Traduction Masquer
Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

5.

I have already given what I considered a sufficient answer to Faustus' calumnies of the lives of the patriarchs. That they were punished at their death, or that they were justified after the Lord's passion, is not what we learn from His commendation of them, when He admonished the Jews that, if they were Abraham's children, they should do the works of Abraham, and said that Abraham desired to see His day, and was glad when he saw it; ¹ and that it was into his bosom, that is, some deep recess of blissful repose, that the angels carried the poor sufferer who was despised by the proud rich man. ² And what are we to make of the Apostle Paul? Is there any idea of justification after death in his praise of Abraham, when he says that before he was circumcised he believed God, and that it was counted to him for righteousness? ³ And so much importance does he attach to this, that the single ground which he specifies for our becoming Abraham's children, though not descended from him in the flesh, is, that we follow the footsteps of his faith.

Edition Masquer
Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

5.

De vita autem patriarcharum iam, quantum satis arbitratus sum, homini maledico non pauca respondi. Quibus non utique in morte correctis vel post passionem suam iustificatis testimonium dominus perhibebat, cum Iudaeos admoneret, ut si Abrahae filii essent, facta Abrahae facerent, et quod idem Abraham eiusdem diem videre concupiverit gavisusque fuerit, cum vidisset, et quod in eius sinum, id est nescio cuius quietae felicitatis magnum abditumque secretum abstulerint angeli pauperem illum aerumnosum a divite superbiente contemptum. p. 790,16 Quid dicam de apostolo Paulo? An forte et ipse post mortem iustificatum laudat Abraham, quod, priusquam circumcideretur, credidit deo, et deputatum est illi ad iustitiam? Quod tanti pendit, ut nos non ob aliud dicat filios eius esse effectos, qui eius carne propagati non sumus, nisi quod eius fidei vestigia sequamur.