Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 6) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue 'The seven books of Arnobius against the heathen' by finishing Book II.
My summary
Today Arnobius answers questions from pagans regarding:
(i) the immortality of the soul;
(ii) the depravity of man;
(iii) the purpose of man and other creatures;
(iv) the timing of Christ's appearance.
What grabbed me
I appreciated the words that closed this second book: 'Wherefore, O men, refrain from obstructing what you hope for by vain questions; nor should you, if anything is otherwise than you think, trust your own opinions rather than that which should be reverenced. The times, full of dangers, urge us, and fatal penalties threaten us; let us flee for safety to God our Saviour, without demanding the reason of the offered gift. When that at stake is our souls' salvation and our own interests, something must be done even without reason, as Arrhianus approves of Epictetus having said. We doubt, we hesitate, and suspect the credibility of what is said; let us commit ourselves to God, and let not our incredulity prevail more with us than the greatness of His name and power, lest, while we are seeking out arguments for ourselves, through which that may seem false which we do not wish and deny to be true, the last day steal upon us, and we be found in the jaws of our enemy, death.'
Wise counsel.
Next week's reading
Continue 'The seven books of Arnobius against the heathen' by reading Book III.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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