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Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses.
Complete historical editorial footnotes. These notes retain the original edition’s wording; individual note authors are unspecified.
English translation and editorial credits: Sydney Thelwall.
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The state of the text in some parts of this book is frightful. It has been almost hopeless to extract any sense whatever out of the Latin in many passages—indeed, the renderings are in these cases little better than guess-work—and the confusion of images, ideas, and quotations is extraordinary.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-1 · Original source
Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses.
“Conditus;” i.e., probably (in violation of quantity) the past part. of “condio” = flavoured, seasoned.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-9 · Original source
Life’s Fount; a Draught fraught with all wisdom. He
These lines are capable, according to their punctuation, of various renderings, which for brevity’s sake I must be content to omit.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-13 · Original source
30 Sole God perpetual, Power immense, is He.
“Unum hunc esse Patrem;” i.e., “that this One (God) is the Father.” But I rather incline to read, “unumque esse;” or we may render, “This One is the Sire.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-18 · Original source
Himself delivers; “Father there is One
Ad quem se curvare genu plane omne fatetur. The reference is to Phil. ii. 10; but our author is careless in using the present tense, “se curvare.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-20 · Original source
That every knee doth bow itself; of whom
The passage which follows is almost unintelligible. The sense which I have offered in my text is so offered with great diffidence, as I am far from certain of having hit the meaning; indeed, the state of the text is such, that any meaning must be a matter of some uncertainty.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-37 · Original source
The semblance of the “goats” teaches that they
i.e., “barren” of faith and good works. The “goats” being but “kids” (see Lev. xvi. 8), would, of course, be barren. “Exiled” seems to mean “excommunicated.” But the comparison of the sacrificed goat to a penitent, and of the scapegoat to an impenitent, excommunicate, is extravagant. Yet I see no other sense.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-39 · Original source
As barren; fruitless both; (of whom the Lord
i.e., in that the blood of the one was brought within the veil; the other was not.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-42 · Original source
Dissever, and had into portions twain
The ark was overlaid with gold without as well as within. (See Ex. xxv. 10, 11; xxxvii. 1, 2; and this is referred to in Heb. ix. 3, 4—κιβωτὸν…περικεκαλυμμένην—where our Eng. ver. rendering is defective, and in the context as well.) This, however, may be said to be implied in the following words: “and all between,” i.e., between the layers above and beneath, “of wood.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-45 · Original source
Gold-clad; and all between of wood. Here are so
Migne supposes some error in these words. Certainly the sense is dark enough; but see lower down.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-46 · Original source
Which puts forth germens of the cross—unlike
It yielded “almonds,” according to the Eng. ver. (Num. xvii. 8). But see the LXX.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-47 · Original source
The cross itself, yet born of storax-tree—And over it—in uniformity
Sagmina. But the word is a very strange one to use indeed. See the Latin Lexicons, s.v.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-48 · Original source
And the inviolable sanctities
“Tegebat,” i.e., with the “fiery-cloudy pillar,” unless it be an error for “regebat,” which still might apply to the pillar.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-53 · Original source
Ever, the People sheltering. And thus
“Operæ,” i.e., sacrifices. The Latin is a hopeless jumble of words without grammatical sequence, and any rendering is mere guesswork.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-55 · Original source
The People’s “works,” which ever—“not without
Cælataque sancta. We might conjecture “celataque sancta,” ="and the sanctuaries formerly hidden.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-64 · Original source
And holy vaults, and what was double erst
“Lignum:” here probably ="the flesh,” which He took from Mary; the “rod” (according to our author) which Isaiah had foretold.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-67 · Original source
210 Christ’s venerable body, joined, through “wood,”
“Ligno,” i.e., “the cross,” represented by the “wood” of which the tabernacle’s boards, on which the coverings were stretched (but comp. 147–8, above), were made.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-69 · Original source
Are flesh not born of seed, outstretcht on “wood;”
As the flame of the lamps appeared to grow out of and be fused with the “golden semblance” or “form” of the lampstand or candlestick.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-70 · Original source
At the same time, with golden semblance fused,
Of which the olive—of which the pure oil for the lamps was to be made: Ex. xxvii. 20; Lev. xxiv. 2—is a type. “Peace” is granted to “the flesh” through Christ’s work and death in flesh.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-71 · Original source
215 Thereto; that, with peace granted, flesh might bloom
Here ensues a confused medley of all the cherubic figures of Moses, Ezekiel, and St. John.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-78 · Original source
The cherubim
The cherubim, (or, “seraphim” rather,) of Isa. vi. have each six wings. Ezekiel mentions four cherubim, or “living creatures.” St. John likewise mentions four “living creatures.” Our author, combining the passages, and thrusting them into the subject of the Mosaic cherubim, multiplies the six (wings) by the four (cherubs), and so attains his end—the desired number “twenty-four”—to represent the books of the Old Testament, which (by combining certain books) may be reckoned to be twenty-four in number.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-80 · Original source
In number four times six, the heraldings
There is again some great confusion in the text. The elders could not “stand enthroned:” nor do they stand “over,” but “around” God’s throne; so that the “insuper solio” could not apply to that.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-82 · Original source
265 The enthroned elders white and crowned, who (as
Æmulamenta. Migne seems to think the word refers to Marcion’s “Antitheses.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-5 · Original source
Wherefore we, justly speaking emulous words,
i.e., the People of Israel. See the de Idol., p. 148, c. v. note 1.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-14 · Original source
Him had the Law the People shown to be
Migne’s pointing is followed, in preference to Oehler’s.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-17 · Original source
Through the seers’ voices, to be One: and Paul,
Causa etenim fidei rationis imagine major.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-26 · Original source
Than fancied reason. Through a mirror—shade
i.e., the chief of the Levites, the high priest.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-34 · Original source
Piacular drops, them the first Levite bare
i.e., perhaps the Jewish and Christian peoples. Comp. adv. Jud., c. 1.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-38 · Original source
Are men exiled out of the “peoples twain”
It might be questionable whether “jussa” refers to “cherubim” or to “sagmina.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-49 · Original source
Covered obediently. Without the veil
i.e., twice three + the central one = 7.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-50 · Original source
A lampstand, and as many lamps:
Our author persists in calling the tabernacle temple.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-51 · Original source
The temple.
i.e., of animals which, as irrational, were “without the Law.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-57 · Original source
Of lawless life. There, too, the Lord—Himself
i.e., beneath the altar. See the 11th verse ib.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-60 · Original source
Upon their slaughter. There, meantime, is rest.
Or possibly, “deeper than the glooms:” “altior a tenebris.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-61 · Original source
“Abraham’s bosom;” high above the glooms,
Aërial, i.e., as he said above, “dyed with heaven’s hue.”
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-68 · Original source
With sacred Spirit: the aërial skins
In ligno. The passage is again in an almost desperate state.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-73 · Original source
A body:) on the “wood” conjoined ’twill lull
Or, “records:” “monumenta,” i.e., the written word, according to the canon.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-86 · Original source
Have trained, and given us right monuments;
See the preceding book.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-2 · Original source
The youthful people, which, rich, free, and heir,
Molem belli deducere terræ.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-4 · Original source
They should conduct a massive war; should raze
i.e., apparently Marcion’s.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-6 · Original source
Out of his own words even strive to express
See the opening of the preceding book.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-8 · Original source
To the saints’ eyes the Bandit’s covert plague:
I have altered the punctuation here.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-10 · Original source
25 In circuit: matter none perennial is,
This savours of the Nicene Creed.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-16 · Original source
35 Begotten from the Light immense, proclaims
Legitimos. See book iv. 91.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-22 · Original source
Without a crime. With such zeal, by a law
Comp. Ex. xx. 5; Deut. v. 9.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-24 · Original source
55 Grandchildren in “fourth generation” now
See Isa. i. 10–15; Jer. vi. 20.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-25 · Original source
With swarm of sin? Does He, the truthful, bid,
Comp. the preceding book, 355.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-36 · Original source
The Law, by facts predictions proving; who
See 141, 142, above.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-63 · Original source
(We have recorded) was a dusky veil.
i.e., by the four evangelists.
Editorial footnote · Five Books in Reply to Marcion, Book IV.—Of Marcion’s Antitheses., editorial note cite_note-79 · Original source
And are the one word through fourfold order led;