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Cyprian of Carthage, Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
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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.
11. That he who has attained to trust, having put off the former man, ought to regard only celestial and spiritual things, and to give no heed to the world which he has already renounced.
In Isaiah: “Seek ye the Lord; and when ye have found Him, call upon Him. But when He hath come near unto you, let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him be turned unto the Lord, and he shall obtain mercy, because He will plentifully pardon your sins.”430 Isa. lv. 6, 7. Of this same thing in Solomon: “I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; and, lo, all are vanity.”431 Eccles. i. 14. Of this same thing in Exodus: “But thus shall ye eat it; your loins girt, and your shoes on your feet, and your staves in your hands: and ye shall eat it in haste, for it is the Lord’s passover.”432 Ex. xii. 11. Of this same thing in the Gospel according to Matthew: “Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewith shall we be clothed? for these things the nations seek after. But your Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”433 Matt. vi. 31–33. Likewise in the same place: “Think not for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for itself. Sufficient unto the day is its own evil.”434 Matt. vi. 34. Likewise in the same place: “No one looking back, and putting his hands to the plough, is fit for the kingdom of God.”435 Luke ix. 62. Also in the same place: “Behold the fowls of the heaven: for they sow not, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of more value than they?”436 Matt. vi. 26. Concerning this same thing, according to Luke: “Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning; and ye like unto men that wait for their lord, when he cometh from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom their lord, when he cometh, shall find watching.”437 Luke xii. 35–37. Of this same thing in Matthew: “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where He may lay His head.”438 Matt. viii. 20. Also in the same place: “Whoso forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.”439 Luke xiv. 33. Of this same thing in the first to the Corinthians: “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.”440 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. Also in the same place: “The time is limited. It remaineth, therefore, that both they who have wives be as though they have them not, and they who lament as they that lament not, and they that rejoice as they that rejoice not, and they who buy as they that buy not, and they who possess as they who possess not, and they who use this world as they that use it not; for the fashion of this world passeth away.”441 1 Cor. vii. 29–31. Also in the same place: “The first man is of the clay of the earth, the second man from heaven. As he is of the clay, such also are they who are of the clay; and as is the heavenly, such also are the heavenly. Even as we have borne the image of him who is of the clay, let us bear His image also who is from heaven.”442 1 Cor. xv. 47–49. Of this same matter to the Philippians: “All seek their own, and not those things which are Christ’s; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and their glory is to their confusion, who mind earthly things. For our conversation is in heaven, whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall transform the body of our humiliation conformed to the body of His glory.”443 Phil. ii. 21; iii. 19–21. Of this very matter to Galatians: “But be it far from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”444 Gal. vi. 14. Concerning this same thing to Timothy: “No man that warreth for God bindeth himself with worldly annoyances, that he may please Him to whom he hath approved himself. But and if a man should contend, he will not be crowned unless he fight lawfully.”445 2 Tim. ii. 4, 5. Of this same thing to the Colossians: “If ye be dead with Christ from the elements of the world, why still, as if living in the world, do ye follow vain things?”446 Col. ii. 20. Also concerning this same thing: “If ye have risen together with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God. Give heed to the things that are above, not to those things which are on the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ your life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”447 Col. iii. 1–4. Of this same thing to the Ephesians: Put off the old man of the former conversation, who is corrupted, according to the lusts of deceit. But be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, him who according to God is ordained in righteousness, and holiness, and truth.”448 Eph. iv. 22–24. Of this same thing in the Epistle of Peter: “As strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; but having a good conversation among the Gentiles, that while they detract from you as if from evildoers, yet, beholding your good works, they may magnify God.”449 2 Pet. ii. 11, 12. Of this same thing in the Epistle of John: “He who saith he abideth in Christ, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.”450 1 John ii. 6. Also in the same place: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because everything which is in the world is lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and the ambition of this world, which is not of the Father, but of the lust of this world. And the world shall pass away with its lust. But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as God abideth for ever.”451 1 John ii. 15–17. Also in the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: “Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new dough, as ye are unleavened. For also Christ our passover is sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not in the old leaven, nor in the leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”452 1 Cor. v. 7, 8.
Apud Esaiam: Quaerite Dominum; et cum inveneritis, invocate eum. Cum autem appropinquaverit vobis, relinquat impius vias suas, et vir facinorosuscogitationes suas, et convertatur ad Dominum, et misericordiam consequetur, quia in multumremittet peccata vestra (Isa. LV, 6). De hoc ipso apud Salomonem: Vidi universa opera quae facta sunt sub sole, et ecce omnia vanitas (Eccle. I, 14). De hoc ipso in Exodo: Sic autem comedetis eum. Lumbi vestri praecincti, et 0738Ccalciamentavestra in pedibus vestris, et bacula vestra in manibus vestris, et edetis eum festinanter. Pascha est enim Domini (Exod. XII, 11). De hoc ipso in Evangelio cata Matthaeum: Nolite cogitare dicentes: Quid edemus, aut quid bibemus , aut quid vestiemur? Haec enim nationes inquirunt . Scit autemPater vester quia horum omnium indigetis. Quaerite primum regnum Dei et justitiam ejus, et omnia ista apponentur 0739Avobis. Item illic: Nolite cogitare in crastinum. Crastinusenim dies ipse cogitabitsibi. Sufficit diei malitia sua (Matth. VI, 31-34). Item illic: Nemo retro attendens et superponens manum suam super aratrum aptus est regno Dei (Luc. IX, 62). Item illic: Aspicite volatilia coeli, quoniam non seminant, neque metunt, neque colligunt in horrea, et Pater vester coelestis pascit illa . Nonne vos pluris estis illis (Matth. VI, 26)? De hoc ipso cata Lucam: Sint lumbivestri accincti, et lucernae ardentes , et vos similes hominibus exspectantibus dominum suum quando veniata nuptiis, ut cum venerit et pulsaverit aperiant illi. Beati servi illi quos adveniens dominus invenerit vigilantes (Luc. XII, 35-37). De hoc ipso apud Matthaeum: Vulpesfoveas habent, et volucres coeli diversoria , Filius autem hominis 0739Bnon habet ubicaput suum inclinet (Matth. VIII, 20). Item illic: Qui non renuntiat omnibus quae sunt ejus, non potest meus discipulus esse (Luc. XIV, 33). De hoc ipso ad Corinthios prima: Non estis vestri. Emptienim estis pretio magno. Clarificate et portate Deum in corpore vestro (I Cor. VI, 19). Item illic: Tempus collectum . Superest ergo ut et qui habent uxores, quasi non habentes sint, et qui plangunt , quasi non plangentes, et qui gaudent, quasi non gaudentes, et qui emunt, quasi non ementes, et qui possident, quasi non possidentes, et qui hoc mundo utuntur , quasi non utantur . Praeterit enim figura hujus mundi (Ibid. VII, 29-31). Item illic: Primus homo de terrae limo , secundus homo de coelo . Qualis ille e limo, tales et qui de limo; et qualis coelestis, tales et coelestes. Quomodo 0739Cportavimus imaginem ejus qui de limo est, portemus et imaginem ejus qui de coelo est (Ibid. XV, 47-49). De hoc ipso ad Philippenses: Omnessua quaerunt, et non quae sunt Christi (Philip. II, 21); Quorum finis est interitus, quorum deus venter est, et gloria in confusionemeorum qui terrena sapiunt. Nostra autem conversatio in coelis est; unde et salvatorem exspectamus Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, 0740Aqui transformabit corpus humilitatis nostrae conformatumcorpori claritatis suae (Phil. III, 19-21). De hoc ipso ad Galatas: Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi, per quem mihi mundus crucifixus est, et ego mundo (Gal. VI, 14). De hoc ipso ad Timotheum: Nemo militans Deo obligat se molestiissaecularibus, ut possit placere ei cui se probavit. Sed et si certaveritquis, non coronabitur, nisi legitime pugnaverit (II Tim. II, 4). De hoc ipso ad Colossenses: Si mortui estis cum Christo ab elementis mundi , quidtamquam viventes in mundovana sectamini (Coloss. II, 20)? Item de hoc ipso: Si consurrexistiscum Christo, quae sursum sunt quaerite, ubi Christus est in dextera Dei sedens; quae sursum sunt sapite, non quae terrena sunt . Mortui enim estis, 0740Bet vita vestra abscondita est cum Christo in Deo. Cum autem Christus apparuerit, vita vestra, tunc et vos cum eo apparebitis in gloria (Ibid. III, 1-4). De hoc ipso ad Ephesios: Exponiteprioris conversationis veterem hominem, qui corrumpitur secundum concupiscentias deceptionis . Innovamini autem spiritu sensus vestri, et induite novum hominem , eum qui secundum Deum constitutus estin justitia et sanctitate et veritate (Ephes. IV, 22-24). De hoc ipso in Epistola Petri: Quasi hospites et peregrini, abstinete vos a carnalibus desideriis, quae militant adversus animam, conversationem autem habentesinter Gentes bonam, ut dum detrectantde vobis quasi de malignis , bona opera vestra aspicientes magnificent Deum (I Pet. II, 11). De hoc ipso in Epistola Joannis: Qui dicit se in 0740CChristo manere debet quomodo ille ambulavit et ipse ambulare. Item illic: Nolite diligere mundum neque ea quae in mundo sunt. Si quis dilexerit mundum, non est charitas Patris in illo: quoniam omne quod in mundo est concupiscentia carnis est, et concupiscentia oculorum, et ambitio saeculi, quae non est a Patre, sed ex concupiscentia saeculi ; et mundus transibit, et concupiscentia ejus. Qui autem fecerit voluntatem Deimanet 0741Ain aeternum, quomodo Deus manet in aeternum (I Joan. II, 6, 15-17). Item in Epistola Pauli ad Corinthios prima: Expurgate vetus fermentum, ut sitis nova conspersio, sicut estis azymi. Nam et Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus. Itaque festacelebremus, non in fermento veteri, neque in fermento malitiae et nequitiae, sed in azymis sinceritatis et veritatis (I Cor. V, 7, 8).