Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 3) - XXXI - 'Scorpiace' and 'Against all heresies'

Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'Scorpiace' and 'Against all heresies'

My summary
This week Tertullian speaks on martyrdom.

We firstly learn about the poison of heretics and that idolatry is specifically outlawed by the Scriptures.

Then Tertullian speaks about the necessity of martyrdom if faced with pressure to commit idolatry.  Tertullian's doctrine of martyrdom is proven by citations of Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments.

Then an appendix is given which outlines early church heresies and heretics including:
(i) Simon Magus;
(ii) Meander;
(iii) Saturninus;
(iv) Basilides;
(v) Nicolaus;
(vi) Ophites;
(vii) Cainites;
(viii) Sethites;
(ix) Carpocrates;
(x) Cerinthus;
(xi) Ebion;
(xii) Valentinus;
(xiii) Ptolemy;
(xiv) Secundus;
(xv) Heracleon;
(xvi) Marcus;
(xvii) Colarbasus;
(xviii) Cerdo;
(xix) Marcion;
(xx) Lucan;
(xxi) Apelles;
(xxii) Tatian;
(xxiii) Cataphrygians;
(xxiv) Cataproclans;
(xxv) Cataeschinetans;
(xxvi) Balstus;
(xxvii) two different Theodoti;
(xxviii) Praxeas.

What grabbed me
I appreciated hearing Tertullian's thoughts on martyrdom: 'We keep therefore the one position, and, in respect of this question only, summon to an encounter, whether martyrdoms have been commanded by God, that you may believe that they have been commanded by reason, if you know that they have been commanded by Him, because God will not command ought without reason. Since the death of His own saints is precious is His sight, as David sings, it is not, I think, that one which falls to the lot of men generally, and is a debt due by all (rather is that one even disgraceful on account of the trespass, and the desert of condemnation to which it is to be traced), but that other which is met in this very work—in bearing witness for religion, and maintaining the fight of confession in behalf of righteousness and the sacrament. '

Although not ordained for everyone, the death of martyrs gives glory to our God.

Next week's reading
Read 'On repentance'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.