- 1
Luke vii. 1–10.
- 2
Comp. Epiphanius, Hæres. xlii., Refut. 7, for the same argument: Εἰ οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ ᾽Ισραὴλ τοιαύτην πίστιν εὖρεν, κ.τ.λ. “If He found not so great faith, even in Israel, as He discovered in this Gentile centurion, He does not therefore condemn the faith of Israel. For if He were alien from Israel’s God, and did not pertain to Him, even as His father, He would certainly not have inferentially praised Israel’s faith” (Oehler).
- 3
Nec exinde. This points to Christ’s words, “I have not found such faith in Israel.”—Oehler.
- 4
Alienæ fidei.
- 5
Ceterum.
- 6
Suggillasset.
- 7
Æmulus.
- 8
Eam talem, that is, the faith of Israel.
- 9
Luke vii. 11–17.
- 10
Documentum.
- 11
Luke vii. 16.
- 12
Et quidem adhuc orantes.
- 13
Comp. Epiphanius, Hæres. xlii., Schol. 8, cum Refut.; Tertullian, De Præscript Hæret. 8; and De Bapt. 10.
- 14
Ut ulterius. This is the absurd allegation of Marcion. So Epiphanius (Le Prieur).
- 15
Ego.
- 16
Scandalum. Playing on the word “scandalum” in its application to the Baptist and to Marcion.
- 17
“It is most certain that the Son of God, the second Person of the Godhead, is in the writings of the fathers throughout called by the title of Spirit, Spirit of God, etc.; with which usage agree the Holy Scriptures. See Mark ii. 8; Rom. i. 3, 4; 1 Tim. iii. 16; Heb. ix. 14; 1 Pet. iii. 18–20; also John vi. 63, compared with 56.”—Bp. Bull, Def. Nic. Creed (translated by the translator of this work), vol. i. p. 48 and note X. [The whole passage should be consulted.]
- 18
Ex forma prophetici moduli.
- 19
Tertullian stands alone in the notion that St. John’s inquiry was owing to any withdrawal of the Spirit, so soon before his martyrdom, or any diminution of his faith. The contrary is expressed by Origen, Homil. xxvii., on Luke vii.; Chrysostom on Matt. xi.; Augustine, Sermon. 66, de Verbo; Hilary on Matthew; Jerome on Matthew, and Epist. 121, ad Algas.; Ambrose on Luke, book v. § 93. They say mostly that the inquiry was for the sake of his disciples. (Oxford Library of the Fathers, vol. x. p. 267, note e). [Elucidation V.]
- 20
Ut in massalem suam summam.
- 21
Unus jam de turba.
- 22
Eundem.
- 23
Etiam prophetes.
- 24
Facilius.
- 25
Jesus.
- 26
Luke vii. 20.
- 27
Sperabat.
- 28
Documentorum.
- 29
Major.
- 30
Scandalum.
- 31
Luke vii. 21, 22.
- 32
That is, not the Creator’s Christ—whose prophet John was—therefore a different Christ from Him whom John announced. This is said, of course, on the Marcionite hypothesis (Oehler).
- 33
Angelum.
- 34
Luke vii. 26, 27, and Mal. iii. 1–3.
- 35
Eleganter.
- 36
Scrupulum.
- 37
Luke vii. 28.
- 38
That is, Christ, according to Epiphanius. See next note.
- 39
Comp. the Refutation of Epiphanius (Hæres. xlii. Refut. 8): “Whether with reference to John or to the Saviour, He pronounces a blessing on such as should not be offended in Himself or in John. Nor should they devise for themselves whatsoever things they heard not from him. He also has a greater object in view, on account of which the Saviour said this; even that no one should think that John (who was pronounced to be greater than any born of women) was greater than the Saviour Himself, because even He was born of a woman. He guards against this mistake, and says, ‘Blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.’ He then adds, ‘He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ Now, in respect of His birth in the flesh, the Saviour was less than he by the space of six months. But in the kingdom He was greater, being even his God. For the Only-begotten came not to say aught in secret, or to utter a falsehood in His preaching, as He says Himself, ‘In secret have I said nothing, but in public,’ etc. (Κἄν τε πρὸς ᾽Ιωάννην ἔχοι…ἀλλὰ μετὰ παῤῥησίας).”— Oehler.
- 40
Luke vii. 25.
- 41
Tantundem competit creatori.
- 42
Major tanto propheta.
- 43
De remissa.
- 44
Luke vii. 36–50.
- 45
Comp. Epiphanius, Hæres. xlii., Refut. 10, 11.
- 46
Hos. vi. 6.
- 47
Hab. ii. 4.
