Chapter V.—Marcus and Colarbasus.

After these there were not wanting a Marcus and a Colarbasus, composing a novel heresy out of the Greek alphabet. For they affirm that without those letters truth cannot be found; nay more, that in those letters the whole plenitude and perfection of truth is comprised; for this was why Christ said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.”63 In fact, they say that Jesus Christ descended,64 that is, that the dove came down on Jesus;65 and, since the dove is styled by the Greek name περιστερά —(peristera), it has in itself this number DCCCI.66 These men run through their Ω, Ψ, Χ, Φ, Υ, Τ—through the whole alphabet, indeed, up to Α and Β—and compute ogdoads and decads.  So we may grant it useless and idle to recount all their trifles. What, however, must be allowed not merely vain, but likewise dangerous, is this:  they feign a second God, beside the Creator; they affirm that Christ was not in the substance of flesh; they say there is to be no resurrection of the flesh.

V.

0070A

Marcum item et Colarbasum.

Non defuerunt post hos Marcus quidam et Colarbasus, novam haeresin ex Graecorum alphabeto componentes. Negant enim veritatem sine istis posse litteris inveniri; imo totam plenitudinem et perfectionem veritatis in istis litteris esse dispositam. Propter hanc enim caussam Christum dixisse: Ego sum Α et Ω. Denique Jesum Christum descendisse, id est, columbam in Jesum venisse, quae graeco nomine cum περιστερὰ pronuntietur, habeat secundum numerum, DCCCI. Percurrunt isti ω, ψ, χ, φ, υ, τ, totum usque ad Alpha Beta , et computant ogdoadas et decadas, ita ut adferre illorum 0070B omnes vanitates ineptum sit et otiosum, quod tamen non tantum jam vanum, sed etiam periculosum sit. Alterum Deum fingunt praeter creatorem. Christum in substantia negant carnis fuisse. Negant carnis resurrectionem futuram.