The Four Classes of Samaritans.
The Gorthenes celebrate their feasts at other times than Sebyaeans.
The Sebyaeans differ from the Gorthenes by reason of their feasts.
The Seven Heresies of the Jews.
Thus far the summary of the thirteen heresies contained in the second part of Book II.
The following belong to this third part, in which thirteen heresies are contained:
Thus far for the eighteen heresies of the fourth part of Book II.
The following five heresies are contained in the fifth part of Book II:
Thus far the five heresies of the fifth part of Book II.
The following seven heresies are contained in the first part of Book III:
Thus far similarly the seven heresies of the first part of Book III.
In the second part of Book III there are four heresies:
The Pharisees, which is interpreted as meaning ‘those who are set apart,’ followed the most perfect form of life and were, as they pretended, more to be esteemed than other people. They also held the resurrection of the dead, which the Scribes held too. As regards angels and the Holy Ghost, they agreed that such exist. They followed a special way of life, practicing asceticism and virginity for a period of time and fasting twice a week. They performed the purifications of pots and plates and cups, as did the Scribes, the paying of tithes, the offering of first-fruits, and the recitation of interminable prayers. They wore superstitious styles of clothing, such as the shawl, the tunics, or colobia, the wide phylacteries, that is, amulets made of purple stuff, the fringes, and the tassels on the ends of their shawls—all of which served as signs of their periodic asceticism. They also introduced the horoscope and fate.
Φαρισαῖοι, οἱ ἑρμηνευόμενοι ἀφωρισμένοι: οἱ τὸ ἀκρότατον βιοῦντες καὶ δῆθεν τῶν ἄλλων δοκιμώτεροι, παρ' οἷς καὶ νεκρῶν ἀνάστασις, ὃ καὶ παρὰ τοῖς γραμματεῦσι, καὶ ἡ περὶ ἀγγέλων καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, ὅτι ἔστι, συγκατάθεσις: πολιτεία δὲ διάφορος, καὶ μέχρι χρόνου ἐγκράτεια καὶ παρθενία, νηστεία δὲ δὶς τοῦ σαββάτου, ξεστῶν καθαρισμὸς καὶ πινάκων καὶ ποτηρίων ὡς καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς, ἀποδεκατώσεις τε καὶ ἀπαρχαὶ καὶ ἐνδελεχεῖς εὐχαὶ καὶ σχήματα ἐθελοθρησκευτικὰ τῆς ἐνδυσίας διά τε τῆς ἀμπεχόνης καὶ τῶν δελματικῶν ἤτουν κολοβίων καὶ τοῦ πλατυσμοῦ τῶν φυλακτηρίων, τουτέστι σημάτων τῆς πορφύρας καὶ κρασπέδων καὶ ῥοΐσκων ἐπὶ τὰ πτερύγια τῆς ἀμπεχόνης, ἅτινα ταῦτα ἐτύγχανε σημεῖα τῆς παρ' αὐτοῖς ἕως καιροῦ ἐγκρατείας: οἳ καὶ παρεισέφερον γένεσιν καὶ εἱμαρμένην.