Third-century writers: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Origen's pupil and the apostle of Pontus; Dionysius the Great of Alexandria; Julius Africanus; Methodius of Olympus; and Arnobius's Against the Heathen.
Edition: Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 6 · www.ccel.org
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From the opening: Part I. — Acknowledged Writings
A Declaration of Faith.
There is one God, the Father of the living Word, who is His subsistent Wisdom and Power and Eternal Image: perfect Begetter of the perfect Begotten, Father of the only-begotten Son. There is one Lord, Only of the Only, God of God, Image and Likeness of Deity, Efficient Word, Wisdom comprehensive of the constitution of all things, and Power formative of the whole creation, true Son of true Father, Invisible of Invisible, and Incorruptible of Incorruptible, and Immortal of Immortal and Eternal of Eternal. And there is One Holy Spirit, having His subsistence from God, and being made manifest by the Son, to wit to men: Image of the Son, Perfect Image of the Perfect; Life, the Cause of the living; Holy Fount; Sanctity, the Supplier, or Leader, of Sanctification; in whom is manifested God the Father, who is above all and in all, and God the Son, who is through all. There is a perfect Trinity, in glory and eternity and sovereignty, neither divided nor estranged. Wherefore there is nothing either created or in servitude in the Trinity; nor anything superinduced, as if at some former period it was non-existent, and at some later period it was introduced. And thus neither was the Son ever wanting to the Father, nor the Spirit to the Son; but without variation and without change, the same Trinity abideth ever.
Elucidation.
The story of the "Revelation" is of little consequence, though, if this were Gregory's genuine work, it would be easy to account for it as originating in a beautiful dream. But it is very doubtful whether it be a genuine work; and, to my mind, it is most fairly treated by Lardner, to whose elaborate chapter concerning Gregory every scholar must refer. Dr. Burton, in his edition of Bishop Bull's works, almost overrules that learned prelate's inclination to think it genuine, in the following words: "Hanc formulam minime esse Gregorii authenticam...multis haud spernendis argumentis demonstrat Lardner." Lardner thinks it a fabrication of the fourth century.
Cave's learned judgment is more favourable; and he gives the text from Gregory of Nyssa, which he translates as follows: "There is one God, the Father of the living Word and of the subsisting Wisdom and Power, and of Him who is His Eternal Image, the perfect begetter of Him that is perfect, the Father of the only-begotten Son. There is one Lord, the only Son of the only Father,…
Contents (131 sections)
- About this edition
- Title page
- Introductory Notice
- Introductory Note
- Part I. — Acknowledged Writings
- Chapters III–V
- Chapters VI–VIII
- Chapters IX–XI
- Chapter XII
- Canon III
- Canon III (continued)
- Canon III (continued)
- Part II. — Dubious or Spurious Writings
- Part II. — Dubious or Spurious Writings (continued)
- I
- The First Homily
- The Second Homily
- The Third Homily
- The Fourth Homily
- (Chapter VI. 22, 23.)
- Introductory Note
- Part I. — Containing Various Sections of the Works
- Part I. — Containing Various Sections of the Works (continued)
- Canon I
- Canon II
- Epistle I. — To Domitius and Didymus
- Epistle II. — To Novatus
- Epistle III. — To Fabius, Bishop of Antioch
- Epistle IV. — To Cornelius the Roman Bishop
- Epistle V. — Which is the First on the Subject of Baptism Addressed to Stephen, Bishop of…
- Epistle VI. — To Sixtus, Bishop
- Epistle VII. — To Philemon, a Presbyter
- Epistle VIII. — To Dionysius
- Epistle IX. — To Sixtus II
- Epistle X. — Against Bishop Germanus
- Epistle XI. — To Hermammon
- Epistle XII. — To the Alexandrians
- Epistle XIII. — To Hierax, a Bishop in Egypt
- Epistle XIV. — From His Fourth Festival Epistle
- Chapter III
- Introductory Notice
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- I
- Introductory Notice
- XIV
- The Epistle of Theonas, Bishop of Alexandria, to Lucianus, the Chief Chamberlain
- VI
- The Epistle of the Same Phileas of Thmuis to Meletius, Bishop of Lycopolis
- I
- Introductory Notice
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- I
- Introductory Notice
- Chapters III–IV
- Chapters VII–VIII
- Chapter XI — The Transmitted Virtue of the Manichæans; The Virtues of Matter Mixed with…
- Chapters XV–XVIII
- Chapters XX–XXII
- Chapters XXV–XXVI
- Introductory Notice
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- Canon II
- Canon VI
- Canon IX
- Canon XI
- Canon XII
- Canon XIV
- I
- Introductory Notice
- Introductory Notice (continued)
- I
- Introductory Notice
- Introduction
- Chapters I–II
- Chapters IV–II
- Chapters III–VI
- Chapters VII–I
- Chapters III–VII
- Chapters IX–XII
- Chapters XIII–I
- Chapters II–V
- Chapters VI–IV
- Chapters V–VII
- Chapters VIII–III
- Chapters IV–V
- Chapters II–V
- Chapters VI–I
- Chapters II–IV
- Chapters V–IX
- Chapter XII — Virgins are Called to the Imitation of the Church in the Wilderness…
- Chapters XV–XVI
- Chapter XVII — The Lust of the Flesh and Spirit: Vice and Virtue
- Chapters II–III
- Chapters V–II
- Chapters III–V
- Chapters VI–I
- I
- Part I
- The Second Discourse on the Resurrection
- Part III
- Part III (continued)
- Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna
- Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna (continued)
- Oration on the Palms
- I
- Introductory Notice
- Book I
- Book I (continued)
- Book I (continued)
- Book II
- Book II (continued)
- Book II (continued)
- Book II (continued)
- Book III
- Book III (continued)
- Book IV
- Book IV (continued)
- Book V
- Book V (continued)
- Book VI
- Book VI (continued)
- Book VII
- Book VII (continued)
- Book VII (continued)
- Appendix
- V
How to cite it
- Chicago
- Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius, Methodius, Arnobius. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 6: Fathers of the Third Century — Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Methodius, Arnobius. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 6, 1886. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf06
- MLA
- Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius, Methodius, Arnobius. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 6: Fathers of the Third Century — Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Methodius, Arnobius. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 6, 1886. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf06
- APA
- Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius, Methodius, Arnobius (1886). Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 6: Fathers of the Third Century — Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Methodius, Arnobius. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 6. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf06
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