By Porphyry
Well-known one of the pagan critics of the early Christians was once Porphyry of Trre (ca. 232-305), student, thinker, and pupil of religions. His opposed to the Christians, condemned to be burned in 448, used to be a piece of admirable historic feedback. The surviving fragments of this paintings, newly translated via Biblical student Hoffmann, current Porphyry's such a lot trenchant reviews on key figures, ideals, and doctrines of Christianity.
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Extra resources for Porphyry's Against the Christians. The Literary Remains
Example text
In the end, [these same women] were reduced to going from door to door to the houses of the well-off to beg-which is the nethermost point of disgrace and humiliation. They lost what belonged to them in the name of "godliness" and they learned, as a result, what it is to crave the goods of other people. The words [here ascribed to Jesus] look rather to be the words of some woman in distress! 23 22. A useful point of reference for this accusation is Tertullian's Apology 39, where the common life of the Christian church as a charitable organization is described.
True, if you look up Scythian [practicesi in the history books, or delve into the habits of the Macrobian Ethiopians, or if you venture out to sea to lands dotted through the world, you will certainly find people who feed on roots or eat reptiles or micebut they stop short of eating human flesh. And so, what does this saying mean? Even if it carries 26. In keeping with the dialogue format, Macari us introduces a paragraph contrived to suggest a fresh attack of the Greek upon the Christian. The incipient words in this section are doubtless those of Macari us himself.
The one inside it will then be outside of it like a nut out of its shell. But what exactly is this outside like? What are its length, breadth, depth, features? Of course, if it has these things then it, too, is a world. And for what reason would a ruler of the world be expelled from a world to which he is no stranger. For if he were a stranger to the world, he could not have ruled it: and who [would be equipped] to force the ruler out of this world against his will? Or do you mean he goes willingly?