Chapter XV.—Heretics Not to Be Allowed to Argue Out of the Scriptures. The Scriptures, in Fact, Do Not Belong to Them.173

We are therefore come to (the gist of) our position; for at this point we were aiming, and for this we were preparing in the preamble of our address (which we have just completed),—so that we may now join issue on the contention to which our adversaries challenge us. They put forward174 the Scriptures, and by this insolence175 of theirs they at once influence some.  In the encounter itself, however, they weary the strong, they catch the weak, and dismiss waverers with a doubt.  Accordingly, we oppose to them this step above all others, of not admitting them to any discussion of the Scriptures.176

If in these lie their resources, before they can use them, it ought to be clearly seen to whom belongs the possession of the Scriptures, that none may be admitted to the use thereof who has no title at all to the privilege.

CAPUT XV.

Porro ad propositum veniens Tertullianus, praescribit non admittendos haereticos ad ullam de Scripturis disputationem.

Sed ipsi de Scripturis agunt, et de Scripturis suadent. Aliunde scilicet loqui possent de rebus fidei, nisi ex literis fidei? Venimus igitur ad propositum: huc enim dirigebamus, et hoc praestruebamus allocutionis praefatione , ut jam hinc de eo congrediamur, de quo adversarii provocant. Scripturas obtendunt, et hac sua audacia 0028C statim quosdam movent; in ipso vero congressu firmos quidem fatigant, infirmos capiunt, medios cum 0029A scrupulo dimittunt. Hunc igitur potissimum gradum obstruimus, non admittendos eos ad ullam de Scripturis disputationem. Si hae sunt illae vires eorum, uti eas habere possint , dispici debet cui competat possessio Scripturarum, ne is admittatur ad eas, cui nullo modo competit.