WEBVTT 00:25.240 --> 00:27.060 BOOK III. 00:27.240 --> 00:30.020 CHAPTER XXII-XXIX. 00:31.980 --> 00:36.420 CHAPTER XXII- IGNATIUS, THE SECOND BISHOP OF ANTIOCH. 00:37.960 --> 00:43.200 At this time Ignatius was known as the second Bishop of Antioch, Evodius having 00:43.200 --> 00:44.000 been the first. 00:44.760 --> 00:48.900 Simeon, likewise, was at that time the second ruler of the Church of Jerusalem, 00:49.380 --> 00:51.920 the brother of our Savior, having been the first. 00:53.940 --> 00:55.220 CHAPTER XXIII. 00:55.740 --> 00:57.880 NARRATIVE CONCERNING JOHN THE APOSTLE. 00:59.440 --> 01:04.260 At that time the apostle and evangelist John, the one whom Jesus loved, 01:04.500 --> 01:09.120 was still living in Asia, and governing the churches of that region, having 01:09.120 --> 01:12.720 returned after the death of Domitian from his exile on the island. 01:14.380 --> 01:19.020 And that he was still alive at that time may be established by the testimony of two 01:19.020 --> 01:19.460 witnesses. 01:20.280 --> 01:24.040 They should be trustworthy who have maintained the orthodoxy of the Church, 01:24.400 --> 01:27.900 and such indeed were Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria. 01:29.780 --> 01:34.660 The former, in the second book of his work Against Heresies, writes as follows, 01:35.260 --> 01:40.040 And all the elders that associated with John the disciple of the Lord in Asia bear 01:40.040 --> 01:45.020 witness that John delivered it to them, for he remained among them until the time 01:45.020 --> 01:45.660 of Trajan. 01:47.700 --> 01:52.220 And in the third book of the same work he attests the same thing in the following 01:52.220 --> 01:57.720 words, But the church in Ephesus also, which was founded by Paul, and where John 01:57.720 --> 02:01.980 remained until the time of Trajan, is a faithful witness of the apostolic 02:01.980 --> 02:02.540 tradition. 02:04.260 --> 02:09.800 Clement, likewise in his book entitled What Rich Man Can Be Saved, indicates the 02:09.800 --> 02:13.880 time, and subjoins a narrative which is most attractive to those that enjoy 02:13.880 --> 02:15.720 hearing what is beautiful and profitable. 02:16.300 --> 02:19.060 Take and read the account which runs as follows. 02:20.580 --> 02:25.840 Listen to a tale, which is not a mere tale, but a narrative concerning John the 02:25.840 --> 02:29.240 Apostle, which has been handed down and treasured up in memory. 02:29.820 --> 02:34.320 For when, after the tyrant's death, he returned from the isle of Patmos to 02:34.320 --> 02:38.600 Ephesus, he went away upon their invitation to the neighboring territories 02:38.600 --> 02:43.960 of the Gentiles, to appoint bishops in some places, in other places to set in 02:43.960 --> 02:48.620 order whole churches, elsewhere to choose to the ministry some one of those that 02:48.620 --> 02:50.140 were pointed out by the Spirit. 02:51.860 --> 02:56.780 When he had come to one of the cities not far away, the name of which is given by 02:56.780 --> 03:01.620 some, and had consoled the brethren in other matters, he finally turned to the 03:01.620 --> 03:05.520 bishop that had been appointed, and seeing a youth of powerful physique, 03:05.860 --> 03:11.060 of pleasing appearance, and of ardent temperament, he said, This one I commit to 03:11.060 --> 03:15.200 thee in all earnestness in the presence of the church and with Christ as witness. 03:16.060 --> 03:20.600 And when the bishop had accepted the charge and had promised all, he repeated 03:20.600 --> 03:25.280 the same injunction with an appeal to the same witnesses, and then departed for 03:25.280 --> 03:25.740 Ephesus. 03:27.700 --> 03:32.440 But the presbyter, taking home the youth committed to him, reared, kept, 03:32.740 --> 03:34.760 cherished, and finally baptized him. 03:35.520 --> 03:40.460 After this, he relaxed his stricter care and watchfulness, with the idea that in 03:40.460 --> 03:44.240 putting upon him the seal of the Lord he had given him a perfect protection. 03:45.580 --> 03:50.880 But some youths of his own age, idle and dissolute, and accustomed to evil 03:50.880 --> 03:55.360 practices, corrupted him when he was thus prematurely freed from restraint. 03:56.240 --> 03:59.080 At first they enticed him by costly entertainments. 03:59.560 --> 04:03.480 Then, when they went forth at night for robbery, they took him with them, 04:03.720 --> 04:07.720 and finally they demanded that he should unite with them in some greater crime. 04:09.300 --> 04:13.840 He gradually became accustomed to such practices, and on account of the 04:13.840 --> 04:18.060 positiveness of his character, leaving the right path, and taking the bit 04:18.060 --> 04:21.980 in his teeth like a hard-mouthed and powerful horse, he rushed the more 04:21.980 --> 04:23.780 violently down into the depths. 04:25.660 --> 04:30.560 And finally despairing of salvation in God, he no longer meditated what was 04:30.560 --> 04:35.360 insignificant, but having committed some great crime, since he was now lost once 04:35.360 --> 04:39.000 for all, he expected to suffer a like fate with the rest. 04:39.640 --> 04:44.900 Taking them, therefore, and forming a band of robbers, he became a bold bandit chief, 04:45.200 --> 04:48.440 the most violent, most bloody, most cruel of them all. 04:50.180 --> 04:54.340 Time passed, and some necessity having arisen, they sent for John. 04:54.800 --> 04:59.340 But he, when he had set in order the other matters on account of which he had come, 04:59.780 --> 05:04.940 said, Come, O Bishop, restore us the deposit which both I and Christ committed 05:04.940 --> 05:08.960 to thee, the church over which thou presidest being witness. 05:10.840 --> 05:15.580 But the bishop was at first confounded, thinking that he was falsely charged in 05:15.580 --> 05:19.480 regard to money which he had not received, and he could neither believe the 05:19.480 --> 05:23.700 accusation respecting what he had not, nor could he disbelieve John. 05:24.320 --> 05:29.180 But when he said, I demand the young man and the soul of the brother, the old man, 05:29.300 --> 05:34.160 groaning deeply and at the same time bursting into tears, said, He is dead. 05:34.800 --> 05:36.260 How, and what kind of death? 05:36.580 --> 05:41.600 He is dead to God, he said, for he turned wicked and abandoned, and at last a 05:41.600 --> 05:42.020 robber. 05:42.580 --> 05:46.400 And now, instead of the church, he haunts the mountain with a band like 05:46.400 --> 05:46.900 himself. 05:48.780 --> 05:52.580 But the apostle, rent his clothes, and beating his head with great 05:52.580 --> 05:58.300 lamentation, he said, A fine guard I left for a brother's soul, but let a horse be 05:58.300 --> 06:00.820 brought me, and let someone show me the way. 06:01.460 --> 06:06.060 He rode away from the church just as he was, and coming to the place, he was taken 06:06.060 --> 06:07.960 prisoner by the robber's outpost. 06:09.320 --> 06:14.260 He, however, neither fled nor made entreaty, but cried out, For this did I 06:14.260 --> 06:16.080 come, lead me to your captain. 06:17.340 --> 06:20.840 The latter, meanwhile, was waiting, armed as he was. 06:21.200 --> 06:25.420 But when he recognized John approaching, he turned in shame to flee. 06:27.220 --> 06:32.160 But John, forgetting his age, pursued him with all his might, crying out, 06:32.380 --> 06:37.720 Why, my son, dost thou flee from me, thine own father, unarmed, aged? 06:38.560 --> 06:40.580 Pity me, my son, fear not. 06:41.000 --> 06:42.880 Thou hast still hope of life. 06:43.260 --> 06:45.280 I will give account to Christ for thee. 06:45.700 --> 06:50.520 If need be, I will willingly endure thy death as the Lord suffered death for us. 06:51.200 --> 06:53.180 For thee will I give up my life. 06:53.660 --> 06:56.140 Stand, believe, Christ hath sent me. 06:57.540 --> 07:01.040 And he, when he heard, first stopped and looked down. 07:01.480 --> 07:05.280 Then he threw away his arms, and then trembled and wept bitterly. 07:05.780 --> 07:10.060 And when the old man approached, he embraced him, making confession with 07:10.060 --> 07:14.620 lamentations as he was able, baptizing himself a second time with tears, 07:15.100 --> 07:17.220 and concealing only his right hand. 07:19.220 --> 07:23.660 But John, pledging himself and assuring him on oath that he would find forgiveness 07:23.660 --> 07:28.560 with the Savior, besought him, fell upon his knees, kissed his right hand 07:28.560 --> 07:33.360 itself as if now purified by repentance, and led him back to the church. 07:33.960 --> 07:38.340 And making intercession for him with copious prayers, and struggling together 07:38.340 --> 07:42.500 with him in continual fastings, and subduing his mind by various 07:42.500 --> 07:47.640 utterances, he did not depart, as they say, until he had restored him to 07:47.640 --> 07:52.220 the church, furnishing a great example of true repentance and a great proof of 07:52.220 --> 07:55.340 regeneration, a trophy of a visible resurrection. 07:57.520 --> 07:58.520 Chapter 24. 07:58.940 --> 08:00.360 The Order of the Gospels. 08:01.940 --> 08:06.840 This extract from Clement I have inserted here for the sake of the history and for 08:06.840 --> 08:08.040 the benefit of my readers. 08:08.720 --> 08:12.080 Let us now point out the undisputed writings of this apostle. 08:13.320 --> 08:17.260 And in the first place his gospel, which is known to all the churches under 08:17.260 --> 08:22.600 heaven, must be acknowledged as genuine, that it has with good reason been put by 08:22.600 --> 08:26.060 the ancients in the fourth place, after the other three gospels, 08:26.440 --> 08:28.720 may be made evident in the following way. 08:30.420 --> 08:34.560 Those great and truly divine men, I mean the apostles of Christ, 08:34.940 --> 08:39.220 were purified in their life and were adorned with every virtue of the soul, 08:39.500 --> 08:41.440 but were uncultivated in speech. 08:42.040 --> 08:46.340 They were confident indeed in their trust in the divine and wonder-working power 08:46.340 --> 08:51.220 which was granted unto them by the Savior, but they did not know how, nor did they 08:51.220 --> 08:55.680 attempt to proclaim the doctrines of their Teacher in studied and artistic language, 08:56.200 --> 09:00.920 but employing only the demonstration of the divine Spirit, which worked with them, 09:01.200 --> 09:04.780 and the wonder-working power of Christ, which was displayed through them, 09:05.020 --> 09:08.360 they published the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven throughout the whole 09:08.360 --> 09:12.380 world, paying little attention to the composition of written works. 09:14.160 --> 09:18.180 And this they did because they were assisted in their ministry by one greater 09:18.180 --> 09:18.960 than man. 09:19.700 --> 09:24.640 Paul, for instance, who surpassed them all in vigor of expression and in richness of 09:24.640 --> 09:29.560 thought, committed to writing no more than the briefest epistles, although he had 09:29.560 --> 09:34.340 innumerable mysterious matters to communicate, for he had attained even unto 09:34.340 --> 09:38.240 the sights of the third heaven, had been carried to the very paradise of 09:38.240 --> 09:42.560 God, and had been deemed worthy to hear unspeakable utterances there. 09:44.140 --> 09:48.540 And the rest of the followers of our Savior, the twelve apostles, the seventy 09:48.540 --> 09:53.020 disciples, and countless others besides, were not ignorant of these things. 09:53.660 --> 09:58.500 Nevertheless, of all the disciples of the Lord, only Matthew and John have left us 09:58.500 --> 10:03.400 written memorials, and they, tradition says, were led to write only under the 10:03.400 --> 10:04.480 pressure of necessity. 10:06.020 --> 10:10.580 For Matthew, who had at first preached to the Hebrews, when he was about to go to 10:10.580 --> 10:15.220 other peoples, committed his gospel to writing in his native tongue, and thus 10:15.220 --> 10:19.380 compensated those whom he was obliged to leave for the loss of his presence. 10:21.420 --> 10:25.780 And when Mark and Luke had already published their gospels, they say that 10:25.780 --> 10:29.480 John, who had employed all his time in proclaiming the gospel orally, 10:29.920 --> 10:32.500 finally proceeded to write for the following reason. 10:32.860 --> 10:37.560 The three gospels already mentioned having come into the hands of all and into his 10:37.560 --> 10:41.860 own too, they say he accepted them and bore witness to their truthfulness, 10:41.860 --> 10:46.520 but that there was lacking in them an account of the deeds done by Christ at the 10:46.520 --> 10:47.760 beginning of his ministry. 10:49.260 --> 10:54.680 And this indeed is true, for it is evident that the three evangelists recorded only 10:54.680 --> 10:58.580 the deeds done by the Savior for one year after the imprisonment of John the 10:58.580 --> 11:02.080 Baptist, and indicated this in the beginning of their account. 11:03.960 --> 11:08.200 For Matthew, after the forty days fast and the temptation which followed it, 11:08.560 --> 11:13.440 indicates the chronology of his work when he says, Now when he heard that John was 11:13.440 --> 11:16.540 delivered up, he withdrew from Judea into Galilee. 11:18.800 --> 11:24.640 Mark likewise says, Now after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee. 11:25.200 --> 11:30.380 And Luke, before commencing his account of the deeds of Jesus, similarly marks the 11:30.380 --> 11:34.860 time when he says that Herod, adding to all the evil deeds which he had done, 11:35.220 --> 11:36.580 shut up John in prison. 11:38.140 --> 11:42.760 They say, therefore, that the Apostle John, being asked to do it for this 11:42.760 --> 11:47.320 reason, gave in his gospel an account of the period which had been omitted by the 11:47.320 --> 11:51.880 earlier evangelists, and of the deeds done by the Savior during that period, 11:52.340 --> 11:56.240 that is, of those which were done before the imprisonment of the Baptist. 11:57.000 --> 12:01.920 And this is indicated by him, they say, in the following words, This beginning of 12:01.920 --> 12:03.360 miracles did Jesus. 12:04.020 --> 12:08.300 And again, when he refers to the Baptist in the midst of the deeds of Jesus, 12:08.640 --> 12:13.820 as still baptizing in Enon near Salim, when he states the matter clearly in the 12:13.820 --> 12:16.800 words, For John was not yet cast into prison. 12:18.460 --> 12:22.860 John accordingly, in his gospel, records the deeds of Christ which were 12:22.860 --> 12:27.480 performed before the Baptist was cast into prison, but the other three evangelists 12:27.480 --> 12:30.160 mention the events which happened after that time. 12:31.820 --> 12:36.060 One who understands this can no longer think that the gospels are at variance 12:36.060 --> 12:40.840 with one another, inasmuch as the gospel according to John contains the first acts 12:40.840 --> 12:44.860 of Christ, while the others give an account of the latter part of his life. 12:45.520 --> 12:50.100 And the genealogy of our Savior according to the flesh John quite naturally omitted, 12:50.580 --> 12:54.760 because it had been already given by Matthew and Luke, and began with the 12:54.760 --> 13:00.080 doctrine of his divinity, which had, as it were, been reserved for him as their 13:00.080 --> 13:02.100 superior by the divine spirit. 13:04.000 --> 13:08.300 These things may suffice which we have said concerning the gospel of John. 13:08.700 --> 13:13.240 The cause which led to the composition of the gospel of Mark has been already stated 13:13.240 --> 13:13.960 by us. 13:15.580 --> 13:20.540 But as for Luke, in the beginning of his gospel, he states himself the reasons 13:20.540 --> 13:21.900 which led him to write it. 13:22.320 --> 13:26.720 He states that since many others had more rashly undertaken to compose a narrative 13:26.720 --> 13:30.860 of the events of which he had acquired perfect knowledge, he himself, 13:31.220 --> 13:35.680 feeling the necessity of freeing us from their uncertain questions, delivered in 13:35.680 --> 13:40.280 his own gospel an accurate account of those events in regard to which he had 13:40.280 --> 13:44.860 learned the full truth, being aided by his intimacy and his stay with Paul, 13:45.260 --> 13:47.860 and by his acquaintance with the rest of the apostles. 13:49.280 --> 13:51.980 So much for our own account of these things. 13:52.540 --> 13:56.240 But in a more fitting place, we shall attempt to show by quotations from the 13:56.240 --> 13:58.980 ancients what others have said concerning them. 14:00.560 --> 14:05.580 But of the writings of John, not only his gospel, but also the former of his 14:05.580 --> 14:10.160 epistles, has been accepted without dispute both now and in ancient times, 14:10.520 --> 14:12.480 but the other two are disputed. 14:14.060 --> 14:18.680 In regard to the Apocalypse, the opinions of most men are still divided. 14:19.220 --> 14:23.360 But at the proper time, this question likewise shall be decided from the 14:23.360 --> 14:24.880 testimony of the ancients. 14:32.840 --> 14:37.640 Since we are dealing with this subject, it is proper to sum up the writings of the 14:37.640 --> 14:39.760 New Testament which have been already mentioned. 14:39.760 --> 14:45.440 First then must be put the Holy Quaternion of the Gospels, following them with the 14:45.440 --> 14:46.620 Acts of the Apostles. 14:47.900 --> 14:50.660 After this must be reckoned the Epistles of Paul. 14:51.060 --> 14:56.040 Next in order, the extant former Epistle of John, and likewise the Epistle of 14:56.040 --> 14:57.520 Peter, must be maintained. 14:58.460 --> 15:03.180 After them is to be placed, if it really seem proper, the Apocalypse of John, 15:03.620 --> 15:07.280 concerning which we shall give the different opinions at the proper time. 15:07.860 --> 15:10.820 These then belong among the accepted writings. 15:12.480 --> 15:16.780 Among the disputed writings, which are nevertheless recognized by many, 15:17.320 --> 15:22.740 are extant the so-called Epistle of James, and that of Jude, also the second Epistle 15:22.740 --> 15:27.240 of Peter, and those that are called the second and third of John, whether they 15:27.240 --> 15:30.720 belong to the evangelist or to another person of the same name. 15:32.220 --> 15:36.700 Among the rejected writings must be reckoned also the Acts of Paul, 15:37.100 --> 15:41.580 and the so-called Shepherd, and the Apocalypse of Peter, and in addition to 15:41.580 --> 15:45.920 these the extant Epistle of Barnabas, and the so-called Teachings of the 15:45.920 --> 15:51.240 Apostles, and besides, as I said, the Apocalypse of John, if it seem proper, 15:51.700 --> 15:55.860 which some, as I said, reject, but which others class with the accepted 15:55.860 --> 15:56.340 books. 15:57.440 --> 16:01.880 And among these some have placed also the Gospel according to the Hebrews, 16:02.500 --> 16:06.640 with which those of the Hebrews that have accepted Christ are especially delighted, 16:07.020 --> 16:10.360 and all these may be reckoned among the disputed books. 16:11.820 --> 16:16.240 But we have nevertheless felt compelled to give a catalogue of these also, 16:16.680 --> 16:21.080 distinguishing those works which according to ecclesiastical tradition are true and 16:21.080 --> 16:25.740 genuine and commonly accepted, from those others which, although not 16:25.740 --> 16:30.480 canonical but disputed, are yet at the same time known to most ecclesiastical 16:30.480 --> 16:30.880 writers. 16:31.520 --> 16:35.380 We have felt compelled to give this catalogue in order that we might be able 16:35.380 --> 16:39.920 to know both these works and those that are cited by the heretics under the name 16:39.920 --> 16:44.960 of the Apostles, including, for instance, such books as the Gospels of Peter, 16:45.380 --> 16:51.240 of Thomas, of Matthias, or of any others besides them, and the Acts of Andrew and 16:51.240 --> 16:55.740 John, and the other Apostles, which no one belonging to the succession of 16:55.740 --> 16:59.420 ecclesiastical writers has deemed worthy of mention in his writings. 17:01.140 --> 17:06.180 And further, the character of the style is at variance with apostolic usage, 17:06.540 --> 17:10.260 and both the thoughts and the purpose of the things that are related in them are so 17:10.260 --> 17:14.120 completely out of accord with true orthodoxy that they clearly show 17:14.120 --> 17:16.380 themselves to be the fictions of heretics. 17:17.180 --> 17:21.940 Wherefore they are not to be placed even among the rejected writings, but are all 17:21.940 --> 17:25.220 of them to be cast aside as absurd and impious. 17:26.240 --> 17:28.840 Let us now proceed with our history. 17:35.140 --> 17:39.940 Menander, who succeeded Simon Magus, showed himself in his conduct another 17:39.940 --> 17:43.800 instrument of diabolical power, not inferior to the former. 17:43.800 --> 17:49.460 He also was a Samaritan, and carried his sorceries to no less an extent than his 17:49.460 --> 17:54.440 teacher had done, and at the same time reveled in still more marvelous tales than 17:54.440 --> 17:54.760 he. 17:55.940 --> 18:00.560 For he said that he was himself the Savior, who had been sent down from 18:00.560 --> 18:05.540 invisible eons for the salvation of men, and he taught that no one could gain the 18:05.540 --> 18:10.240 mastery over the world creating angels themselves unless he had first gone 18:10.240 --> 18:14.960 through the magical discipline imparted by him and had received baptism from him. 18:15.980 --> 18:19.660 Those who were deemed worthy of this would partake even in the present life of 18:19.660 --> 18:24.300 perpetual immortality and would never die, but would remain here forever, 18:24.600 --> 18:26.940 and without growing old, become immortal. 18:27.680 --> 18:31.100 These facts can be easily learned from the works of Irenaeus. 18:32.660 --> 18:37.600 And Justin, in the passage in which he mentions Simon, gives an account of this 18:37.600 --> 18:39.840 man also, in the following words. 18:40.280 --> 18:44.780 And we know that a certain Menander, who was also a Samaritan from the village 18:44.780 --> 18:50.240 of Keparatea, was a disciple of Simon, and that he also, being driven by the 18:50.240 --> 18:54.100 demons, came to Antioch and deceived many by his magical art. 18:54.640 --> 18:59.120 And he persuaded his followers that they should not die, and there are still some 18:59.120 --> 19:00.420 of them that assert this. 19:01.660 --> 19:06.720 And it was indeed an artifice of the devil to endeavor, by means of such sorcerers, 19:07.020 --> 19:11.260 who assumed the name of Christians, to defame the great mystery of godliness 19:11.260 --> 19:15.600 by magic art, and through them to make ridiculous the doctrines of the Church 19:15.600 --> 19:19.280 concerning the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the dead. 19:19.840 --> 19:23.860 But they that have chosen these men as their saviors have fallen away from the 19:23.860 --> 19:24.480 true hope. 19:26.140 --> 19:27.380 Chapter 27. 19:27.820 --> 19:29.760 The Heresy of the Ebionites. 19:30.680 --> 19:35.580 The evil demon, however, being unable to tear certain others from their allegiance 19:35.580 --> 19:40.100 to the Christ of God, yet found them susceptible in a different direction, 19:40.520 --> 19:42.720 and so brought them over to his own purposes. 19:43.520 --> 19:48.560 The ancients quite properly called these men Ebionites, because they held poor and 19:48.560 --> 19:50.360 mean opinions concerning Christ. 19:51.720 --> 19:57.100 For they considered him a plain and common man, who was justified only because of his 19:57.100 --> 20:01.400 superior virtue, and who was the fruit of the intercourse of a man with Mary. 20:02.080 --> 20:06.520 In their opinion, the observance of the ceremonial law was altogether necessary, 20:07.020 --> 20:10.920 on the ground that they could not be saved by faith in Christ alone and by a 20:10.920 --> 20:12.060 corresponding life. 20:13.880 --> 20:19.000 There were others, however, besides them, that were of the same name, but avoided 20:19.000 --> 20:23.440 the strange and absurd beliefs of the former, and did not deny that the Lord was 20:23.440 --> 20:25.520 born of a virgin and of the Holy Spirit. 20:26.140 --> 20:31.300 But nevertheless, inasmuch as they also refused to acknowledge that he preexisted, 20:31.560 --> 20:36.460 being God, Word, and Wisdom, they turned aside into the impiety of the former, 20:36.460 --> 20:41.380 especially when they, like them, endeavored to observe strictly the bodily 20:41.380 --> 20:42.500 worship of the law. 20:44.320 --> 20:49.080 These men, moreover, thought that it was necessary to reject all the epistles of 20:49.080 --> 20:53.880 the Apostle, whom they called an apostate from the law, and they used only the 20:53.880 --> 20:58.040 so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews, and made small account of the rest. 20:59.320 --> 21:03.860 The Sabbath and the rest of the discipline of the Jews they observed just like them, 21:03.860 --> 21:08.520 but at the same time, like us, they celebrated the Lord's days as a 21:08.520 --> 21:10.600 memorial of the resurrection of the Savior. 21:12.720 --> 21:16.300 Wherefore, in consequence of such a course, they received the name of 21:16.300 --> 21:21.700 Ebionites, which signified the poverty of their understanding, for this is the name 21:21.700 --> 21:24.140 by which a poor man is called among the Hebrews. 21:26.100 --> 21:29.200 Chapter 28, Serinthes, the Heresiarch. 21:30.880 --> 21:35.600 We have understood that at this time Serinthes, the author of another heresy, 21:36.020 --> 21:37.000 made his appearance. 21:37.760 --> 21:42.180 Caius, whose words we quoted above, in the disputation which is ascribed to 21:42.180 --> 21:44.640 him, writes as follows concerning this man. 21:45.520 --> 21:50.140 But Serinthes also, by means of revelations which he pretends were written 21:50.140 --> 21:55.060 by a great Apostle, brings before us marvelous things which he falsely claims 21:55.060 --> 21:59.560 were shown him by angels, and he says that after the resurrection the kingdom of 21:59.560 --> 22:03.320 Christ will be set up on earth, and that the flesh dwelling in Jerusalem 22:03.320 --> 22:06.100 will again be subject to desires and pleasures. 22:06.860 --> 22:11.180 And being an enemy of the Scriptures of God, he asserts, with the purpose of 22:11.180 --> 22:15.420 deceiving men, that there is to be a period of a thousand years for marriage 22:15.420 --> 22:15.900 festivals. 22:17.580 --> 22:21.940 And Dionysius, who was bishop of the parish of Alexandria in Ardae, 22:22.280 --> 22:26.420 in the second book of his work On the Promises, where he says some things 22:26.420 --> 22:31.320 concerning the apocalypse of John which he draws from tradition, mentions this same 22:31.320 --> 22:32.760 man in the following words. 22:46.120 --> 22:49.440 that the kingdom of Christ will be an earthly one. 22:50.960 --> 22:55.320 And as he was himself devoted to the pleasures of the body and altogether 22:55.320 --> 22:59.960 sensual in his nature, he dreamed that the kingdom would consist in those things 22:59.960 --> 23:04.540 which he desired, namely, in the delights of the belly and of sexual passion, 23:04.940 --> 23:09.820 that is to say, in eating and drinking and marrying, and in festivals and sacrifices 23:09.820 --> 23:14.220 and the slaying of victims under the guise of which he thought he could indulge his 23:14.220 --> 23:15.880 appetites with a better grace. 23:17.780 --> 23:19.720 These are the words of Dionysius. 23:20.240 --> 23:24.740 But Irenaeus, in the first book of his work Against Heresies, gives some more 23:24.740 --> 23:29.340 abominable false doctrines of the same man, and in the third book relates a story 23:29.340 --> 23:30.840 which deserves to be recorded. 23:30.840 --> 23:36.420 He says, on the authority of Polycarp, that the apostle John once entered a bath 23:36.420 --> 23:41.040 to bathe, but learning that Serentis was within, he sprang from the place and 23:41.040 --> 23:45.020 rushed out of the door, for he could not bear to remain under the same roof with 23:45.020 --> 23:45.240 him. 23:45.800 --> 23:50.220 And he advised those that were with him to do the same, saying, Let us flee, 23:50.540 --> 23:55.120 lest the bath fall, for Serentis, the enemy of the truth, is within. 23:56.920 --> 23:58.040 Chapter 29. 23:58.800 --> 24:00.920 Nicolaeus and the sect named after him. 24:02.120 --> 24:06.940 At this time the so-called sect of the Nicolaitans made its appearance and lasted 24:06.940 --> 24:08.380 for a very short time. 24:08.960 --> 24:11.620 Mention is made of it in the Apocalypse of John. 24:12.080 --> 24:16.680 They boasted that the author of their sect was Nicolaeus, one of the deacons who, 24:16.860 --> 24:20.980 with Stephen, were appointed by the apostles for the purpose of ministering to 24:20.980 --> 24:21.500 the poor. 24:22.060 --> 24:26.760 Clement of Alexandria, in the third book of his Stremata, relates the following 24:26.760 --> 24:27.980 things concerning him. 24:28.940 --> 24:33.240 They say that he had a beautiful wife, and after the ascension of the Savior, 24:33.620 --> 24:38.180 being accused by the apostles of jealousy, he led her into their midst and gave 24:38.180 --> 24:40.500 permission to anyone that wished to marry her. 24:41.260 --> 24:45.800 For they say that this was in accord with that saying of his that one ought to abuse 24:45.800 --> 24:50.480 the flesh, and those that have followed his heresy, imitating blindly and 24:50.480 --> 24:54.820 foolishly that which was done and said, commit fornication without shame. 24:56.300 --> 25:01.320 But I understand that Nicolaeus had to do with no other woman than her to whom he 25:01.320 --> 25:05.700 was married, and that, so far as his children are concerned, his daughters 25:05.700 --> 25:10.920 continued in a state of virginity until old age, and his son remained uncorrupt. 25:10.920 --> 25:16.520 If this is so, when he brought his wife, whom he jealously loved, into the midst of 25:16.520 --> 25:21.200 the apostles, he was evidently renouncing his passion, and when he used the 25:21.200 --> 25:25.740 expression to abuse the flesh, he was inculcating self-control in the 25:25.740 --> 25:28.100 face of those pleasures that are eagerly pursued. 25:28.820 --> 25:33.660 For I suppose that, in accordance with the command of the Savior, he did not wish to 25:33.660 --> 25:36.220 serve two masters, pleasure and the Lord. 25:37.680 --> 25:42.200 But they say that Matthias also taught in the same manner that we ought to fight 25:42.200 --> 25:46.340 against and abuse the flesh, and not give way to it for the sake of pleasure, 25:46.720 --> 25:49.120 but strengthen the soul by faith and knowledge. 25:49.920 --> 25:53.140 So much concerning those who then attempted to pervert the truth, 25:53.420 --> 25:57.740 but in less time than it has taken to tell, it became entirely extinct.