On this point, however, we dwell no longer, since it is the same Paul who, in his Epistle to the Galatians, counts "heresies" among "the sins of the flesh," [1897] who also intimates to Titus, that "a man who is a heretic" must be "rejected after the first admonition," on the ground that "he that is such is perverted, and committeth sin, as a self-condemned man." [1898] Indeed, in almost every epistle, when enjoining on us (the duty) of avoiding false doctrines, he sharply condemns [1899] heresies. Of these the practical effects [1900] are false doctrines, called in Greek heresies, [1901] a word used in the sense of that choice which a man makes when he either teaches them (to others) [1902] or takes up with them (for himself). [1903] For this reason it is that he calls the heretic self-condemned, [1904] because he has himself chosen that for which he is condemned. We, however, are not permitted to cherish any object [1905] after our own will, nor yet to make choice of that which another has introduced of his private fancy. In the Lord's apostles we possess our authority; for even they did not of themselves choose to introduce anything, but faithfully delivered to the nations (of mankind) the doctrine [1906] which they had received from Christ. If, therefore, even "an angel from heaven should preach any other gospel" (than theirs), he would be called accursed [1907] by us. The Holy Ghost had even then foreseen that there would be in a certain virgin (called) Philumene [1908] an angel of deceit, "transformed into an angel of light," [1909] by whose miracles and illusions [1910] Apelles was led (when) he introduced his new heresy. Footnotes: [1897] Galatians 5:20. [1898] Titus 3:10, 11. [1899] Taxat. [1900] Opera. [1901] Haireseis . [1902] Instituendas. [1903] Suscipiendas. [1904] [A remarkable word is subjoined by the Apostle (exestraptai) which signifies turned inside out, and so self-condemned, as exhibiting his inward contentiousness and pravity. [1905] Nihil, any doctrine. [1906] Disciplinam, including both the principles and practice of the Christian religion. [1907] Anathema. See Galatians 1:8. [1908] Concerning Philumene, see below, chap. xxv.; Eusebius, Hist. Ecclesiastes 5:13; Augustine, de Hæres, chap. xlii. ; Jerome, Epist. adv. Ctesiph. (Works, ed. Ben.) iv. 477, and in his Commentary on Galatians, ii. See also Tertullian, Against Marcion, p. 139, Edinb. Edition. [1909] 2 Corinthians 11:14. [1910] Præstigiis. |
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