Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
In the following way, also, we may conclude that they who came out of
Egypt with Moses were not Egyptians; for if they had been Egyptians,
their _names_ also would be Egyptian, because in every language the
designations [of persons and things] are kindred to the language.[267]
But if it is certain, from the names being Hebrew, that the people were
not Egyptians,—and the Scriptures are full of Hebrew names, and these
bestowed, too, upon their children while they were in Egypt,—it is clear
that the Egyptian account is false, which asserts that they were
Egyptians, and went forth from Egypt with Moses. Now it is absolutely
certain[268] that, being descended, as the Mosaic history records, from
Hebrew ancestors, they employed a language from which they also took the
names which they conferred upon their children. But with regard to the
Christians, because they were taught not to avenge themselves upon their
enemies (and have thus observed laws of a mild and philanthropic
character); and because they would not, although able, have made war
even if they had received authority to do so,—they have obtained this
reward from God, that He has always warred in their behalf, and on
certain occasions has restrained those who rose up against them and
desired to destroy them. For in order to remind others, that by seeing a
_few_ engaged in a struggle for their religion, they also might be
better fitted to despise death, some, on special occasions, and these
individuals who can be easily numbered, have endured death for the sake
of Christianity,—God not permitting the whole nation to be exterminated,
but desiring that it should continue, and that the whole world should be
filled with this salutary and religious doctrine. And again, on the
other hand, that those who were of weaker minds might recover their
courage and rise superior to the thought of death, God interposed His
providence on behalf of believers, dispersing by an act of His will
alone all the conspiracies formed against them; so that neither kings,
nor rulers, nor the populace, might be able to rage against them beyond
a certain point. Such, then, is our answer to the assertions of Celsus,
“that a revolt was the original commencement of the ancient Jewish
state, and subsequently of Christianity.”
Footnote 267:
Συγγενεῖς εἰσιν αἱ προσηγορίαι.
Footnote 268:
Σαφῶς ἐναργές.
Chapter IX.
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