The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians
Chapter I.—Reason for writing the epistle.
Chapter II.—Unity of the three divine persons.
Chapter III.—Christ was truly born, and died.
Chapter IV.—The malignity and folly of Satan.
Chapter V.—Apostrophe to Satan.
Chapter VII.—Continuation: inconsistency of Satan.
Chapter VIII.—Continuation: ignorance of Satan.
Chapter IX.—Continuation: ignorance of Satan.
Chapter X.—Continuation: audacity of Satan.
Chapter XI.—Continuation: audacity of Satan.
Chapter XII.—The meek reply of Christ.
Chapter XIII.—Various exhortations and directions.
And how can He be but God, who raises up the dead, sends away the lame sound of limb, cleanses the lepers, restores sight to the blind, and either increases or transmutes existing substances, as the five loaves and the two fishes, and the water which became wine, and who puts to flight thy whole host by a mere word? And why dost thou abuse the nature of the Virgin, and style her members disgraceful, since thou didst of old display such in public processions,34 Reference seems to be made to obscene heathen practices. and didst order them to be exhibited naked, males in the sight of females, and females to stir up the unbridled lust of males? But now these are reckoned by thee disgraceful, and thou pretendest to be full of modesty, thou spirit of fornication, not knowing that then only anything becomes disgraceful when it is polluted by wickedness. But when sin is not present, none of the things that have been created are shameful, none of them evil, but all very good. But inasmuch as thou art blind, thou revilest these things.