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Early Christianity: Against Celsus
and Peregrinus Proteus
Early
Christianity
Against Celsus | The
Passing of Peregrinus Proteus
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Chapter Four
James 4:1-10 Hope and Perfection
| James 4:11-17 End Times and
Perfection
Against Celsus
Origen, a third century Christian Theologian, wrote to defend
Christianity against the attacks made my pagans. Included in Origen's
works are quotes from the writings of Celsus. Celsus wrote in
the second century and are some of the earliest writings
we have in which a non-Christian comments on Christianity.
These quotes are from Origen, Book III, Against Celsus.
Celsus says:
Let no one educated, no one wise, no one sensible draw near.
For these abilities are thought by us to be evils. But as for
anyone ignorant, anyone stupid, anyone uneducated, anyone who
is a child, let him come boldly. By the fact that they themselves
admit that these people are worthy of their God, they show that
they want and are able to convince only the foolish, dishonorable
and stupid. and only slaves, women, and little children.
And also
In private houses also we see wool-workers, cobblers, laundry-workers,
and the most illiterate and bucolic yokels, who would not dare
to say anything at all in front of their elders and more intelligent
masters. But whenever they get hold of children in private and
some stupid women with them, they let out some astounding statements
as, for example, that they must not pay attention to their father's
and school-teachers, but must obey them; they say that these talk
nonsense and have no understanding, and that in reality they neither
know nor are able to say anything good, but are taken up with
mere empty chatter.
But they alone, they say, know the right way to live, and if
the children would believe them, they would become happy and make
their home happy as well. And if just as they are speaking they
see one of the school-teachers coming, or some intelligent person,
or even the father himself, the more cautious of them flee in
all directions; but the more reckless urge the children on to
rebel. They whisper to them that in the presence of their father
and their schoolmasters they do not feel able to explain anything
to the children, since they do not want to have anything to do
with the silly and obtuse teachers who are totally corrupted and
far gone in wickedness and who inflict punishment on the children.
But, if they like, they should leave father and their schoolmaster,
and go along with the women and children who are their playfellows
to the wool dresser's shop, or to the cobbler's or to the washerwoman's
shop, that they may learn perfection. And by saying this they
persuade them.
Early
Christianity
Against Celsus | The
Passing of Peregrinus Proteus
Return to Chapter 4 Commentary
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Study
Chapter Four
James 4:1-10 Hope and Perfection
| James 4:11-17 End Times and
Perfection
The Passing of
Peregrinus Proteus
Lucian, a second century satirist, wrote an expose of
Peregrinus Proteus. Proteus went from philosophy or religion to
another. This excerpt makes fun of the Christians who took Proteus
in as a devout follower.
Lucian says:
The poor wretches have convinced themselves, first and foremost,
that they are going to be immortal and live for all time, in consequence
of which they despise death and even willingly give themselves
into custody, most of them. Furthermore, their first lawgiver
persuaded them that they are all brothers of one another after
they have transgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods
and by worshipping the crucified sophist himself and living under
his laws.
Therefore they despise all things indiscriminately and consider
them common property, receiving such doctrines traditionally without
any definite evidence. So if any charlatan and trickster, able
to profit by occasions, come among them, he quickly acquires sudden
wealth by imposing upon simple folk.
Early
Christianity
Against Celsus | The
Passing of Peregrinus Proteus
Return to Chapter 4 Commentary
| Top of Page
Study
Chapter Four
James 4:1-10 Hope and Perfection
| James 4:11-17 End Times and
Perfection
|
