Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
He next says of us, that “we ridicule those who worship Jupiter, because
his tomb is pointed out in the island of Crete; and yet we worship him
who rose from the tomb,[373] although ignorant of the grounds[374] on
which the Cretans observe such a custom.” Observe now that he thus
undertakes the defence of the Cretans, and of Jupiter, and of his tomb,
alluding obscurely to the allegorical notions, in conformity with which
the myth regarding Jupiter is said to have been invented; while he
assails us who acknowledge that our Jesus has been buried, indeed, but
who maintain that He has also been _raised_ from the tomb,—a statement
which the Cretans have not yet made regarding Jupiter. But since he
appears to admit that the tomb of Jupiter is in Crete, when he says that
“we are ignorant of the grounds on which the Cretans observe such a
custom,” we reply that Callimachus the Cyrenian, who had read
innumerable poetic compositions, and nearly the whole of Greek history,
was not acquainted with any allegorical meaning which was contained in
the stories about Jupiter and his tomb; and accordingly he accuses the
Cretans in his hymn addressed to Jupiter, in the words:[375]
“The Cretans are always liars: for thy tomb, O king,
The Cretans have reared; and yet thou didst not die,
For thou ever livest.”
Now he who said, “Thou didst not die, for thou ever livest,” in denying
that Jupiter’s tomb was in Crete, records nevertheless that in Jupiter
there was the beginning of death.[376] But birth upon earth is the
beginning of death. And his words run:
“And Rhea bore thee among the Parrhasians;”—
whereas he ought to have seen, after denying that the birth of Jupiter
took place in Crete because of his tomb, that it was quite congruous
with his birth in Arcadia that he who was born should also die. And the
following is the manner in which Callimachus speaks of these things: “O
Jupiter, some say that thou wert born on the mountains of Ida, others in
Arcadia. Which of them, O father, have lied? The Cretans are always
liars,” etc. Now it is Celsus who made us discuss these topics, by the
unfair manner in which he deals with Jesus, in giving his assent to what
is related about His death and burial, but regarding as an invention His
resurrection from the dead, although this was not only foretold by
innumerable prophets, but many proofs also were given of His having
appeared after death.
Footnote 373:
τὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ τάφου.
Footnote 374:
οὐκ εἰδότες πῶς καὶ καθὸ.
Footnote 375:
Cf. Callimach. Hymn i. Cf. also Tit. i. 12.
Footnote 376:
τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ θανάτου γεγονέναι περὶ τὸν Δία.
Chapter XLIV.
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