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

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 assault212 Migne reads irrueret. Routh gives irruerat, had made an assault. on the unbegotten, the case is closed. For seeing that the shepherd of the kids and lambs is himself proved to be in fault to them, on what creature can he pronounce judgment, if it happens that the lamb which has been given up213 The text gives si causa traditus, etc. Routh suggests sive causa. Traditus, etc.; so that the sense would be, For on what creature can the shepherd of the kids and lambs pronounce judgment, seeing that he is himself proved to be in fault to them, or to be the cause of their position? For the lamb, having been given up, etc. through the shepherd’s weakness has proved unable to withstand the lion, and if the consequence is that the lamb has had to do whatever has been the lion’s pleasure? Or, to take another instance, that would be just as if a master were to drive out of his house, or deliver over in terror to his adversary, one of his slaves, whom he is unable afterwards to recover by his own strength. Or supposing that by any chance it were to come about that the slave was recovered, on what reasonable ground could the master inflict the torture on him, if it should turn out that the man yielded obedience to all that the enemy laid upon him, seeing that it was the master himself214 Reading eum ipse for eum ipsum. who gave him up to the enemy, just as the kid was given up to the lion? You affirm, too, that the shepherd understood the whole case beforehand. Surely, then, the lamb, when under the lash, and interrogated by the shepherd as to the reason why it had submitted to the lion in these matters, would make some such answer as this: “Thou didst thyself deliver me over to the lion, and thou didst offer no resistance to him, although thou didst know and foresee what would be my lot, when it was necessary for me to yield myself to his commandments.” And, not to dilate on this at greater length, we may say that by such an illustration neither is God exhibited as a perfect shepherd, nor is the lion shown to have tasted alien meats; and consequently, under the instruction of the truth itself, it has been made clear that we ought to give the palm to the reasonings adduced by Archelaus. Archelaus said: Considering that, on all the points which we have hitherto discussed, the thoughtfulness of the judges has assigned us the amplest scope, it will be well for us to pass over other subjects in silence, and reserve them for another period. For just as, if215 Reading si quis for the simple quis of Codex Casinensis. a person once crushes the head of a serpent, he will not need to lop off any of the other members of its body; so, if we once dispose216 Reading “quæstione rejecta” for the relecta of Codex Casinensis. of this question of the duality, as we have endeavoured to do to the best of our ability, other matters which have been maintained in connection with it may be held to be exploded along with it. Nevertheless I shall yet address myself, at least in a few sentences, to the assertor of these opinions himself, who is now in our presence; so that it may be thoroughly understood by all who he is, and whence he comes, and what manner of person he proves himself to be. For he has given out that he is that Paraclete whom Jesus on His departure promised to send to the race of man for the salvation of the souls of the faithful; and this profession he makes as if he were somewhat superior even to Paul,217 This seems to be the general sense of the corrupt text here, et non longe possit ei Paulus, etc., in which we must either suppose something to have been lost, or correct it in some such way as this: “ut non longe post sit ei Paulus.” Compare what Manes says also of Paul and himself in ch. xiii. above. It should be added, however, that another idea of the passage is thrown out in Routh. According to this the ei refers to Jesus, and the text being emended thus, etsi non longe post sit ei, the sense would be: although not long after His departure He had Paul as an elect vessel, etc. The allusion thus would be to the circumstance that Manes made such a claim as he did, in spite of the fact that after Christ’s departure Paul was gifted with the Spirit in so eminent a measure for the building up of the faithful. who was an elect vessel and a called apostle, and who on that ground, while preaching the true doctrine, said:218 Reading aiebat for the agebat of Codex Casinensis. “Or seek ye a proof of that Christ who speaks in me?”219 2 Cor. xiii. 3. The reading here is, “Aut documentum quæritis,” etc. The Vulgate also gives An experimentum, for the Greek ἐπεί, etc. What I have to say, however, may become clearer by such an illustration as the following:220 The text is, “et quidem quod dico tali exemplo sed clarius.” For sed it is proposed to read fit, or sit, or est.—A certain man gathered into his store a very large quantity of corn, so that the place was perfectly full. This place he shut and sealed in a thoroughly satisfactory fashion, and gave directions to keep careful watch over it. And the master himself then departed. However, after a lengthened lapse of time another person came to the store, and affirmed that he had been despatched by the individual who had locked up and sealed the place with a commission also to collect and lay up a quantity of wheat in the same. And when the keepers of the store saw him, they demanded of him his credentials, in the production of the signet, in order that they might assure themselves of their liberty to open the store to him and to render their obedience to him as to one sent by the person who had sealed the place. And when he could221 Codex Casinensis has quicunque. We adopt the correction, qui cum nec. neither exhibit the keys nor produce the credentials of the signet, for indeed he had no right, he was thrust out by the keepers, and compelled to flee. For instead of being what he professed to be, he was detected to be a thief and a robber by them, and was convicted and found out222 Reading confutatus for confugatus. through the circumstance that, although, as it seemed, he had taken it into his head to make his appearance a long time after the period that had been determined on beforehand, he yet could neither produce keys, or signet, or any token whatsoever to the keepers, nor display any knowledge of the quantity of corn that was in store: all which things were so many unmistakeable proofs that he had not been sent across by the proper owner; and accordingly, as was matter of course,223 The text gives “et ideo ut consequenter erat,” etc. Codex Casinensis omits the ut. Routh proposes, “et ideo consequenter thesaurus,” etc. = and thus, of course, the treasure was preserved, etc. Comp. ch. xxvii. and xxxiv. he was forbidden admittance by the keepers.