Archelaus said to Manes: Give us a statement now of the doctrines you promulgate. -- Thereupon the man, whose mouth was like an open sepulchre, [2157] began at once with a word of blasphemy against the Maker of all things, saying: The God of the Old Testament is the inventor of evil, who speaks thus of Himself: "I am a consuming fire." [2158] -- But the sagacious Archelaus completely undid this blasphemy. For he said: If the God of the Old Testament, according to your allegation, calls Himself a fire, whose son is He who says, "I am come to send fire upon the earth?" [2159] If you find fault with one who says, "The Lord killeth and maketh alive," [2160] why do you honour Peter, who raised Tabitha to life, [2161] but also put Sapphira to death? [2162] And if again, you find fault with the one because He has prepared a fire, [2163] why do you not find fault with the other, who says, "Depart from me into everlasting fire?" [2164] If you find fault with Him who says, "I, God, make peace, and create evil," [2165] explain to us how Jesus says, "I came not to send peace, but a sword." [2166] Since both persons speak in the same terms, one or other of these two things must follow: namely, either they are both good [2167] because they use the same language; or, if Jesus passes without censure though He speaks in such terms, you must tell us why you reprehend Him who employs a similar mode of address in the Old Testament.

---

Footnotes:

[2157] Psalm 5:9.

[2158] Deuteronomy 4:24.

[2159] Luke 12:49.

[2160] 1 Samuel 2:6.

[2161] Acts 9:40.

[2162] Acts 5:10.

[2163] Deuteronomy 32:22.

[2164] Matthew 25:41.

[2165] Isaiah 45:7.

[2166] Matthew 10:34. Various of the mss. add, epi ten gen, upon the earth.

[2167] The text gives kaloi. Routh seems to prefer kakoi, evil.