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Antioch in Syria; died 110 AD
Translation from the Ante-Nicene Fathers. For a
complete electronic copy, visit the Christian Classics Ethereal Library,
the New Advent Library. Italics
in the text by John Wijngaards.
- The first woman was misled by the odour of bad
doctrine
- Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin
Mary
- The virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of
this world
- The fall came through Eve, redemption through
Mary
- Advice for all, including for ‘virgins’
who freely renounce marriage and ‘widows’
- One error to be avoided is the rejection of
lawful marriage
- Christ poured out his blood for his Spouse as her
marriage portion
- Salvation is offered to all, whether master or
slave, man or woman
- Christ was born from a virgin
- Satan beguiled Pilate's wife
- The Docetes err in considering a woman's body
disgraceful to Christ (in conception and birth)
- It is wrong to deny Christ's birth from a
virgin
- Satan was ignorant of Christ's human
incarnation
- Satan did not understand the significance of
Christ's humanity
- The community has both ‘virgins’ and an
‘order of widows’
- The virgins should realise to whom they
consecrated themselves
- Advice to various groups, including widows
- Husbands and wives should honour each other
- The community has ‘deaconesses’, the
keepers of the holy gates
The first woman was misled by the odour
of bad doctrine
Ephesians ch. 17. For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment
to be poured upon His head, that He might breathe immortality into His Church.
Be not ye anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of the prince of this
world; let him not lead you away captive from the life which is set before you.
And why are we not all prudent, since we have received the knowledge of God,
which is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, not recognising the gift
which the Lord has of a truth sent to us?
For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured upon His
head, that His Church might breathe forth immortality. For saith [the
Scripture], "Thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore have the virgins
loved Thee; they have drawn Thee; at the odour of Thine ointments we will run
after Thee." Let no one be anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of [the
prince of] this world; let not the holy Church of God be led captive by his
subtlety, as was the first woman. Why do we not, as gifted with reason, act
wisely? When we had received from Christ, and had grafted in us the faculty of
judging concerning God, why do we fall headlong into ignorance? and why,
through a careless neglect of acknowledging the gift which we have received, do
we foolishly perish?
Jesus was conceived in the womb of the
virgin Mary
Ephesians ch. 18. Let my spirit be counted as nothing for the
sake of the cross, which is a stumbling-block to those that do not believe, but
to us salvation and life eternal. "Where is the wise man? where the disputer? "
Where is the boasting of those who are styled prudent? For our God, Jesus
Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by
Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost. He was born and baptized,
that by His passion He might purify the water.
The cross of Christ is indeed a stumbling-block to those that do not
believe, but to the believing it is salvation and life eternal. "Where is the
wise man? where the disputer? " Where is the boasting of those who are called
mighty? For the Son of God, who was begotten before time began , and
established all things according to the will of the Father, He was conceived in
the womb of Mary, according to the appointment of God, of the seed of David,
and by the Holy Ghost. For says [the Scripture], "Behold, a virgin shall be
with child, and shall bring forth a son, and He shall be called Immanuel." He
was born and was baptized by John, that He might ratify the institution
committed to that prophet.
The virginity of Mary was hidden from
the prince of this world
Ephesians ch. 19. Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the
prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the Lord;
three mysteries of renown, which were wrought in silence by God. How, then, was
He manifested to the world? A star shone forth in heaven above all the other
stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with
astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a
chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And
there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to
everything else [in the heavens]. Hence every kind of magic was destroyed, and
every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old
kingdom abolished, God Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal
of eternal life. And now that took a beginning which had been prepared by God.
Henceforth all things were in a state of tumult, because He meditated the
abolition of death.
The fall came through Eve, redemption
through Mary
Trallians ch. 10. But if, as some that are without God, that is,
the unbelieving, say, He became man in appearance [only], that He did not in
reality take unto Him a body, that He died in appearance [merely], and did not
in very deed suffer, then for what reason am I now in bonds . . . ? But as for
me, I do not place my hopes in one who died for me in appearance, but in
reality. For that which is false is quite abhorrent to the truth. Mary then did
truly conceive a body which had God inhabiting it. And God the Word was
truly born of the Virgin, having clothed Himself with a body of like
passions with our own. He who forms all men in the womb, was Himself really in
the womb, and made for Himself a body of the seed of the Virgin, but without
any intercourse of man. He was carried in the womb, even as we are, for the
usual period of time; and was really born, as we also are; and was in reality
nourished with milk, and partook of common meat and drink, even as we do . . .
. Do ye therefore flee from these ungodly heresies; for they are the
inventions of the devil, that serpent who was the author of evil, and who by
means of the woman deceived Adam, the father of our race.
Advice for all, including for
‘virgins’ who freely renounce marriage and ‘widows’
Philadelphians ch. 4. Take ye heed, then, to have but one
Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to
[show forth ] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along
with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatsoever ye do,
ye may do it according to [the will of] God. . . . . Wives, be ye subject to
your husbands in the fear of God; and ye virgins, to Christ in purity, not
counting marriage an abomination, but desiring that which is better, not for
the reproach of wedlock, but for the sake of meditating on the law.
Children, obey your parents, and have an affection for them, as workers
together with God for your birth [into the world]. Servants, be subject to your
masters in God, that ye may be the freed-men of Christ. Husbands, love your
wives, as fellow-servants of God, as your own body, as the partners of your
life, and your co-adjutors in the procreation of children. Virgins, have
Christ alone before your eyes, and His Father in your prayers, being
enlightened by the Spirit. May I have pleasure in your purity, as that of
Elijah, or as of Joshua the son of Nun, as of Melchizedek, or as of Elisha, as
of Jeremiah, or as of John the Baptist, as of the beloved disciple, as of
Timothy, as of Titus, as of Evodius, as of Clement, who departed this life in
[perfect] chastity, Not, however, that I blame the other blessed [saints]
because they entered into the married state, of which I have just spoken. For I
pray that, being found worthy of God, I may be found at their feet in the
kingdom, as at the feet of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; as of Joseph, and
Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets; as of Peter, and Paul, and the rest of
the apostles, that were married men. For they entered into these marriages not
for the sake of appetite, but out of regard for the propagation of mankind.
Fathers, "bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; "
and teach them the holy Scriptures, and also trades, that they may not indulge
in idleness. Now [the Scripture] says, "A righteous father educates [his
children] well; his heart shall rejoice in a wise son." Masters, be gentle
towards your servants, as holy Job has taught you; for there is one nature, and
one family of mankind. For "in Christ there is neither bond nor free." Let
governors be obedient to Caesar; soldiers to those that command them; deacons
to the presbyters, as to high-priests; the presbyters, and deacons, and the
rest of the clergy, together with all the people, and the soldiers, and the
governors, and Caesar [himself], to the bishop; the bishop to Christ, even as
Christ to the Father. And thus unity is preserved throughout. Let not the
widows be wanderers about, nor fond of dainties, nor gadders from house to
house; but let them be like Judith, noted for her seriousness; and like Anna,
eminent for her sobriety.
One error to be avoided is the
rejection of lawful marriage
Philadelphians ch. 6. . . . . If any one confesses the truths
mentioned, but calls lawful wedlock, and the procreation of children,
destruction and pollution, or deems certain kinds of food abominable, such an
one has the apostate dragon dwelling within him. If any one confesses the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and praises the creation, but calls
the incarnation merely an appearance, and is ashamed of the passion, such an
one has denied the faith, not less than the Jews who killed Christ . . . All
such persons are but monuments and sepulchres of the dead, upon which are
written only the names of dead men. Flee, therefore, the wicked devices and
snares of the spirit which now worketh in the children of this world, lest at
any time being overcome, ye grow weak in your love.
Christ poured out his blood for his
Spouse as her marriage portion
Philadelphians ch. 9. The priests indeed, and the ministers of
the word, are good; but the High Priest is better, to whom the holy of holies
has been committed, and who alone has been entrusted with the secrets of God.
The ministering powers of God are good. The Comforter is holy, and the Word is
holy, the Son of the Father, by whom He made all things, and exercises a
providence over them all. This is the Way which leads to the Father, the Rock,
the Defence, the Key, the Shepherd, the Sacrifice, the Door of knowledge,
through which have entered Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and all the
company of the prophets, and these pillars of the world, the apostles, and
the spouse of Christ, on whose account He poured out His own blood, as her
marriage portion, that He might redeem her. All these things tend towards
the unity of the one and only true God. But the Gospel possesses something
transcendent [above the former dispensation], viz. the appearing of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, His passion, and the resurrection itself. For those things which
the prophets announced, saying, "Until He come for whom it is reserved, and He
shall be the expectation of the Gentiles," have been fulfilled in the Gospel,
[our Lord saying, ] "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." All then are good together,
the law, the prophets, the apostles, the whole company [of others] that have
believed through them: only if we love one another.
There is an ‘order’ of virgins that are called
widows
Smyrnaeans ch. 12. . . . I salute the families of my brethren,
with their wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. Be
ye strong, I pray, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Philo, who is with me,
greets you. I salute the house of Tavias, and pray that it may be confirmed in
faith and love, both corporeal and spiritual. I salute Alce, my well-beloved,
and the incomparable Daphnus, and Eutecnus, and all by name. Fare ye well in
the grace of God.
Salvation is offered to all, whether
master or slave, man or woman
Smyrnaeans ch. 6. Let no man deceive himself. Unless he believes
that Christ Jesus has lived in the flesh, and shall confess His cross and
passion, and the blood which He shed for the salvation of the world, he shall
not obtain eternal life, whether he be a king, or a priest, or a ruler, or a
private person, a master or a servant, a man or a woman. "He that is able to
receive it, let him receive it." Let no man's place, or dignity, or riches,
puff him up; and let no man's low condition or poverty abase him. For the chief
points are faith towards God, hope towards Christ, the enjoyment of those good
things for which we look, and love towards God and our neighbour. For, "Thou
shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself."
And the Lord says, "This is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom He has sent." And again, "A new commandment give I unto you, that
ye love one another. On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets."
Christ was born from a virgin
Philippians ch. 3. For there is but One that became incarnate,
and that neither the Father nor the Paraclete, but the Son only, [who became
so] not in appearance or imagination, but in reality. For "the Word became
flesh." For "Wisdom builded for herself a house." And God the Word was born as
man, with a body, of the Virgin, without any intercourse of man. For [it is
written], "A virgin shall conceive in her womb, and bring forth a son." He was
then truly born, truly grew up, truly ate and drank, was truly crucified, and
died, and rose again. He who believes these things, as they really were, and as
they really took place, is blessed.
Satan beguiled Pilate's wife
Philippians ch. 4. And indeed, before the cross was erected, he
(Satan) was eager that it should be so; and he "wrought" [for this end] "in the
children of disobedience." He wrought in Judas, in the Pharisees, in the
Sadducees, in the old, in the young, and in the priests. But when it was just
about to be erected, he was troubled, and infused repentance into the traitor,
and pointed him to a rope to hang himself with, and taught him [to die by]
strangulation. He terrified also the silly woman, disturbing her by dreams; and
he, who had tried every means to have the cross prepared, now endeavoured to
put a stop to its erection; not that he was influenced by repentance on account
of the greatness of his crime (for in that case he would not be utterly
depraved), but because he perceived his own destruction [to be at hand]. For
the cross of Christ was the beginning of his condemnation the beginning of his
death, the beginning of his destruction. Wherefore, also, he works in some that
they should deny the cross, be ashamed of the passion, call the death an
appearance, mutilate and explain away the birth of the Virgin, and calumniate
the [human] nature itself as being abominable. He fights along with the Jews to
a denial of the cross, and with the Gentiles to the calumniating of Mary, who
are heretical in holding that Christ possessed a mere phantasmal body. For the
leader of all wickedness assumes manifold forms, beguiler of men as he is,
inconsistent, and even contradicting himself, projecting one course and then
following another. For he is wise to do evil, but as to what good may be he is
totally ignorant. And indeed he is full of ignorance, on account of his
voluntary want of reason: for how can he be deemed anything else who does not
perceive reason when it lies at his very feet?
The Docetes err in considering a woman's
body disgraceful to Christ (in conception and birth)
Philippians ch. 6. And how can He be but God, who raises up the
dead, sends away the lame sound of limb, cleanses the lepers, restores sight to
the blind, and either increases or transmutes existing substances, as the five
loaves and the two fishes, and the water which became wine, and who puts to
flight thy whole host by a mere word? And why dost thou abuse the nature of
the Virgin, and style her members disgraceful, since thou didst of old display
such in public processions, and didst order them to be exhibited naked, males
in the sight of females, and females to stir up the unbridled lust of males?
But now these are reckoned by thee disgraceful, and thou pretendest to be full
of modesty, thou spirit of fornication, not knowing that then only anything
becomes disgraceful when it is polluted by wickedness. But when sin is not
present, none of the things that have been created are shameful, none of them
evil, but all very good. But inasmuch as thou art blind, thou revilest these
things.
It is wrong to deny Christ's birth from
a virgin
Philippians ch. 7. And how, again, does Christ not at all appear
to thee to be of the Virgin, but to be God over all, and the Almighty? Say,
then, who sent Him? Who was Lord over Him? And whose will did He obey? And what
laws did He fulfil, since He was subject neither to the will nor power of any
one? And while you deny that Christ was born, you affirm that the unbegotten
was begotten, and that He who had no beginning was nailed to the cross, by
whose permission I am unable to say. But thy changeable tactics do not escape
me, nor am I ignorant that thou art wont to walk with slanting and uncertain
steps. And thou art ignorant who really was born, thou who pretendest to know
everything.
Satan was ignorant of Christ's human
incarnation
For many things are unknown to thee [Satan]; [such as the following]:
the virginity of Mary; the wonderful birth; Who it was that became incarnate;
the star which guided those who were in the east; the Magi who presented gifts;
the salutation of the archangel to the Virgin; the marvellous conception of her
that was betrothed; the announcement of the boy-forerunner respecting the son
of the Virgin, and his leaping in the womb on account of what was foreseen; the
songs of the angels over Him that was born; the glad tidings announced to the
shepherds; the fear of Herod lest his kingdom should be taken from him; the
command to slay the infants; the removal into Egypt, and the return from that
country to the same region; the infant swaddling-bands; the human registration;
the nourishing by means of milk; the name of father given to Him who did not
beget; the manger because there was not room [elsewhere]; no human preparation
[for the Child]; the gradual growth, human speech, hunger, thirst, journeyings,
weariness; the offering of sacrifices and then also circumcision, baptism; the
voice of God over Him that was baptized, as to who He was and whence [He had
come]; the testimony of the Spirit and the Father from above; the voice of John
the prophet when it signified the passion by the appellation of "the Lamb; "the
performance of divers miracles, manifold healings; the rebuke of the Lord
ruling both the sea and the winds; evil spirits expelled; thou thyself
subjected to torture, and, when afflicted by the power of Him who had been
manifested, not having it in thy power to do anything.
Satan did not understand the
significance of Christ's humanity
Philippians ch. 9. Seeing these things, thou [Satan] wast in
utter perplexity. And thou wast ignorant that it was a virgin that should bring
forth; but the angels' song of praise struck thee with astonishment, as well as
the adoration of the Magi, and the appearance of the star. Thou didst revert to
thy state of [wilful] ignorance, because all the circumstances seemed to thee
trifling; for thou didst deem the swaddling-bands, the circumcision, and the
nourishment by means of milk contemptible: these things appeared to thee
unworthy of God. Again, thou didst behold a man who remained forty days and
nights without tasting human food, along with ministering angels at whose
presence thou didst shudder, when first of all thou hadst seen Him baptized as
a common man, and knewest not the reason thereof. But after His [lengthened]
fast thou didst again assume thy wonted audacity, and didst tempt Him when
hungry, as if He had been an ordinary man, not knowing who He was. For thou
saidst, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."
Now, this expression, "If thou be the Son," is an indication of ignorance. For
if thou hadst possessed real knowledge, thou wouldst have understood that the
Creator can with equal ease both create what does not exist, and change that
which already has a being. And thou temptedst by means of hunger Him who
nourisheth all that require food. And thou temptedst the very "Lord of glory,"
forgetting in thy malevolence that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." For if thou hadst known
that He was the Son of God, thou wouldst also have understood that He who had
kept his body from feeling any want for forty days and as many nights, could
have also done the same for ever. Why, then, does He suffer hunger? In order to
prove that He had assumed a body subject to the same feelings as those of
ordinary men. By the first fact He showed that He was God, and by the second
that He was also man.
The community has both
‘virgins’ and an ‘order of widows’
Philippians ch. 15. Philo and Agathopus the deacons salute you. I
salute the company of virgins, and the order of widows; of whom may I have joy!
I salute the people of the Lord, from the least unto the greatest. I have sent
you this letter through Euphanius the reader, a man honoured of God, and very
faithful, happening to meet with him at Rhegium, just as he was going on board
ship. Remember my bonds that I may be made perfect in Christ. Fare ye well in
the flesh, the soul, and the spirit, while ye think of things perfect, and turn
yourselves away from the workers of iniquity, who corrupt the word of truth,
and are strengthened inwardly by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The virgins should realise to whom
they consecrated themselves
Antiochians ch. 8. Ye presbyters, "feed the flock which is among
you," till God shall show who is to hold the rule over you. For "I am now ready
to be offered," that I "may win Christ." Let the deacons know of what dignity
they are, and let them study to be blameless, that they may be the followers of
Christ. Let the people be subject to the presbyters and the deacons. Let the
virgins know to whom they have consecrated themselves.
Husbands and wives should honour each
other
Antiocheans ch. 9. Let the husbands love their wives, remembering
that, at the creation, one woman, and not many, was given to one man. Let the
wives honour their husbands, as their own flesh; and let them not presume to
address them by their names. Let them also be chaste, reckoning their husbands
as their only partners, to whom indeed they have been united according to the
will of God. Ye parents, impart a holy training to your children. Ye children,
"honour your parents, that it may be well with you."
Advice to various groups, including
widows
Let no one addicted to idleness eat, lest he become a wanderer about,
and a whoremonger. Let drunkenness, anger, envy, reviling, clamour, and
blasphemy "be not so much as named among you." Let not the widows live a
life of pleasure, lest they wax wanton against the word. Be subject to
Caesar in everything in which subjection implies no [spiritual] danger. Provoke
not those that rule over you to wrath, that you may give no occasion against
yourselves to those that seek for it. But as to the practice of magic, or the
impure love of boys, or murder, it is superfluous to write to you, since such
vices are forbidden to be committed even by the Gentiles. I do not issue
commands on these points as if I were an apostle; but, as your fellow-servant,
I put you in mind of them.
The community has
‘deaconesses’, the keepers of the holy gates
Antiocheans ch. 12. I salute the holy presbytery. I salute the
sacred deacons, and that person most dear to me, whom may I behold, through the
Holy Spirit, occupying my place when I shall attain to Christ. My soul be in
place of his. I salute the sub-deacons, the readers, the singers, the
doorkeepers, the labourers, the exorcists, the confessors. I salute the
keepers of the holy gates, the deaconesses in Christ. I salute the virgins
betrothed to Christ, of whom may I have joy in the Lord Jesus. I salute the
people of the Lord, from the smallest to the greatest, and all my sisters in
the Lord.
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