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Cyprian of Carthage, Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
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Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews.
2. Also because they did not believe the prophets, and put them to death.
5. That the Jews could understand nothing of the Scriptures unless they first believed in Christ.
6. That the Jews should lose Jerusalem, and should leave the land which they had received.
7. Also that they should lose the Light of the Lord.
9. That the former law which was given by Moses was to cease.
10. That a new law was to be given.
11. That another dispensation and a new covenant was to be given.
12. That the old baptism should cease, and a new one should begin.
13. That the old yoke should be made void, and a new yoke should be given.
14. That the old pastors should cease and new ones begin.
16. That the ancient sacrifice should be made void, and a new one should be celebrated.
17. That the old priesthood should cease, and a new priest should come, who should be for ever.
21. That the Gentiles should rather believe in Christ.
23. That the Gentiles rather than the Jews attain to the kingdom of heaven.
3. That the same Christ is the Word of God.
4. That Christ is the Hand and Arm of God.
5. That Christ is at once Angel and God.
7. That Christ our God should come, the Enlightener and Saviour of the human race.
11. That Christ was to be born of the seed of David, according to the flesh.
12. That Christ should be born in Bethlehem.
13. That Christ was to come in low estate in His first advent.
14. That He is the righteous One whom the Jews should put to death.
16. That Christ also is called a Stone.
17. That afterwards this Stone should become a mountain, and should fill the whole earth.
20. That the Jews would fasten Christ to the cross.
21. That in the passion and the sign of the cross is all virtue and power.
22. That in this sign of the Cross is salvation for all people who are marked on their foreheads.
23. That at mid-day in His passion there should be darkness.
24. That He was not to be overcome of death, nor should remain in Hades.
25. That He should rise again from the dead on the third day.
27. That it is impossible to attain to God the Father, except by His Son Jesus Christ.
28. That Jesus Christ shall come as a Judge.
29. That He will reign as a King for ever.
30. That He Himself is both Judge and King.
1. On the benefit of good works and mercy.
3. That charity and brotherly affection are to be religiously and stedfastly practised.
4. That we must boast in nothing, since nothing is our own.
5. That humility and quietness are to be maintained in all things.
6. That all good and righteous men suffer more, but ought to endure because they are proved.
7. That we must not grieve the Holy Spirit, whom we have received.
8. That anger must be overcome, lest it constrain us to sin.
9. That brethren ought to support one another.
10. That we must trust in God only, and in Him we must glory.
14. That we must never murmur, but bless God concerning all things that happen.
15. That men are tried by God for this purpose, that they may be proved.
16. Of the benefits of martyrdom.
17. That what we suffer in this world is of less account than is the reward which is promised.
18. That nothing is to be preferred to the love of God and Christ.
19. That we are not to obey our own will, but the will of God.
20. That the foundation and strength of hope and faith is fear.
21. That we must not rashly judge of another.
22. That when we have received a wrong, we must remit and forgive it.
23. That evil is not to be returned for evil.
24. That it is impossible to attain to the Father but by His Son Jesus Christ.
25. That unless a man have been baptized and born again, he cannot attain unto the kingdom of God.
27. That even a baptized person loses the grace that he has attained, unless he keep innocency.
29. That it was before predicted, concerning the hatred of the Name,
30. That what any one has vowed to God, he must quickly repay.
31. That he who does not believe is judged already.
32. Of the benefit of virginity and of continency.
34. That the believer ought not to live like the Gentile.
35. That God is patient for this end, that we may repent of our sin, and be reformed.
36. That a woman ought not to be adorned in a worldly fashion.
37. That the believer ought not to be punished for other offences, except for the name he bears.
38. That the servant of God ought to be innocent, lest he fall into secular punishment.
39. That there is given to us an example of living in Christ.
40. That we must not labour noisily nor boastfully.
41. That we must not speak foolishly and offensively.
42. That faith is of advantage altogether, and that we can do as much as we believe.
43. That he who believes can immediately obtain (i.e., pardon and peace).
44. That believers who differ among themselves ought not to refer to a Gentile judge.
46. That a woman ought to be silent in the church.
48. That we must not take usury.
49. That even our enemies must be loved.
50. That the sacrament of faith must not be profaned.
51. That no one should be uplifted in his labour.
52. That the liberty of believing or of not believing is placed in free choice.
53. That the secrets of God cannot be seen through, and therefore that our faith ought to be simple.
54. That no one is without filth and without sin.
55. That we must not please men, but God.
56. That nothing that is done is hidden from God.
57. That the believer is amended and reserved.
59. Of the idols which the Gentiles think to be gods.
60. That too great lust of food is not to be desired.
61. That the lust of possessing, and money, are not to be sought for.
62. That marriage is not to be contracted with Gentiles.
63. That the sin of fornication is grievous.
65. That all sins are put away in baptism.
66. That the discipline of God is to be observed in Church precepts.
67. That it was foretold that men should despise sound discipline.
68. That we must depart from him who lives irregularly and contrary to discipline.
70. That we must obey parents.
71. And that fathers also should not be harsh in respect of their children.
72. That servants, when they have believed, ought to serve their carnal masters the better.
73. Moreover, that masters should be the more gentle.
74. That all widows that are approved are to be held in honour.
75. That every person ought to have care rather of his own people, and especially of believers.
76. That an elder must not be rashly accused.
77. That the sinner must be publicly reproved.
78. That we must not speak with heretics.
79. That innocency asks with confidence, and obtains.
80. That the devil has no power against man unless God have allowed it.
81. That wages be quickly paid to the hireling.
82. That divination must not be used.
83. That a tuft of hair is not to be worn on the head.
84. That the beard must not be plucked.
85. That we must rise when a bishop or a presbyter comes.
87. That believers ought to be simple, with prudence.
88. That a brother must not be deceived.
89. That the end of the world comes suddenly.
90. That a wife must not depart from her husband or if she should depart, she must remain unmarried.
91. That every one is tempted so much as he is able to bear.
92. That not everything is to be done which is lawful.
93. That it was foretold that heresies would arise.
94. That the Eucharist is to be received with fear and honour.
95. That we are to live with the good, but to avoid the evil.
96. That we must labour not with words, but with deeds.
97. That we must hasten to faith and to attainment.
98. That the catechumen ought now no longer to sin.
100. That the grace of God ought to be without price.
101. That the Holy Spirit has frequently appeared in fire.
102. That all good men ought willingly to hear rebuke.
103. That we must abstain from much speaking.
105. That they are frequently to be corrected who do wrong in domestic duty.
106. That when a wrong is received, patience is to be maintained, and vengeance to be left to God.
107. That we must not use detraction.
108. That we must not lay snares against our neighbour.
109. That the sick are to be visited.
110. That tale-bearers are accursed.
111. That the sacrifices of the wicked are not acceptable.
112. That those are more severely judged, who in this world have had more power.
113. That the widow and orphans ought to be protected.
114. That one ought to make confession while he is in the flesh.
115. That flattery is pernicious.
116. That God is more loved by him who has had many sins forgiven in baptism.
3. That it was previously foretold that they would neither know the Lord, nor understand, nor receive Him.
In Isaiah: “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken; I have begotten and brought up children, but they have rejected me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not perceived me. Ah sinful nation, a people filled with sins, a wicked seed, corrupting children: ye have forsaken the Lord, and have sent that Holy One of Israel into anger.”17 Isa. i. 2–4. [Hence the Spirit, “the finger of God.” Luke xi. 20.] In the same also the Lord says: “Go and tell this people, Ye shall hear with the ear, and shall not understand; and seeing, ye shall see, and shall not perceive. For the heart of this people hath waxed gross, and they hardly hear with their ears, and they have shut up their eyes, lest haply they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should return, and I should heal them.”18 Isa. vi. 9, 10. Isa. lix. 1–4. Also in Jeremiah the Lord says: “They have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and have dug for themselves worn-out cisterns, which could not hold water.”19 Jer. ii. 13. Isa. liii. 1. Moreover, in the same: “Behold, the word of the Lord has become unto them a reproach, and they do not wish for it.”20 Jer. vi. 10. Isa. lxvi. 1, 2. Again in the same the Lord says: “The kite knoweth his time, the turtle, and the swallow;21 According to the Oxford edition: “The turtle and the swallow knoweth its time,” etc. Isa. xxvi. 11. the sparrows of the field keep the time of their coming in; but my people doth not know the judgment of the Lord. How say ye, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? The false measurement22 Six ancient authorities have “your measurement.” Isa. lii. 10. has been made vain; the scribes are confounded; the wise men have trembled, and been taken, because they have rejected the word of the Lord.”23 Jer. viii. 7–9. Original: “Rotas vehiculi triturantis novas in se retornatas.” The Oxford edition reads the three last words, “in serras formatas:” and the translator gives, “the wheels of a thrashing instrument made with new teeth.” In Solomon also: “Evil men seek me, and shall not find me; for they held wisdom in hatred and did not receive the word of the Lord.”24 Prov. i. 28, 29. Some editions omit “and the elm.” Also in the twenty-seventh Psalm: “Render to them their deserving, because they have not perceived in the works of the Lord.”25 Ps. xxviii. 4, 5. Isa. xli. 15–20. [Irenæus, vol. i. p. 487. “Word and Wisdom = hands.”] Also in the eighty-first Psalm: “They have not known, neither have they understood; they shall walk on in darkness.”26 Ps. lxxxii. 5. In the Gospel, too, according to John: “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God who believe on His name.”27 John i. 11, 12.
0681A
Apud Esaiam: Audi, coelum, et praebe aurem , terra, quoniam Dominus locutus est. Filios generavi et exaltavi, ipsi autem me reprobaverunt . Agnovit bos possessorem suum et asinus praesepium Domini sui : Israel autem me non cognovit, et populus me non intellexit . Vae, gens peccatrix , populus plenuspeccatis, semen nequam , filii scelesti; reliquistis Dominum, et in indignationem misistis illum sanctum Israel (Isa. I, 2-4). Item apud eumdem Dominus dicit: Vade, et dic populo isti : Aure audietis, et non intelligetis, et videntes videbitis, et non videbitis . Incrassavitenim cor populi hujus, et auribus graviter audierunt, et oculos suos concluserunt, 0681Bne forte videant oculis et auribus audiant et corde intelligant, et revertanturet curem illos (Isa. VI, 9-10). Item apud Hieremiam Dominus dicit: Me dereliquerunt fontem aquae vivae, et effoderunt sibi lacus detritos, qui non poteruntaquam portare (Hier. II, 13). Item apud eumdem: Ecce sermo Domini factus est eis in maledictum, et nonvolunt illum (Hier. VI, 10). Item apud eumdem Dominus dicit: Cognovitmilvus tempus suum, turtur et hirundo, ruris passerescustodierunt tempora introitus sui, populus autem meus non cognovit judicium Domini. Quomodo dicitis: Sapientes sumus, et lex Domini nobiscum est? In cassum facta est metatura falsa , scribae confusi sunt, sapientes trepidaverunt et capti sunt, quia verbum Domini reprobaverunt (Hier. VIII, 7-9). Item apud Salomonem: 0681CQuaerunt me mali , et non invenient. Odio enim habuerunt sapientiam, sermonem autem Domini non receperunt (Proverb. I, 28, 29). Item in Psalmo XXVII: Redde eis retributionem eorum, quoniam non intellexerunt in operibus Domini (Psal. XXVII, 45). Item in Psalmo LXXXI: Non cognoverunt neque intellexerunt, 0682Ain umbra deambulabunt (Psal. LXXXI, 5). Item in Evangelio cata Joannem: In sua propria venit, et sui eum non receperunt. Quotquot eum receperunt, dedit illis potestatem ut filii Dei fierent, qui credunt in nomine ejus (Joan. I, 11, 12).