Against Heresies: Book V

THESE HERETICS CAME MUCH LATER THAN THE BISHOPS TO WHOM THE APOSTLES ENTRUSTED THE CHURCHES: a point I've thoroughly demonstrated in the third book. Therefore, it's only natural that these mentioned heretics, being blind to the truth and straying from the right path, would follow various directions; hence, their doctrine is scattered without unity or coherence. In contrast, the path of those in the Church spans the whole world, as it holds the sure tradition from the apostles, showing us that the faith of all is one and the same. All accept one God the Father, believe in the same plan regarding the incarnation of the Son of God, recognize the same gift of the Spirit, adhere to the same commandments, maintain the same form of church structure, anticipate the same coming of the Lord, and await the same salvation of the whole person—soul and body. Certainly, the Church's preaching is true and steadfast, presenting the same way of salvation throughout the world. For the Church is entrusted with the light of God; thus, the wisdom of God, through which she saves everyone, "is declared in its going forth; it speaks faithfully in the streets, is preached on the tops of the walls, and speaks continually in the city gates." The Church spreads the truth everywhere and is like the seven-branched candlestick that bears the light of Christ.

THOSE: therefore, who abandon the preaching of the Church, question the knowledge of the holy presbyters, not considering how much more important a religious man in a humble position is compared to a blasphemous and shameless sophist. All the heretics are like this, and those who think they have discovered something beyond the truth. By following these mentioned paths, they go on variously, inconsistently, and foolishly, not consistently holding the same opinions about the same things. Like the blind leading the blind, they will deservedly fall into the ditch of ignorance on their path, always seeking and never finding the truth.

We should, therefore, avoid their doctrines and be careful not to suffer any harm from them. Instead, we should seek refuge with the Church, be nurtured in her embrace, and be nourished with the Lord’s Scriptures. For the Church has been planted as a garden in this world; therefore, the Spirit of God says, “You may freely eat from every tree of the garden,” meaning we should partake of every Scripture of the Lord; but we must not eat with prideful minds or engage with heretical discord.

These individuals claim they possess the knowledge of good and evil, and they elevate their own impious minds above the God who created them. They, therefore, form opinions on matters beyond the bounds of understanding. For this reason, the apostle says, “Do not be wise beyond what is appropriate, but be wise prudently,” so we are not cast out from the paradise of life by consuming the "knowledge" of these individuals, which claims to know more than it should. Into this paradise, the Lord has brought those who obey His call, "summing up in Himself all things which are in heaven and on earth;" but the things in heaven are spiritual, while those on earth pertain to human nature.

He recapitulated these things in Himself: by uniting man to the Spirit and causing the Spirit to dwell in man. He Himself is made the head of the Spirit and gives the Spirit to be the head of man: for through Him (the Spirit) we see, and hear, and speak.