Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 4) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence the Appendix by reading up to the the heading '5. Five books in reply to Marcion'.
My summary
Today we read four poems inspired by:
(i) Jonah the prophet;
(ii) the destruction of Sodom;
(iii) creation as recorded in Genesis;
(iv) the judgement of the Lord.
The editor's comments in the elucidations are helpful for summarising a conservative view on authorship of these appendix writings: 'About these versifications, which are “poems” only as mules are horses, it is enough to say of them, with Dupin, “They are no more Tertullian’s than they are Virgil’s or Homer’s. The poem called Genesis seems to be that which Gennadius attributes to Salvian, Bishop of Marseilles. That concerning the Judgment of God was, perhaps, composed by Verecundus, an African bishop. In the books Against Marcion there are some opinions different from those of Tertullian. There is likewise a poem To a Senator in Pamelius’ edition, one of Sodom, and in the Bibliotheca Patrum one of Jonas and Nineve; the first of which is ancient, and the other two seem to be by the same author.” It is worth while to observe that this rhymester makes two bishops out of one. Cletus and Anacletus he supposes different persons, which brings Clement into the fourth place in the see of Rome. Our author elsewhere makes St. Clement the immediate successor of the apostles.'
What grabbed me
I generally don't enjoy reading poetry, but I did like the conclusion of the poem on judgement:
'Be washed forth from your breast; and do away
Wicked ill-stains contracted; and appease
Dread God by prayers eternal; and let all
Most evil mortal things to living good
Give way: and now at once a new life keep
Without a crime; and let your minds begin
To use themselves to good things and to true:
And render ready voices to God’s praise.
Thus shall your piety find better things
All growing to a flame; thus shall ye, too,
Receive the gifts of the celestial life;
And, to long age, shall ever live with God,
Seeing the starry kingdom’s golden joys.'
This is good advice for someone who has just contemplated God's judgement!
Next week's reading
Conclude the appendix by reading '5. Five books in reply to Marcion'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment