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

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 by adducing illustrations. Contemplate man as a kind of temple, according to the similitude of Scripture:158 1 Cor. iii. 17; 2 Cor. vi. 16. the spirit that is in man may thus be likened to the image that dwells in the temple. Well, then, a temple cannot be constituted unless first an occupant is acknowledged for the temple; and, on the other hand, an occupant cannot be settled in the temple unless the structure has been erected. Now, since these two objects, the occupant and the structure, are both consecrated together, how can any antagonism or contrariety be found between them, and how should it not rather appear that they have both been the products of subjects that are in amity and of one mind? And that you may know that this is the case, and that these subjects are truly at one both in fellowship and in lineage, He who knows and hears159 The reading is scit et audit. Routh somewhat needlessly suggests scite audit = he who hears intelligently.all has made this response, “Let us make man,” and so forth. For he who constructs160 The codex gives “hic enim qui exstruis.” It is proposed to read “sic enim qui exstruit” = For in this very way he who constructs. the temple interrogates him who fashions the image, and inquires carefully about the measurements of magnitude, and breadth, and bulk, in order that he may mark off the space for the foundations in accordance with these dimensions; and no one sets about the vain task of building a temple without first making himself acquainted with the measurement needed for the placing of the image. In like manner, therefore, the mode and the measure of the body are made the subject of inquiry, in order that the soul may be appropriately lodged in it by God, the Artificer of all things. But if any one say that he who has moulded the body is an enemy to the God who is the Creator of my soul,161 The text gives “quod si dicat quis inimicum esse eum qui plasmaverit corpus; Deus qui Creator,” etc. The Codex Casinensis reads Deum. We adopt the emendation Deo and the altered punctuation, thus: “quod si dicat quis inimicum esse eum qui plasmaverit corpus Deo qui creator est animæ,” etc. then how is it that, while regarding each other with a hostile eye, these two parties have not brought disrepute upon the work, by bringing it about either that he who constructs the temple should make it of such narrow dimensions as to render it incapable of accommodating what is placed within it, or that he who fashions the image should come with something so massive and ponderous, that, on its introduction into the temple, the edifice would at once collapse? If such is not the case, then, with these things, let us contemplate them in the light of what we know to be the objects and intents of antagonists. But if it is right for all to be disposed with the same measures and the same equity, and to be displayed with like glory, what doubt should we still entertain on this subject? We add, if it please you, this one illustration more. Man appears to resemble a ship which has been constructed by the builder and launched into the deep, which, however, it is impossible to navigate without the rudder, by which it can be kept under command, and turned in whatsoever direction its steersman may wish to sail. Also, that the rudder and the whole body of the ship require the same artificer, is a matter admitting no doubt; for without the rudder the whole structure of the ship, that huge body, will be an inert mass. And thus, then, we say that the soul is the rudder of the body; that both these, moreover, are ruled by that liberty of judgment and sentiment which we possess, and which corresponds to the steersman; and that when these two are made one by union,162 Reading “per conjunctionem” for the simple conjunctionem. and thus possess a unison of function applicable to all kinds of work, whatever may be the products of their own operation, they bear a testimony to the fact that they have both one and the same author and maker.