin, even for those of Noah's flood.
475. 126.1The soul is made by God from nothing, not of the elements.
476. 126.2The soul, God's image, is made a little lower than the angels.
477. 126.3The soul under God's law must say it is an unprofitable servant.
478. 127.1Some say the Son first existed and was afterwards born.
479. 127.2The Son's eternal generation is distinct from his birth in time.
480. 127.3The Son is begotten before all ages and remains with the Father.
481. 127.4Eternal being and being begotten are compatible.
482. 127.5Eternity and generation belong together in the Son.
483. 127.6To say the Son was first unbegotten and later begotten is confused.
484. 127.7That view makes two unbegottens.
485. 128.1Some misread the hardening of Pharaoh and Romans 9.
486. 128.2God's power shown in Pharaoh is his patience and goodness.
487. 128.3Prosperity makes people forget God.
488. 128.4Pharaoh relented only under affliction.
489. 128.5Correction is good, as the psalm says.
490. 128.6We must run by our own will, without presuming on our own merit.
491. 128.7Paul teaches us to run and will humbly.
492. 128.8Some things depend on our effort, greater things on God.
493. 128.9High callings such as martyrdom are God's gift.
494. 129.1Some deny that David was a prophet of Christ.
495. 129.2God gave David greater knowledge.
496. 129.3David, as prophet, summed up all things in the first psalm.
497. 129.4Psalm 1 refers to pagans, Jews and heretics.
498. 129.5David set up four choirs of singers in Jerusalem.
499. 129.6David sang psalms to Christ three times daily with the people.
500. 129.7Greek wisdom is later than and derived from the prophets.
501. 129.8Poets imitated David but corrupted what they took.
502. 129.9Many prefer recent pagan lies to the ancient truth.
503. 129.10The Greek historians show how recent Greek wisdom is.
504. 130.1Some deny that David wrote the Psalter because of its disorder.
505. 130.2The psalms are not in historical order.
506. 130.3The disorder troubles those who read historically.
507. 130.4Though other names appear in the titles, the Psalter belongs to David.
508. 130.5The disorder arose from the destruction of Scriptures in captivities.
509. 130.6Priests later arranged the recovered psalms as they found them.
510. 130.7Spiritually the psalms speak of Christ throughout.
511. 130.8The psalms reveal the devil's work in idolatry and heresy.
512. 131.1Some think God told Cain he would rule his brother.
513. 131.2The verse does not mean lordship over Abel.
514. 131.3Cain was told to master his evil thought.
515. 131.4Christ saw and warned against Cain's plan.
516. 131.5The gospel and the psalm teach the mastery of anger.
517. 131.6Evil thoughts must be driven out at once.
518. 132.1Some misunderstand Cain's words after the murder.
519. 132.2God offered Cain repentance as an example for all.
520. 132.3God desires the sinner's return.
521. 132.4Cain's confession opened the way to forgiveness.
522. 132.5Cain received a sign of protection, though his repentance was feigned.
523. 132.6Cain showed no fruit of repentance.
524. 132.7Cain's heirs perished in the flood; only eight were saved.
525. 133.1Some say the stars are fixed in the sky.
526. 133.2This view is pagan, not Christian.
527. 133.3God sends the stars from their treasuries.
528. 133.4Angels guide the stars, showing Christ's goodness to all.
529. 133.5God's sun and stars serve all.
530. 134.1Some reject Ecclesiastes.
531. 134.2They stumble at Ecclesiastes' sayings on vanity.
532. 134.3If Ecclesiastes meant only bodily food, all labour would be vain.
533. 134.4Solomon taught both earthly life and future glory.
534. 134.5The heavenly food is to be desired more, as Mary chose.
535. 134.6Worldly things pass, so heavenly glory is to be desired.
536. 134.7Angelic glory comes through Christ.
537. 134.8Solomon spoke of both earthly and heavenly food.
538. 134.9The heavenly food is the Lord himself.
539. 135.1Some think the Song of Songs is about human pleasures.
540. 135.2The Song teaches Christ's presence through love.
541. 135.3Christ is shown as God, father, shepherd and king.
542. 135.4The Song reveals in Christ's light what the law showed in shadow.
543. 135.5Those who read the Song carnally are no better than unbelievers.
544. 136.1Some reject the commandment given to Adam.
545. 136.2There are three ages: commandment, law and grace.
546. 136.3The law recalls the first commandment, and both point to Christ.
547. 136.4The ancients kept the commandment; the written law followed its forgetting.
548. 136.5Commandment, law and grace belong together.
549. 137.1Some misunderstand the image and likeness of God.
550. 137.2Every soul is God's image; likeness comes by faith and life.
551. 137.3The sinful soul cannot be God's natural image.
552. 137.4Only Christ is God's natural image.
553. 137.5All souls are God's image, but only saints have the likeness.
554. 137.6The faithful will share the angels' glory.
555. 137.7Likeness to God is shown in obedience.
556. 137.8Paul and Christ promise heaven to the faithful.
557. 137.9Likeness to God comes from faith and good life.
558. 138.1Some ask why God spoke in many ways.
559. 138.2God spoke and appeared in different ways over time.
560. 138.3God appeared as angel and man before becoming incarnate.
561. 138.4God, as physician, gave each age the remedy it needed.
562. 138.5The ancients who believed on hearing were greater than we.
563. 138.6God spoke in other tongues, as the prophets foretold.
564. 139.1Some think the four creatures are literal animals praising God.
565. 139.2The four creatures signify four kinds of holy people.
566. 139.3The lion, calf and man signify patriarchs, prophets and priests.
567. 139.4The eagle signifies the apostles.
568. 139.5The four figures signify the virtues of the saints.
569. 140.1Some refuse to keep Epiphany as well as Christmas.
570. 140.2The four great feasts are Christmas, Epiphany, Pascha and the Ascension.
571. 140.3Whoever rejects one feast may doubt the others.
572. 140.4Some link Epiphany to the baptism or the transfiguration.
573. 141.1Some ignore the eight festivals of Leviticus.
574. 141.2Moses gives eight festivals.
575. 141.3The festivals from March to October signify Christ's gifts.
576. 141.4The eighth festival signifies the Lord's day and resurrection.
577. 141.5The eighth day points to the resurrection glory.
578. 142.1Some prefer Aquila's version to the Septuagint.
579. 142.2Aquila's version differs at Ps 2:2 and Isa 7:14.
580. 142.3The Jews use Aquila because he made Christ a mere prophet.
581. 142.4The church holds to the Septuagint and treats Aquila as secondary.
582. 142.5Ptolemy asked for translators to be sent to Alexandria.
583. 142.6The seventy-two translated the Hebrew into Greek.
584. 142.7Ptolemy had each translator work alone.
585. 142.8The separate translations agreed, and the version was placed in the temple.
586. 142.9Pagan writers stole from the Septuagint.
587. 143.1Some accept the translation of “the Thirty”.
588. 143.2The church does not receive that translation.
589. 144.1Some follow the translation of “the Six”.
590. 145.1Some follow Theodotion and Symmachus.
591. 146.1Some follow versions found in a jar.
592. 147.1Some think Scripture forbids cursing pagan gods.
593. 147.2Moses, Abraham, Gideon and David opposed idols.
594. 147.3The “gods” not to be cursed are the saints and angels.
595. 147.4The just broke idols; Christ's messengers are called gods.
596. 147.5Those to whom God's word came are called gods.
597. 147.6The saints are to be honoured.
598. 147.7The command forbade cursing the prophets.
599. 148.1Some misunderstand Melchizedek's being without father or mother.
600. 148.2Melchizedek had no righteous parents but knew Christ's mysteries by his own zeal.
601. 148.3“Without father or mother” means without parental teaching.
602. 148.4Paul says gentiles can do the law by nature.
603. 148.5Faith comes by God's revelation and rebirth.
604. 148.6Renouncing parents means rejecting their impiety.
605. 148.7Melchizedek, born of Canaanites, celebrated Christ's mystery.
606. 148.8Melchizedek and Abraham represent Christians and Jews.
607. 148.9Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek prefigures the Jews' subjection to the church.
608. 149.1Some take Zechariah's four fasts to forbid further fasting.
609. 149.2The four fasts point to Christian mysteries.
610. 149.3The church keeps four fasts: Nativity, Pascha, Ascension and Pentecost.
611. 149.4The apostles fasted and prayed before Pentecost.
612. 149.5Others link the four fasts to the four seasons.
613. 149.6Others refer the four fasts to Noah or to Israel's exodus.
614. 149.7Others link the four fasts to four books of Moses.
615. 149.8The four fasts are also taken as four gospels and four orders of saints.
616. 150.1Some read Song 6:8 literally of Solomon's women.
617. 150.2The numbers signify different gifts of grace by capacity.
618. 150.3Solomon's figures signify the different glories of three peoples.
619. 150.4Christ's varied grace is poured out daily on seekers.
620. 150.5Queens, concubines and maidens signify three kinds of souls.
621. 150.6The rich young man illustrates the call to perfection.
622. 150.7Rewards differ according to faith and labour.
623. 150.8The psalm describes the queen and the daughter.
624. 150.9There are degrees of future reward.
625. 151.1Some take Joshua's stone knives literally.
626. 151.2The stone knives are gentiles who teach the Jews.
627. 151.3Jews taught by former gentiles may be saved if they believe.
628. 151.4The gentiles will be the judges and teachers of the Jews.
629. 151.5The gentiles will believe first, then Israel.
630. 152.1Some equate Adam's breath with the Spirit given to the apostles.
631. 152.2The breath is common; the Spirit is given in baptism.
632. 152.3The Spirit belongs to the faithful who grow in grace.
633. 152.4Nature has a share in grace, but the fullness belongs to the faithful.
634. 153.1The measuring line in Zechariah signifies the election of few.
635. 153.2The threefold cord signifies the Trinity.
636. 153.3Christ foresaw that few would keep the faith.
637. 153.4The threefold cord is the Trinity confessed in baptism.
638. 153.5Salvation comes from faith in the Trinity.
639. 153.6The cord may also mean commandment, law and grace, or faith, hope and love.
640. 154.1Some think the ravens brought Elijah meat, though he never ate it.
641. 154.2The ravens' gentleness shamed Elijah's persecutors.
642. 154.8All creatures are subject to man.
643. 155.1Some are troubled by the creatures of Isaiah 6.
644. 155.2Literally, the passage teaches God's invisibility.
645. 155.3The passage also foretells the unbelief of the Jews.
646. 155.4The two creatures are the law and the prophets.
647. 155.5The veiling signifies teaching in parables.
648. 155.6God's dimensions cannot be known except by faith.
649. 155.7The crying wings signify belief and confession.
650. 155.8God is invisible but may be believed.
651. 155.9The four forms signify the different orders of saints.
652. 155.10Faith and confession lead to salvation.
653. 155.11Christ's greatness is grasped by faith, not by measurement.
654. 156.1The seraph with the coal signifies the two testaments.
655. 156.2The seraph sent to Isaiah announced Christ's coming.
656. 156.3Isaiah received grace from his predecessors to announce Christ.
657. 156.4The fire is the Spirit; the tongs signify Christ's body formed by divine power.
658. 156.5The iron signifies the invincible word and the Spirit's power.
659. 156.6The two creatures may also mean the commandment and Christ's teaching.
660. 156.7The law stands between commandment and grace; the ancients knew the Trinity.
661. 156.8The grace of Christ was known to the just before the law.
662. 156.9Christ gave his friends a commandment as Adam had one before sin.
663. 156.10Christ joined the teaching of the law and the patriarchs and united Jews and gentiles.