---
title: "Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen"
author: "Various Church Fathers"
translator: "S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Church Fathers"
section: 90 of 199
url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/90/
cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen, section 90. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/90/"
---

# Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen

*Various Church Fathers, tr. S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)*

Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian, and Origen's On First Principles and Against Celsus.

## 90. Of Marcion's Antitheses · 7 of 8

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/90/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/90/#p-N

[¶0] These all, we see, with the new covenant

[¶1] Cohere. Thus also John; the Spirit thus

[¶2] To him reveals that in that number stand

[¶3] 265 The enthroned elders white and crowned, who (as

[¶4] With girding-rope) all things surround, before

[¶5] The Lord’s throne, and upon the glassy sea

[¶6] Subigneous: and four living creatures, winged

[¶7] And full of eyes within and outwardly,

[¶8] 270 Do signify that hidden things are oped,

[¶9] And all things shut are at the same time seen,

[¶10] In the word’s eye. The glassy flame-mixt sea

[¶11] Means that the laver’s gifts, with Spirit fused

[¶12] Therein, upon believers are conferred.

[¶13] 275 Who could e’en tell what the Lord’s parent-care

[¶14] Before His judgment-seat, before His bar,

[¶15] Prepared hath? that such as willing be

[¶16] His forum and His judgment for themselves

[¶17] To antedate, should ’scape! that who thus hastes

[¶18] 280 Might find abundant opportunity!

[¶19] Thus therefore Law and wondrous prophets sang;

[¶20] Thus all parts of the covenant old and new,

[¶21] Those sacred rights and pregnant utterances

[¶22] Of words, conjoined, do flourish. Thus withal,

[¶23] 285 Apostles’ voices witness everywhere;

[¶24] Nor aught of old, in fine, but to the new

[¶25] Is joined.

[¶26] Thus err they, and thus facts retort

[¶27] Their sayings, who to false ways have declined;

[¶28] And from the Lord and God, eternal King,

[¶29] 290 Who such an orb produced, detract, and seek

[¶30] Some other deity ’neath feigned name,

[¶31] Bereft of minds, which (frenzied) they have lost;

[¶32] Willing to affirm that Christ a stranger is

[¶33] To the Law; nor is the world’s Lord; nor doth will

[¶34] 295 Salvation of the flesh; nor was Himself

[¶35] The body’s Maker, by the Father’s power.

[¶36] Them must we flee, stopping (unasked) our ears;

[¶37] Lest with their speech they stain innoxious hearts.

[¶38] Let therefore us, whom so great grace of God

[¶39] 300 Hath penetrated, and the true celestial words

[¶40] Of the great Master-Teacher in good ways

[¶41] Have trained, and given us right monuments;

[¶42] Pay honour ever to the Lord, and sing

[¶43] Endlessly, joying in pure faith, and sure

[¶44] 305 Salvation. Born of the true God, with bread