It is, then, our purpose to prove that the Gnostic alone is holy and pious, and worships the true God in a manner worthy of Him and that worship meet for God is followed by loving and being loved by God. And the law and the prophets witness of the Lord. Thus, not to look at what is urgent would be excessively indolent and defective and blessed, in truth, are they who, investigating the testimonies of the Lord, shall seek Him with their whole heart. For further treatment, not being seasonable, will rightly appear superfluous.
But after pointing out the things indicated, proofs shall be shown in abundance to those who have believed.īut if the assertions made by us appear to certain of the multitude to be different from the Scriptures of the Lord, let it be known that it is from that source that they have breath and life and taking their rise from them, they profess to adduce the sense only, not the words. But we shall point out summarily the points indicated by them, in our delineation of Christianity, so that by taking the Scriptures at once (especially as they do not yet comprehend their utterances), we may not interrupt the continuity of the discourse. The prophetic sayings we shall not at present advert to, as we are to avail ourselves of the Scriptures subsequently at the proper places. And clearer arguments must be employed, I reckon, with the philosophers, so that they may be able, from the exercise they have already had through their own training, to understand, although they have not yet shown themselves worthy to partake of the power of believing.
It is now time to show the Greeks that the Gnostic alone is truly pious so that the philosophers, learning of what description the true Christian is, may condemn their own stupidity in rashly and inconsiderately persecuting the name, and without reason calling those impious who know the true God.
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