Chapter XI.—The Quartodecimans.

And certain other (heretics), contentious by nature, (and) wholly uninformed as regards knowledge, as well as in their manner more (than usually) quarrelsome, combine (in maintaining) that Easter should be kept on the fourteenth day925    They were therefore called “Quartodecimans.”  (See Eusebius, Hist. Ecclesiast., v. c. xxii. xxv.; Epiphanius, Hær., l.; and Theodoret, Hær. Fab., iii. 4.) of the first month, according to the commandment of the law, on whatever day (of the week) it should occur. (But in this) they only regard what has been written in the law, that he will be accursed who does not so keep (the commandment) as it is enjoined. They do not, however, attend to this (fact), that the legal enactment was made for Jews, who in times to come should kill the real Passover.926    [Bunsen, i. p. 105.] The chapter on the Quartodecimans agrees with the arguments which, we are informed in an extract from Hippolytus’ Chronicon Paschale, as preserved in a quotation by Bishop Peter of Alexandria, were employed in his Treatise against all Heresies. This would seem irrefragable proof of the authorship of the Refutation of all Heresies. And this (paschal sacrifice, in its efficacy,) has spread unto the Gentiles, and is discerned by faith, and not now observed in letter (merely). They attend to this one commandment, and do not look unto what has been spoken by the apostle: “For I testify to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.”927    Gal. v. 3. In other respects, however, these consent to all the traditions delivered to the Church by the Apostles.928    [He regards the Christian Paschal as authorized. 1 Cor. v. 7, 8.]

[18] Ἕτεροι δέ τινες, φιλόνεικοι τὴν φύσιν, ἰδιῶται τὴν γνῶσιν, μαχιμώτεροι τὸν τρόπον, συ[νι]στάνουσι δεῖν τὸ πάσχα τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ πρώτου μηνὸς φυλάσσειν κατὰ τὴν τοῦ νόμου διαταγήν, ἐν ᾗ [δ'] ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐμπέσῃ, ὑφορώμενοι τὸ γεγραμμένον ἐν [τῷ] νόμῳ, [ὡς] ἐπικατάρατον ἔσεσθαι τὸν μὴ φυλάξαντα οὕτως [ὡς] διαστέλλεται: οὐ προσέχουσι δὲ ὅτι Ἰουδαίοις ἐνομοθετεῖτο, τοῖς μέλλουσι τὸ ἀληθινὸν πάσχα ἀναιρεῖν, τὸ εἰς ἔθνη χωρῆσαν καὶ πίστει νοούμενον, οὐ γράμματι συντηρούμενον. οἳ μιᾷ ταύτῃ προσέχοντες ἐντολῇ οὐκ ἀφορῶσιν εἰς τὸ εἰρημένον ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀποστόλου, ὅτι «διαμαρτύρομαι παν(τὶ) περιτεμνομένῳ ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶ τοῦ πάντα τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι». ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἑτέροις οὗτοι συμφωνοῦσι πρὸς πάντα τὰ τῇ ἐκκλη(σίᾳ) ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων παραδεδομένα.