▾
Cyprian of Carthage, Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
⎗←→⎘
▾
Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews.
2. Also because they did not believe the prophets, and put them to death.
5. That the Jews could understand nothing of the Scriptures unless they first believed in Christ.
6. That the Jews should lose Jerusalem, and should leave the land which they had received.
7. Also that they should lose the Light of the Lord.
9. That the former law which was given by Moses was to cease.
10. That a new law was to be given.
11. That another dispensation and a new covenant was to be given.
12. That the old baptism should cease, and a new one should begin.
13. That the old yoke should be made void, and a new yoke should be given.
14. That the old pastors should cease and new ones begin.
16. That the ancient sacrifice should be made void, and a new one should be celebrated.
17. That the old priesthood should cease, and a new priest should come, who should be for ever.
21. That the Gentiles should rather believe in Christ.
23. That the Gentiles rather than the Jews attain to the kingdom of heaven.
3. That the same Christ is the Word of God.
4. That Christ is the Hand and Arm of God.
5. That Christ is at once Angel and God.
7. That Christ our God should come, the Enlightener and Saviour of the human race.
11. That Christ was to be born of the seed of David, according to the flesh.
12. That Christ should be born in Bethlehem.
13. That Christ was to come in low estate in His first advent.
14. That He is the righteous One whom the Jews should put to death.
16. That Christ also is called a Stone.
17. That afterwards this Stone should become a mountain, and should fill the whole earth.
20. That the Jews would fasten Christ to the cross.
21. That in the passion and the sign of the cross is all virtue and power.
22. That in this sign of the Cross is salvation for all people who are marked on their foreheads.
23. That at mid-day in His passion there should be darkness.
24. That He was not to be overcome of death, nor should remain in Hades.
25. That He should rise again from the dead on the third day.
27. That it is impossible to attain to God the Father, except by His Son Jesus Christ.
28. That Jesus Christ shall come as a Judge.
29. That He will reign as a King for ever.
30. That He Himself is both Judge and King.
1. On the benefit of good works and mercy.
3. That charity and brotherly affection are to be religiously and stedfastly practised.
4. That we must boast in nothing, since nothing is our own.
5. That humility and quietness are to be maintained in all things.
6. That all good and righteous men suffer more, but ought to endure because they are proved.
7. That we must not grieve the Holy Spirit, whom we have received.
8. That anger must be overcome, lest it constrain us to sin.
9. That brethren ought to support one another.
10. That we must trust in God only, and in Him we must glory.
14. That we must never murmur, but bless God concerning all things that happen.
15. That men are tried by God for this purpose, that they may be proved.
16. Of the benefits of martyrdom.
17. That what we suffer in this world is of less account than is the reward which is promised.
18. That nothing is to be preferred to the love of God and Christ.
19. That we are not to obey our own will, but the will of God.
20. That the foundation and strength of hope and faith is fear.
21. That we must not rashly judge of another.
22. That when we have received a wrong, we must remit and forgive it.
23. That evil is not to be returned for evil.
24. That it is impossible to attain to the Father but by His Son Jesus Christ.
25. That unless a man have been baptized and born again, he cannot attain unto the kingdom of God.
27. That even a baptized person loses the grace that he has attained, unless he keep innocency.
29. That it was before predicted, concerning the hatred of the Name,
30. That what any one has vowed to God, he must quickly repay.
31. That he who does not believe is judged already.
32. Of the benefit of virginity and of continency.
34. That the believer ought not to live like the Gentile.
35. That God is patient for this end, that we may repent of our sin, and be reformed.
36. That a woman ought not to be adorned in a worldly fashion.
37. That the believer ought not to be punished for other offences, except for the name he bears.
38. That the servant of God ought to be innocent, lest he fall into secular punishment.
39. That there is given to us an example of living in Christ.
40. That we must not labour noisily nor boastfully.
41. That we must not speak foolishly and offensively.
42. That faith is of advantage altogether, and that we can do as much as we believe.
43. That he who believes can immediately obtain (i.e., pardon and peace).
44. That believers who differ among themselves ought not to refer to a Gentile judge.
46. That a woman ought to be silent in the church.
48. That we must not take usury.
49. That even our enemies must be loved.
50. That the sacrament of faith must not be profaned.
51. That no one should be uplifted in his labour.
52. That the liberty of believing or of not believing is placed in free choice.
53. That the secrets of God cannot be seen through, and therefore that our faith ought to be simple.
54. That no one is without filth and without sin.
55. That we must not please men, but God.
56. That nothing that is done is hidden from God.
57. That the believer is amended and reserved.
59. Of the idols which the Gentiles think to be gods.
60. That too great lust of food is not to be desired.
61. That the lust of possessing, and money, are not to be sought for.
62. That marriage is not to be contracted with Gentiles.
63. That the sin of fornication is grievous.
65. That all sins are put away in baptism.
66. That the discipline of God is to be observed in Church precepts.
67. That it was foretold that men should despise sound discipline.
68. That we must depart from him who lives irregularly and contrary to discipline.
70. That we must obey parents.
71. And that fathers also should not be harsh in respect of their children.
72. That servants, when they have believed, ought to serve their carnal masters the better.
73. Moreover, that masters should be the more gentle.
74. That all widows that are approved are to be held in honour.
75. That every person ought to have care rather of his own people, and especially of believers.
76. That an elder must not be rashly accused.
77. That the sinner must be publicly reproved.
78. That we must not speak with heretics.
79. That innocency asks with confidence, and obtains.
80. That the devil has no power against man unless God have allowed it.
81. That wages be quickly paid to the hireling.
82. That divination must not be used.
83. That a tuft of hair is not to be worn on the head.
84. That the beard must not be plucked.
85. That we must rise when a bishop or a presbyter comes.
87. That believers ought to be simple, with prudence.
88. That a brother must not be deceived.
89. That the end of the world comes suddenly.
90. That a wife must not depart from her husband or if she should depart, she must remain unmarried.
91. That every one is tempted so much as he is able to bear.
92. That not everything is to be done which is lawful.
93. That it was foretold that heresies would arise.
94. That the Eucharist is to be received with fear and honour.
95. That we are to live with the good, but to avoid the evil.
96. That we must labour not with words, but with deeds.
97. That we must hasten to faith and to attainment.
98. That the catechumen ought now no longer to sin.
100. That the grace of God ought to be without price.
101. That the Holy Spirit has frequently appeared in fire.
102. That all good men ought willingly to hear rebuke.
103. That we must abstain from much speaking.
105. That they are frequently to be corrected who do wrong in domestic duty.
106. That when a wrong is received, patience is to be maintained, and vengeance to be left to God.
107. That we must not use detraction.
108. That we must not lay snares against our neighbour.
109. That the sick are to be visited.
110. That tale-bearers are accursed.
111. That the sacrifices of the wicked are not acceptable.
112. That those are more severely judged, who in this world have had more power.
113. That the widow and orphans ought to be protected.
114. That one ought to make confession while he is in the flesh.
115. That flattery is pernicious.
116. That God is more loved by him who has had many sins forgiven in baptism.
3. That charity and brotherly affection are to be religiously and stedfastly practised.
In Malachi: “Hath not one God created us? Is there not one Father of us all? Why have ye certainly deserted every one his brother?”372 Mal. ii. 10. Of this same thing according to John: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.”373 John xiv. 27. Also in the same place: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love than this has no man, than that one should lay down his life for his friends.”374 John xv. 12, 13. Also in the same place: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”375 Matt. v. 9. Also in the same place: “Verily I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth concerning everything, whatever you shall ask it shall be given you from my Father which is in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, I am with them.”376 Matt. xviii. 19, 20. Of this same thing in the first Epistle to the Corinthians: “And I indeed, brethren, could not speak unto you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I have given you milk for drink, not meat: for while ye were yet little ye were not able to bear it, neither now are ye able. For ye are still carnal: for where there are in you emulation, and strife, and dissensions, are ye not carnal, and walk after man?”377 1 Cor. iii. 1–3. Likewise in the same place: “And if I should have all faith, so that I can remove mountains, but have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods for food, and if I should deliver up my body to be burned, but have not charity, I avail nothing. Charity is great-souled; charity is kind; charity envieth not; charity dealeth not falsely; is not puffed up; is not irritated; thinketh not evil; rejoiceth not in injustice, but rejoiceth in the truth. It loveth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, beareth all things. Charity shall never fail.”378 1 Cor. xiii. 2–8. Of this same thing to the Galatians: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and accuse one another, see that ye be not consumed one of another.”379 Gal. v. 14, 15. Of this same thing in the Epistle of John: “In this appear the children of God and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not righteous is not of God, and he who loveth not his brother. For he who hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”380 1 John iii. 10, 15. Also in the same place: “If any one shall say that he loves God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he who loveth not his brother whom he seeth, how can he love God whom he seeth not?”381 1 John iv. 20. Of this same thing in the Acts of the Apostles: “But the multitude of them that had believed acted with one soul and mind: nor was there among them any distinction, neither did they esteem as their own anything of the possessions that they had; but all things were common to them.”382 Acts iv. 32. Of this same thing in the Gospel according to Matthew: If thou wouldest offer thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave thou thy gift before the altar, and go; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift at the altar.”383 Matt. v. 23, 24. [I think this harmonizes with Heb. xiii. 10.] Also in the Epistle of John: “God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”384 1 John iv. 16. Also in the same place: “He who saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is a liar, and walketh in darkness even until now.”385 1 John ii. 9.
Apud Malachiam: Nonne Deus unus condidit nos? Nonne pater unus est omnium nostrum ? Quid utique dereliquistisunusquisque fratrem suum (Malach. II, 10)? De hoc ipso cata Joannem: Pacemvobis remitto, pacem meam do vobis (Joan. XIV, 27). Item illic: Hoc est mandatum meum, ut diligatis invicem, quemadmodum dilexi vos. Majorem hac charitatem nemo habet, quam ut animam suam quis ponat pro amicis suis (Ib. XV, 15). Item illic: Beatipacifici, quoniam ipsi filii Dei vocabuntur (Matth. V, 9). Item illic: Amen 0733Bdico vobis, quoniam, siduobus ex vobis convenerit in terra , de omni re quamcumque petieritis, continget vobis a Patre meo qui in coelis est. Ubicumque enim fuerint duo aut tres collecti in nomine meo, ego cum eis sum (Matth. XVIII, 19). De hoc ipso ad Corinthios I: Et ego quidem, fratres, non potui vobis loqui quasi spiritalibus, sed quasi carnalibus; quasi infantibusin Christo, lac vobis potum dedi , non escam . Dum enimadhuc pusilli eratis, non poteratis, sed neque nunc potestis, adhuc enim estis carnales. Ubi enim in vobis aemulatioet contentio et dissensiones, nonne carnales estis, et secundum hominem ambulatis (I Cor. III, 1-3)? Item illic: Etsi habuero omnem fidem, ita ut montes transferam, charitatem autem non habeam, nihil sum . Etsi in cibosdistribuero omnia mea, et si tradidero corpus 0733Cmeum ut ardeam , charitatemautem non habeam, nihil proficio . Charitas magnanima est, charitasbenigna est, charitas non aemulatur, charitas non agit perperam, non inflatur, non irritatur, non cogitat malum, non gaudet super injustitiam, collaetatur autem in veritate. Omnia diligit, omnia credit, omnia sperat, omnia sustinet . Charitas numquam excidet (I Cor. XIII, 2-8). De hoc ipso ad Galatas: Diliges proximum tibitamquam te. Si autem mordetiset incusatis invicem, videte ne consumamini ab invicem (Gal. V, 14-16). De hoc 0734A ipso in Epistola Joannis: In hoc apparent filiiDei et filii diaboli. Omnis qui non est justus, non est de Deo, et qui non diligit fratrem suum. Qui enim fratrem suum odit, homicida est. Et scitis quia omnis homicida non habet in se vitam aeternam in se manentem (I Joan. IV, 16). Item illic : Si quis dixerit quoniam diligit Deum, et fratrem suum odit, mendax est. Qui enim non diligit fratrem suum quem videt , Deum quem non videt quomodo potest diligere? De hoc ipso in Actibus Apostolorum: Turba autem eorum qui crediderant anima ac mente una agebant, nec fuit inter illos discrimen ullum, nec quicquam suum judicabant ex bonisquae eis erant, sed fuerunt illis omnia communia (Act. IV, 32). De hoc ipso in Evangelio cata Matthaeum: Si obtuleris munus tuum ad altare, et illic recordatus fueris quia fratrer tuus 0734Bhabet aliquid adversum te, relinque illic munus tuum ante altare, et vade prius reconciliari fratri tuo, et tunc veni et offermunus tuum ad altare (Matth. V, 23). Item in Epistola Joannis: Deus charitas est, et qui manet in charitate , in Deo manet, et Deusin eo (I Joan. IV, 16). Item illic: Qui dicit se in luce esse et fratrem suum odit, mendax est , et in tenebris ambulat usque adhuc (I Joan. II, 9).