Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
After these points Celsus quotes some objections against the doctrine of
Jesus, made by a very few individuals who are considered Christians, not
of the more intelligent, as he supposes, but of the more ignorant class,
and asserts that “the following are the rules laid down by them. Let no
one come to us who has been instructed, or who is wise or prudent (for
such qualifications are deemed evil by us); but if there be any
ignorant, or unintelligent, or uninstructed, or foolish persons, let
them come with confidence. By which words, acknowledging that such
individuals are worthy of their God, they manifestly show that they
desire and are able to gain over only the silly, and the mean, and the
stupid, with women and children.” In reply to which, we say that, as if,
while Jesus teaches continence, and says, “Whosoever looketh upon a
woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his
heart,” one were to behold a few of those who are deemed to be
Christians living licentiously, he would most justly blame them for
living contrary to the teaching of Jesus, but would act most
unreasonably if he were to charge the gospel with their censurable
conduct; so, if he found nevertheless that the doctrine of the
Christians invites men to wisdom, the blame then must remain with those
who rest in their own ignorance, and who utter, not what Celsus relates
(for although some of them are simple and ignorant, they do not speak so
shamelessly as he alleges), but other things of much less serious
import, which, however, serve to turn aside men from the practice of
wisdom.
Chapter XLV.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account