The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch…

 1. The true Thesaurus to wit, the Disputation conducted in Carchar, a city of Mesopotamia, before Manippus

 2. Marcellus, as might well be expected, was exceedingly gratified by these incidents and summoning one of the prisoners, by name Cortynius, he inqui

 3. When Marcellus, the man of consummate piety, had heard this recital, he burst into a flood of tears, touched with pity for misfortunes so great and

 4. Accordingly, as this man’s fame was becoming always the more extensively diffused throughout different localities, and when it had now penetrated e

 5. On receiving the epistle, then, Marcellus opened it, and read it in the presence of Archelaus, the bishop of the place. And the following is a copy

 6. On reading this epistle, Marcellus, with the kindest consideration, attended hospitably to the needs of the bearer of the letter. Archelaus, on the

 8. But when the living Father perceived that the soul was in tribulation in the body, being full of mercy and compassion, He sent His own beloved Son

 9. I shall explain to you also how it is that the soul is transfused into five bodies. First of all, in this process some small portion of it is purif

 10. Now, with respect to paradise, it is not called a cosmos . or work truth

 11. He holds also that God has no part with the world itself, and finds no pleasure in it, by reason of its having been made a spoil of from the first

 12. When Turbo had made this statement, Archelaus was intensely excited but Marcellus remained unmoved, for he expected that God would come to the he

 13. My brethren, I indeed am a disciple of Christ, and, moreover, an apostle of Jesus and it is owing to the exceeding kindness of Marcellus that I h

 14. The judges said : If you have any clearer statement yet to make, give us some explanation of the nature Manes replied in his creation creation?

 15. The judges said : We need not inquire as to the manner in which that primitive commerce took place until we have first seen it proved that there a

 16. The judges said: Convertibility translates the person whom it befalls into another as, for example, we might say that if a Jew were to make up hi

 17. Manes said : Let it first be allowed on your side that there is an alien root of wickedness, which God has not planted, and then I shall tell you

 18. The judges said: We desire to have information from you on this point, Manichæus, to wit, to what effect you have affirmed him to be evil. Do you

 19. But if it seems difficult for you to understand this, and if you do not acquiesce in these statements, I may at all events try to make them good b

 20. On hearing these argumentations, the multitudes who were present were exceedingly delighted so much so, indeed, that they were almost laying hand

 21. But now, what it is necessary for me to say on the subject of the inner and the outer man, may be expressed in the words of the Saviour to those w

 22. The judges said: We know that a light shines through the whole house, and not in some single part of it as Jesus also intimates when He says, tha

 23. The judges said: If we consider that the light existed before the estate of the creatures was introduced, and that there was no object in an oppos

 24. The judges said: Tell us, O Manes, who designated the boundaries for the kingdom of each, and who made the middle wall? For Archelaus begs that du

 25. Manes said: Not all receive the word of God, but only those to whom it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Archelaus said Man

 26. The judges said : If you allege that the shepherd exposed the kid or the lamb to the lion, when the said lion was meditating an assault by such an

 27. We may give yet another illustration, if it seems good to you. A certain man, the head of a household, and possessed of great riches, was minded t

 28. Manes said: You are caught in the charge you yourself bring forward. For you have been speaking now against yourself, and have not perceived that,

 29. Manes said : Is not that word also to the same effect which Jesus spake to the disciples, when He was demonstrating those men to be unbelieving: “

 30. The judges said : Speak to those points, Archelaus, which he has just now propounded. Archelaus said in the knowledge of that law of Moses

 31. Listen also to what I have to say on this other expression which has been adduced, viz., “Christ, who redeemed us from the curse of the law.” My v

 32. Moreover, as to this word which is written in the Gospel, “Ye are of your father the devil,” and so forth, we say in brief that there is a devil w

 33. The judges said : He has given demonstration enough of the origin of the devil. And as both sides admit that there will be a judgment, it is neces

 34. I think that you cannot fail to understand this too, that the word “father” is but a single term indeed, and yet one admitting of being understood

 35. These things, moreover, he has said with the view of showing us that all others who may come after him will be false apostles, deceitful workers,

 36. None of your party, O Manes, will you make a Galatian neither will you in this fashion divert us as he will profess to do The judges said to the

 37. Archelaus said : Those sayings which are put forth by the blessed Paul were not uttered without the direction of God, and therefore it is certain

 38. And, in good truth, I hold Marcion, and Valentinian, and Basilides, and other heretics, to be sainted men when compared with this person. For they

 39. On hearing these matters, those who were present gave great glory to God, and ascribed to Him such praise as it is meet for Him to receive. And on

 40. I wish you to know, most pious father, that in these days there has arrived in our parts a certain person named Manes, who gives out that he is to

 41. On receiving this epistle, Archelaus was astonished at the man’s boldness. But in the meantime, as the case called for the transmission of a speed

 42. But I shall also offer, to the best of my ability, some expositions of the other words referred to that is to say, I shall show that Jesus neithe

 43. I shall speak now with the utmost brevity of the veil of Moses and the ministration of death. For I do not think that these things at least can in

 44. Now this word also has the veil. For up to the time of Herod they did appear to retain a kingdom in some sort and it was by Augustus that the fir

 45. On receipt of this letter, Diodorus made himself master of its contents, and then entered the lists against Manes. This he did too with such spiri

 46. Next morning, however, Archelaus suddenly made his appearance at this residence in which Diodorus was staying, before any one was yet stirring abr

 47. Then Manes, after silence had been secured among all, thus began his address: Like others, Archelaus, you too smite me with the most injurious wor

 48. On hearing these statements, the multitudes assembled were greatly moved, as if they felt that these reasonings gave the correct account of the tr

 49. But in addition to all that has been said already, I wish to adduce still further proof, so that all may understand what impiety is contained in t

 50. Manes said : No one, certainly, who may be able to give a reply to what has just been alleged by you need fear incurring the guilt of blasphemy, b

 51. When Archelaus had finished this speech, the crowds of people marvelled at the truth of his doctrine, and expressed their vehement commendations o

 52. No one, however, has ever made such an unblushing advance in the promulgation of these tenets as this Scythianus. For he introduced the notion of

 53. After this event all the effects which he had brought with him from Egypt remained in her possession. And she rejoiced greatly over his death, and

 54. But after these events they returned to their master, and reported what had befallen them and at the same thee they got an account of the numerou

 55. On hearing this, the multitude wished to seize Manes and hand him over to the power of those foreigners who were their neighbours, and who dwelt b

54. But after these events they returned to their master, and reported what had befallen them; and at the same thee they got an account of the numerous ills which had overtaken him. When, therefore, they got access to him, as I was saying,678 Reading “dicebam.” But the Codex Casinensis gives “dicebant,” and the Codex Reg. Alex. Vat. has “decebat”—as became them. they called his attention to all the sufferings they had had to endure in each several region; and as for the rest, they urged it upon him that regard ought now to be had to the question of safety;679 Reading “converti ad salutem,” for “conventi,” etc., as it is given in the Codex Casinensis. for they had been in great terror lest any of the miseries which were inflicted on him should fall to their own lot. But he counselled them to fear nothing, and rose to harangue them. And then, while he lay in prison, he ordered them to procure copies of the books of the law of the Christians; for these disciples who had been despatched by him through the different communities were held in execration by all men, and most of all by those with whom the name of Christians was an object of honour. Accordingly, on receiving a small supply of money, they took their departure for those districts in which the books of the Christians were published;680 Conscribebantur. [Note this concerning the Christian books.] and pretending that they were Christian messengers,681 Nuntios. But Codex Reg. Alex. Vat. gives “novitios,” novices. they requested that the books might be shown them, with a view to their acquiring copies. And, not to make a lengthened narrative of this, they thus got possession of all the books of our Scriptures, and brought them back with them to their master, who was still in prison. On receiving these copies, that astute personage set himself to seek out all the statements in our books that seemed to favour his notion of a dualism; which, however, was not really his notion, but rather that of Scythianus, who had promulgated it a long time before him. And just as he did in disputing with me, so then too, by rejecting some things and altering others in our Scriptures, he tried to make out that they advanced his own doctrines, only that the name of Christ was attached to them there. That name, therefore, he pretended on this account to assume to himself, in order that the people in the various communities, hearing the holy and divine name of Christ, might have no temptation to execrate and harass682 The text gives “fatigarent.” But Codex Reg. Alex. Vat. gives “fugarent”—expel. those disciples of his. Moreover, when they683 The text gives “invenientes.” The Codex Reg. Alex. Vat. more correctly has “inveniens”—when he came upon. came upon the word which is given us in our Scriptures touching the Paraclete, he took it into his head that he himself might be that Paraclete; for he had not read with sufficient care to observe that the Paraclete had come already,—namely, at the time when the apostles were still upon earth. Accordingly, when he had made up these impious inventions, he sent his disciples also to proclaim these fictions and errors with all boldness, and to make these false and novel words known in every quarter. But when the king of Persia learned this fact, he prepared to inflict condign punishment upon him. Manes, however, received information of the king’s intention, having been warned of it in sleep, and made his escape out of prison, and succeeding in taking to flight, for he had bribed his keepers with a very large sum of money. Afterwards he took up his residence in the castle of Arabion; and from that place he sent by the hand of Turbo the letter which he wrote to our Marcellus, in which letter he intimated his intention of visiting him. On his arrival there, a contest took place between him and me, resembling the disputation which you have observed and listened to here; in which discussion we sought to show, as far as it was in our power, that he was a false prophet. I may add, that the keeper of the prison who had let him escape was punished, and that the king gave orders that the man should be sought for and apprehended wherever he might be found. And as these things have come under my own cognizance, it was needful that I should also make the fact known to you, that search is being made for this fellow even to the present day by the king of Persia.