Edition Hide
Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

5.

Nos autem non illis tamquam eius Christi, qui fallax fuit, sed eius, qui omnino non fuit, fallacibus praedicatoribus non credimus. Habemus enim Christum verum atque veracem, praedictum a prophetis, praedic‹at›um ab apostolis praedicationis suae testimonia ex lege et prophetis exhibentibus, sicut innumerabilibus locis ostendunt. Quod Paulus brevissime verissimeque complexus est dicens: Nunc autem sine lege iustitia dei manifestata est, testificata per legem et prophetas. Quos prophetas nisi Israhelitas, quorum esse apertissime dixit et testamenta et legis constitutionem et promissiones? De quo promissiones nisi de Christo? Quod breviter alio loco determinat, cum de Christo loquitur dicens: Quotquot enim sunt promissiones dei, in illo etiam. Dicit mihi Paulus Israhelitarum esse legis constitutionem; dicit etiam: Finis enim legis Christus ad iustitiam omni credenti. [Dicit etiam de Christo loquens : quotquot enim sunt promissiones dei, in illo etiam] Et tu mihi dicis Israhelitas de Christo nihil praedixisse prophetas! Quid igitur restat, nisi ut eligam, utrum Manichaeo credam fabulam vanam et longam contra Paulum narranti, an Paulo praemonenti: Si quis vobis evangelizaverit praeterquam quod evangelizavimus uobis, anathema sit*? p. 334,21

Translation Hide
Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

5.

But we reject those false teachers whose Christ is false, or rather, whose Christ never existed. For we have a Christ true and truthful, foretold by the prophets, preached by the apostles, who in innumerable places refer to the testimonies of the law and the prophets in support of their preaching. Paul, in one short sentence, gives the right view of this subject. "Now," he says, "the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." ¹ What prophets, if not of Israel, to whom, as he expressly says, pertain the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the promises? And what promises, but about Christ? Elsewhere, speaking of Christ, he says concisely: "All the promises of God are in Him yea." ² Paul tells me that the giving of the law pertained to the Israelites. He also tells me that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. He also tells me that all the promises of God are in Christ yea. And you tell me that the prophets of Israel foretold nothing of Christ. Shall I believe the absurdities of Manichaeus relating a vain and long fable in opposition to Paul? or shall I believe Paul when he forewarns us: "If any man preach to you another gospel than that which we have preached, let him be accursed?"