Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 5) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the 'Treatises attributed to Cyprian on questionable authority'.
My summary
We finish Cyprian by reading some works that have been attributed to Cyprian, but, in all likelihood, were not written by him.
The treatises are concerned with:
(i) discouraging participation in public shows;
(ii) encouraging martyrdom, chastity and repentance.
What grabbed me
I liked the encouragement given to those who are afraid of martyrdom: 'If you fear to lose salvation, know that you can die; and, moreover, death should be contemned by you, for whom Christ was slain. Let the examples of the Lord's passion, I beseech you, pass before your eyes; let the offerings, and the rewards, and the distinctions prepared come together before you, and look carefully at both events, how great a difficulty they have between them. For you will not be able to confess unless you know what a great mischief you do if you deny. Martyrs rejoice in heaven; the fire will consume those who are enemies of the truth. The paradise of God blooms for the witnesses; Gehenna will enfold the deniers, and eternal fire will burn them up. And, to say nothing of other matters, this assuredly ought rather to urge us, that the confession of one word is maintained by the everlasting confession of Christ; as it is written, "Whosoever shall confess me on earth before men, him also will I confess before my Father, and before His angels." To this are added, by way of an enhancement of glory, the adornments of virtue; for He says, "The righteous shall shine as sparks that run to and fro among the stubble; they shall judge the nations, and shall have dominion over the peoples."'
There is great reward for those who are not ashamed of our Lord.
Next week's reading
Read the Fragments of Caius.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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