Archelaus, The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes

3. When Marcellus, the man of consummate piety, had heard this recital, he burst into a flood of tears, touched with pity for misfortunes so great and

4. Accordingly, as this man’s fame was becoming always the more extensively diffused throughout different localities, and when it had now penetrated e

5. On receiving the epistle, then, Marcellus opened it, and read it in the presence of Archelaus, the bishop of the place. And the following is a copy

6. On reading this epistle, Marcellus, with the kindest consideration, attended hospitably to the needs of the bearer of the letter. Archelaus, on the

8. But when the living Father perceived that the soul was in tribulation in the body, being full of mercy and compassion, He sent His own beloved Son

9. I shall explain to you also how it is that the soul is transfused into five bodies. First of all, in this process some small portion of it is purif

10. Now, with respect to paradise, it is not called a cosmos . or work truth

11. He holds also that God has no part with the world itself, and finds no pleasure in it, by reason of its having been made a spoil of from the first

12. When Turbo had made this statement, Archelaus was intensely excited but Marcellus remained unmoved, for he expected that God would come to the he

13. My brethren, I indeed am a disciple of Christ, and, moreover, an apostle of Jesus and it is owing to the exceeding kindness of Marcellus that I h

14. The judges said : If you have any clearer statement yet to make, give us some explanation of the nature Manes replied in his creation creation?

15. The judges said : We need not inquire as to the manner in which that primitive commerce took place until we have first seen it proved that there a

16. The judges said: Convertibility translates the person whom it befalls into another as, for example, we might say that if a Jew were to make up hi

17. Manes said : Let it first be allowed on your side that there is an alien root of wickedness, which God has not planted, and then I shall tell you

18. The judges said: We desire to have information from you on this point, Manichæus, to wit, to what effect you have affirmed him to be evil. Do you

19. But if it seems difficult for you to understand this, and if you do not acquiesce in these statements, I may at all events try to make them good b

20. On hearing these argumentations, the multitudes who were present were exceedingly delighted so much so, indeed, that they were almost laying hand

21. But now, what it is necessary for me to say on the subject of the inner and the outer man, may be expressed in the words of the Saviour to those w

22. The judges said: We know that a light shines through the whole house, and not in some single part of it as Jesus also intimates when He says, tha

23. The judges said: If we consider that the light existed before the estate of the creatures was introduced, and that there was no object in an oppos

24. The judges said: Tell us, O Manes, who designated the boundaries for the kingdom of each, and who made the middle wall? For Archelaus begs that du

25. Manes said: Not all receive the word of God, but only those to whom it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Archelaus said Man

26. The judges said : If you allege that the shepherd exposed the kid or the lamb to the lion, when the said lion was meditating an assault by such an

27. We may give yet another illustration, if it seems good to you. A certain man, the head of a household, and possessed of great riches, was minded t

28. Manes said: You are caught in the charge you yourself bring forward. For you have been speaking now against yourself, and have not perceived that,

29. Manes said : Is not that word also to the same effect which Jesus spake to the disciples, when He was demonstrating those men to be unbelieving: “

30. The judges said : Speak to those points, Archelaus, which he has just now propounded. Archelaus said in the knowledge of that law of Moses

31. Listen also to what I have to say on this other expression which has been adduced, viz., “Christ, who redeemed us from the curse of the law.” My v

32. Moreover, as to this word which is written in the Gospel, “Ye are of your father the devil,” and so forth, we say in brief that there is a devil w

33. The judges said : He has given demonstration enough of the origin of the devil. And as both sides admit that there will be a judgment, it is neces

34. I think that you cannot fail to understand this too, that the word “father” is but a single term indeed, and yet one admitting of being understood

35. These things, moreover, he has said with the view of showing us that all others who may come after him will be false apostles, deceitful workers,

36. None of your party, O Manes, will you make a Galatian neither will you in this fashion divert us as he will profess to do The judges said to the

37. Archelaus said : Those sayings which are put forth by the blessed Paul were not uttered without the direction of God, and therefore it is certain

38. And, in good truth, I hold Marcion, and Valentinian, and Basilides, and other heretics, to be sainted men when compared with this person. For they

39. On hearing these matters, those who were present gave great glory to God, and ascribed to Him such praise as it is meet for Him to receive. And on

40. I wish you to know, most pious father, that in these days there has arrived in our parts a certain person named Manes, who gives out that he is to

41. On receiving this epistle, Archelaus was astonished at the man’s boldness. But in the meantime, as the case called for the transmission of a speed

42. But I shall also offer, to the best of my ability, some expositions of the other words referred to that is to say, I shall show that Jesus neithe

43. I shall speak now with the utmost brevity of the veil of Moses and the ministration of death. For I do not think that these things at least can in

44. Now this word also has the veil. For up to the time of Herod they did appear to retain a kingdom in some sort and it was by Augustus that the fir

45. On receipt of this letter, Diodorus made himself master of its contents, and then entered the lists against Manes. This he did too with such spiri

46. Next morning, however, Archelaus suddenly made his appearance at this residence in which Diodorus was staying, before any one was yet stirring abr

47. Then Manes, after silence had been secured among all, thus began his address: Like others, Archelaus, you too smite me with the most injurious wor

48. On hearing these statements, the multitudes assembled were greatly moved, as if they felt that these reasonings gave the correct account of the tr

49. But in addition to all that has been said already, I wish to adduce still further proof, so that all may understand what impiety is contained in t

50. Manes said : No one, certainly, who may be able to give a reply to what has just been alleged by you need fear incurring the guilt of blasphemy, b

51. When Archelaus had finished this speech, the crowds of people marvelled at the truth of his doctrine, and expressed their vehement commendations o

52. No one, however, has ever made such an unblushing advance in the promulgation of these tenets as this Scythianus. For he introduced the notion of

53. After this event all the effects which he had brought with him from Egypt remained in her possession. And she rejoiced greatly over his death, and

54. But after these events they returned to their master, and reported what had befallen them and at the same thee they got an account of the numerou

55. On hearing this, the multitude wished to seize Manes and hand him over to the power of those foreigners who were their neighbours, and who dwelt b

The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch…