Chapter VI.—Heretics are Self-Condemned. Heresy is Self-Will, Whilst Faith is Submission of Our Will to the Divine Authority.  The Heresy of Apelles.

On this point, however, we dwell no longer, since it is the same Paul who, in his Epistle to the Galatians, counts “heresies” among “the sins of the flesh,”47    Gal. v. 20. who also intimates to Titus, that “a man who is a heretic” must be “rejected after the first admonition,” on the ground that “he that is such is perverted, and committeth sin, as a self-condemned man.”48    Tit. iii. 10, 11. Indeed, in almost every epistle, when enjoining on us (the duty) of avoiding false doctrines, he sharply condemns49    Taxat. heresies. Of these the practical effects50    Opera. are false doctrines, called in Greek heresies,51    Αἱρέσεις . a word used in the sense of that choice which a man makes when he either teaches them (to others)52    Instituendas. or takes up with them (for himself).53    Suscipiendas. For this reason it is that he calls the heretic self-condemned,54    [A remarkable word is subjoined by the Apostle (ἐξέστραπται) which signifies turned inside out, and so self-condemned, as exhibiting his inward contentiousness and pravity. because he has himself chosen that for which he is condemned. We, however, are not permitted to cherish any object55    Nihil, any doctrine. after our own will, nor yet to make choice of that which another has introduced of his private fancy. In the Lord’s apostles we possess our authority; for even they did not of themselves choose to introduce anything, but faithfully delivered to the nations (of mankind) the doctrine56    Disciplinam, including both the principles and practice of the Christian religion. which they had received from Christ. If, therefore, even “an angel from heaven should preach any other gospel” (than theirs), he would be called accursed57    Anathema. See Gal. i. 8. by us. The Holy Ghost had even then foreseen that there would be in a certain virgin (called) Philumene58    Concerning Philumene, see below, chap. xxv.; Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. v. 13; Augustine, de Hæres, chap. xlii. ; Jerome, Epist. adv. Ctesiph. (Works, ed. Ben.) iv. 477, and in his Commentary on Galatians, ii. See also Tertullian, Against Marcion, p. 139, Edinb. Edition. an angel of deceit, “transformed into an angel of light,”59    2 Cor. xi. 14. by whose miracles and illusions60    Præstigiis. Apelles was led (when) he introduced his new heresy.

CAPUT VI.

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Quippe cum, Epistola ad Titum, Apostolus haereticum describens, haereses dictas insinuet graeca voce ex interpretatione electionis, qua quis sive ad instituendas, sive ad suscipiendas eas utitur.

Nec diutius de isto , si idem est Paulus, qui et alibi haereses inter carnalia crimina numerat, scribens ad Galatas (V, 20), et qui Tito suggerit (III, 10 et 11), hominem haereticum post primam correptionem recusandum, quod perversus sit ejusmodi et delinquat, ut a semetipso damnatus. Sed et in omni pene epistola de adulterinis doctrinis fugiendis inculcans, haereses taxat, quarum opera sunt adulterae doctrinae, haereses dictae graeca voce , ex interpretatione 0018B electionis qua quis, sive ad instituendas, sive ad suscipiendas eas utitur. Ideo et sibi damnatum dixit haereticum, quia et in quo damnatur, sibi elegit. Nobis vero nihil ex nostro arbitrio inducere licet, sed nec eligere quod aliquis de arbitrio suo induxerit. Apostolos Domini habemus auctores, qui nec ipsi quidquam ex suo arbitrio, quod inducerent , elegerunt; sed acceptam a Christo disciplinam fideliter nationibus assignaverunt. Itaque etiamsi angelus de coelis aliter evangelizaret, anathema diceretur a nobis (I, 8). Providerat jam tunc Spiritus Sanctus futurum in virgine quadam Philumene angelum seductionis, transfigurantem se in angelum lucis, cujus signis et praestigiis Apelles inductus, novam haeresin 0018C induxit.