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Tertullian, On Idolatry
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Chapter I.—Wide Scope of the Word Idolatry.
Chapter II.—Idolatry in Its More Limited Sense. Its Copiousness.
Chapter III.—Idolatry: Origin and Meaning of the Name.
Chapter IV.—Idols Not to Be Made, Much Less Worshipped. Idols and Idol-Makers in the Same Category.
Chapter VI.—Idolatry Condemned by Baptism. To Make an Idol Is, in Fact, to Worship It.
Chapter IX.—Professions of Some Kinds Allied to Idolatry. Of Astrology in Particular.
Chapter X.—Of Schoolmasters and Their Difficulties.
Chapter XII.—Further Answers to the Plea, How Am I to Live?
Chapter XIII.—Of the Observance of Days Connected with Idolatry.
Chapter XIV.—Of Blasphemy. One of St. Paul’s Sayings.
Chapter XVI.—Concerning Private Festivals.
Chapter XVII.—The Cases of Servants and Other Officials. What Offices a Christian Man May Hold.
Chapter XVIII.—Dress as Connected with Idolatry.
Chapter XIX.—Concerning Military Service.
Chapter XX.—Concerning Idolatry in Words.
Chapter XXI.—Of Silent Acquiescence in Heathen Formularies.
Chapter XXII.—Of Accepting Blessing in the Name of Idols.
Chapter XXIII.—Written Contracts in the Name of Idols. Tacit Consent.
Chapter XXII.—Of Accepting Blessing in the Name of Idols.
Equally, one who has been initiated into Christ will not endure to be blessed in the name of the gods of the nations, so as not always to reject the unclean benediction, and to cleanse it out for himself by converting it Godward. To be blessed in the name of the gods of the nations is to be cursed in the name of God. If I have given an alms, or shown any other kindness, and the recipient pray that his gods, or the Genius of the colony, may be propitious to me, my oblation or act will immediately be an honour to idols, in whose name he returns me the favour of blessing. But why should he not know that I have done it for God’s sake; that God may rather be glorified, and demons may not be honoured in that which I have done for the sake of God? If God sees that I have done it for His sake, He equally sees that I have been unwilling to show that I did it for His sake, and have in a manner made His precept170 i.e., the precept which enjoins me to “do good and lend.” a sacrifice to idols. Many say, “No one ought to divulge himself;” but I think neither ought he to deny himself. For whoever dissembles in any cause whatever, by being held as a heathen, does deny; and, of course, all denial is idolatry, just as all idolatry is denial, whether in deeds or in words.171 Elucidation III.
CAPUT XXII.
Aeque benedici per deos nationum Christo initiatus non sustinebit, ut semper rejiciat immundam benedictionem, et eam sibi in Deum convertens emundet. Benedici per deos nationum, maledici est per Deum. Si dedero eleemosynam, vel aliquid praestitero beneficii, et ille mihi deos suos, vel coloniae genium , propitios imprecetur, jam 0693B oblatio mea vel operatio idolorum honor erit, per quae benedictionis gratiam compensat . Cur autem non sciat me Dei caussa fecisse, ut et Deus potius glorificetur, et daemonia non honorentur in eo quod propter Deum feci? Deus videt quoniam propter ipsum feci: pariter videt quoniam propter ipsum fecisse me nolui ostendere, et praeceptum ejus idolothytum quodammodo feci. Multi dicunt: «Nemo se debet promulgare:» puto autem, nec negare; negat enim quicumque dissimulat , in quacumque caussa pro ethnico habitus. Et utique omnis negatio, idololatria est, sicut omnis idololatria negatio, sive in factis, sive in verbis.