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The Prescription Against Heretics

Tertullian

Chapter 43

About this work

Tertullian argues that apostolic churches possess the proper claim to interpret Christian Scripture and that rival teachers should not be granted equal standing in debates over the inherited rule of faith.

Author: Tertullian
Date: c. AD 200–210
Origin: Carthage, North Africa
Genre: Heresiology

Chapter XLIII.—Loose Company Preferred by Heretics. Ungodliness the Effect of Their Teaching the Very Opposite of Catholic Truth, Which Promotes the Fear of God, Both in Religious Ordinances and Practical Life.

It has also been a subject of remark

‹ Chapter 42 Chapter 44 ›

,

how

extremely

frequent

is

the

intercourse

which

heretics

hold

with

magicians

,

with

mountebanks

,

with

astrologers

,

with

philosophers

;

and

the

reason

is

,

that

they

are

men

who

devote

themselves

to

curious

questions

.

“

Seek

,

and

ye

shall

find

,

”

is

everywhere

in

their

minds

.

Thus

,

from

the

very

nature

of

their

conduct

,

may

be

estimated

the

quality

of

their

faith

.

In

their

discipline

we

have

an

index

of

their

doctrine

.

They

say

that

God

is

not

to

be

feared

;

therefore

all

things

are

in

their

view

free

and

unchecked

.

Where

,

however

is

God

not

feared

,

except

where

He

is

not

?

Where

God

is

not

,

there

truth

also

is

not

.

Where

there

is

no

truth

,

then

,

naturally

enough

,

there

is

also

such

a

discipline

as

theirs

.

But

where

God

is

,

there

exists

“

the

fear

of

God

,

which

is

the

beginning

of

wisdom

.

”

Where

the

fear

of

God

is

,

there

is

seriousness

,

an

honourable

and

yet

thoughtful

diligence

,

as

well

as

an

anxious

carefulness

and

a

well

-

considered

admission

(

to

the

sacred

ministry

)

and

a

safely

-

guarded

communion

,

and

promotion

after

good

service

,

and

a

scrupulous

submission

(

to

authority

)

,

and

a

devout

attendance

,

and

a

modest

gait

,

and

a

united

church

,

and

God

in

all

things

.

Notes

1
Scilicet.
2
Ps. cxi. 10; Prov. i. 7.
3
Attonita, as if in fear that it might go wrong (Rigalt.).
4
In contrast to the opposite fault of the heresies exposed above.
5
Deliberata, where the character was well weighed previous to admission to the eucharist.
6
Apparitio, the duty and office of an apparitor, or attendant on men of higher rank, whether in church or state.