Chapter XXI.—The Phrygians or Montanists.

The Phrygians, however, derive the principles of their heresy from a certain Montanus, and Priscilla, and Maximilla, and regard these wretched women as prophetesses, and Montanus as a prophet. In respect, however, of what appertains to the origin and creation of the universe, the Phrygians are supposed to express themselves correctly; while in the tenets which they enunciate respecting Christ, they have not irrelevantly formed their opinions. But they are seduced into error in common with the heretics previously alluded to, and devote their attention to the discourses of these above the Gospels, thus laying down regulations concerning novel and strange fasts.1036    The ms. has the obviously corrupt reading παραδόσεις, which Duncker alters into παραδόξους (strange).

[25] Οἱ δὲ Φρύγες, ἐκ Μοντανοῦ τινος καὶ Πρισκίλλης καὶ Μαξιμίλλης τὰς ἀρχὰς τῆς αἱρέσεως λαβόντες, προφήτιδας τὰ γύναια νομίζουσι καὶ προφήτην τὸν Μοντανόν. [οὗτοι] τὰ μὲν περὶ τῆς τοῦ παντὸς ἀρχῆς καὶ δημιουργίας ὀρθῶς λέγουσι [νομίζουσι], καὶ τὰ περὶ τὸν Χριστὸν οὐκ ἀλλοτρίως παρειλήφασιν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς προειρημένοις [προφήταις] σφάλλονται: ὧν τοῖς λόγοις ὑπὲρ τὰ εὐαγγέλια προσέχοντες πλανῶνται, [καὶ] νηστείας καινὰς [καὶ] [παρὰ τὰς] παραδόσεις ὁρίζοντες.