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The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

Lactantius

Chapter 1

About this work

A condensed presentation of Lactantius’s apologetic project, summarizing his case against pagan worship and his account of divine providence, true religion, justice, and Christian hope.

Author: Lactantius
Date: Early 4th century
Origin: Nicomedia or Gaul
Genre: Apology

Chap. I.—Of the Divine Providence.

First a question arises: Whether there is

Chapter 2 ›

any

providence

which

made

or

governs

the

world

?

That

there

is

,

no

one

doubts

,

since

of

almost

all

the

philosophers

,

except

the

school

of

Epicurus

,

there

is

but

one

voice

and

one

opinion

,

that

the

world

could

not

have

been

made

without

a

contriver

,

and

that

it

cannot

exist

without

a

ruler

.

Therefore

Epicurus

is

refuted

not

only

by

the

most

learned

men

,

but

also

by

the

testimonies

and

perceptions

of

all

mortals

.

For

who

can

doubt

respecting

a

providence

,

when

he

sees

that

the

heavens

and

the

earth

have

been

so

arranged

and

that

all

things

have

been

so

regulated

,

that

they

might

be

most

befittingly

adapted

,

not

only

to

wonderful

beauty

and

adornment

,

but

also

to

the

use

of

men

,

and

the

convenience

of

the

other

living

creatures

?

That

,

therefore

,

which

exists

in

accordance

with

a

plan

,

cannot

have

had

its

beginning

without

a

plan

:

thus

it

is

certain

that

there

is

a

providence

.

Notes

1
Quoniam. This word appears to be out of place, as its proper meaning is “since.” Either it must be taken as above, or, with some editors, the last clause of this chapter may be taken as the beginning of the next chapter—“Since there is a providence,” etc.