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The First Apology
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Chapter 27: The Sin of Abandoning Children.
BUT AS FOR US: we have learned that exposing newborn children is the behavior of wicked men; and this we have learned to avoid harming anyone and sinning against God. First, because we see that almost all exposed children (not just the girls, but also the boys) end up in prostitution. And just as the ancients are said to have raised herds of oxen, goats, sheep, or grazing horses, so now we see you raising children for this disgraceful purpose. As a result of this corruption, many females and hermaphrodites, as well as those committing unspeakable iniquities, are present in every nation. You collect payment, duties, and taxes from them, whom you ought to remove from your realm. Anyone who engages with such persons, besides the godless and shameful impurities, might unknowingly be involved with their own child, relative, or sibling. There are some who even prostitute their own children and wives, and some are openly mutilated for the purpose of sodomy; these acts are attributed to the mother of the gods, and with each deity you honor, there is depicted a serpent, symbolizing a great secret and mystery. Indeed, the things you do openly and celebrate, as if divine light were overturned and extinguished, you accuse us of; but in truth, this does not harm us, who refuse to do such things, but only those who commit them and bear false witness against us.
Hear the Scriptures cited in The First Apology
The First Apology quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear Isaiah 52 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 5 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 6 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 49 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Numbers 21 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 22 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Isaiah 65 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 19 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 14 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 18 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 32 (audio Bible)
- Hear Exodus 3 (audio Bible)