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Address to the Greeks

Tatian

Chapter 32

About this work

Tatian attacks Greek claims to cultural and philosophical superiority, defends Christian teaching about God, creation, resurrection, and ethics, and argues for the antiquity of biblical wisdom.

Author: Tatian
Date: c. AD 165–175
Origin: Rome or the eastern Mediterranean
Genre: Apology

The Doctrine of the Christians, is Opposed to Dissensions, and Fitted for All.

But with us there is no desire of vainglory,

‹ Chapter 31 Chapter 33 ›

nor

do

we

indulge

in

a

variety

of

opinions

.

For

having

renounced

the

popular

and

earthly

,

and

obeying

the

commands

of

God

,

and

following

the

law

of

the

Father

of

immortality

,

we

reject

everything

which

rests

upon

human

opinion

.

Not

only

do

the

rich

among

us

pursue

our

philosophy

,

but

the

poor

enjoy

instruction

gratuitously

;

for

the

things

which

come

from

God

surpass

the

requital

of

worldly

gifts

.

Thus

we

admit

all

who

desire

to

hear

,

even

old

women

and

striplings

;

and

,

in

short

,

persons

of

every

age

are

treated

by

us

with

respect

,

but

every

kind

of

licentiousness

is

kept

at

a

distance

.

And

in

speaking

we

do

not

utter

falsehood

.

It

would

be

an

excellent

thing

if

your

continuance

in

unbelief

should

receive

a

check

;

but

,

however

that

may

be

,

let

our

cause

remain

confirmed

by

the

judgment

pronounced

by

God

.

Laugh

,

if

you

please

;

but

you

will

have

to

weep

hereafter

.

Is

it

not

absurd

that

Nestor

,

who

was

slow

at

cutting

his

horses

’

reins

owing

to

his

weak

and

sluggish

old

age

,

is

,

according

to

you

,

to

be

admired

for

attempting

to

rival

the

young

men

in

fighting

,

while

you

deride

those

among

us

who

struggle

against

old

age

and

occupy

themselves

with

the

things

pertaining

to

God

?

Who

would

not

laugh

when

you

tell

us

that

the

Amazons

,

and

Semiramis

,

and

certain

other

warlike

women

existed

,

while

you

cast

reproaches

on

our

maidens

?

Achilles

was

a

youth

,

yet

is

believed

to

have

been

very

magnanimous

;

and

Neoptolemus

was

younger

,

but

strong

;

Philoctetes

was

weak

,

but

the

divinity

had

need

of

him

against

Troy

.

What

sort

of

man

was

Thersites

?

yet

he

held

a

command

in

the

army

,

and

,

if

he

had

not

through

doltishness

had

such

an

unbridled

tongue

,

he

would

not

have

been

reproached

for

being

peak

-

headed

and

bald

.

As

for

those

who

wish

to

learn

our

philosophy

,

we

do

not

test

them

by

their

looks

,

nor

do

we

judge

of

those

who

come

to

us

by

their

outward

appearance

;

for

we

argue

that

there

may

be

strength

of

mind

in

all

,

though

they

may

be

weak

in

body

.

But

your

proceedings

are

full

of

envy

and

abundant

stupidity

.

Notes

81
[Compare cap. xi. p. 69. And note, thus early, the Christian freeschools, such as Julian closed and then imitated, confessing their power.]
82
Il., ix.