Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
Now, since it is a Jew who makes these statements, we shall conduct the
defence of our Jesus as if we were replying to a Jew, still continuing
the comparison derived from the accounts regarding Moses, and saying to
him: “How many others are there who practise similar juggling tricks to
those of Moses, in order to deceive their silly hearers, and who make
gain by their deception?” Now this objection would be more appropriate
in the mouth of one who did not believe in Moses (as we might quote the
instances of Zamolxis and Pythagoras, who were engaged in such juggling
tricks) than in that of a Jew, who is not very learned in the histories
of the Greeks. An Egyptian, moreover, who did not believe the miracles
of Moses, might credibly adduce the instance of Rhampsinitus, saying
that it was far more credible that he had descended to Hades, and had
played at dice with Demeter, and that after stealing from her a golden
napkin he exhibited it as a sign of his having been in Hades, and of his
having returned thence, than that Moses should have recorded that he
entered into the darkness, where God was, and that he alone, above all
others, drew near to God. For the following is his statement: “Moses
alone shall come near the Lord; but the rest shall not come nigh.”[159]
We, then, who are the disciples of Jesus, say to the Jew who urges these
objections: “While assailing our belief in Jesus, defend yourself, and
answer the Egyptian and the Greek objectors: what will you say to those
charges which you brought against our Jesus, but which also might be
brought against Moses first? And if you should make a vigorous effort to
defend Moses, as indeed his history does admit of a clear and powerful
defence, you will unconsciously, in your support of Moses, be an
unwilling assistant in establishing the greater divinity of Jesus.”
Footnote 151:
Cf. Herodot. iv. 95.
Footnote 152:
Cf. Herodot. ii. 122.
Footnote 153:
Cf. Diodor. iv. _Bibl. Hist._
Footnote 154:
Cf. Diodor. iv. _Bibl. Hist._
Footnote 155:
αὐτῷ σώματι.
Footnote 156:
γυνὴ πάροιστρος.
Footnote 157:
κατά τινα διάθεσιν ὀνειρώξας.
Footnote 158:
ἢ κατὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ βούλησιν δοξῇ πεπλανημένῃ φαντασιωθείς.
Footnote 159:
Cf. Ex. xxiv. 2.
Chapter LVI.
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