The First Apology

And that God the Father of all would bring Christ to heaven after He had raised Him from the dead, and would keep Him there until He has subdued His enemies, the devils, and until the number of those foreknown by Him as good and virtuous is complete, for whom He has still delayed the completion—listen to what was said by the prophet David. These are his words: “The Lord said to My Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool. The Lord will send to You the rod of power out of Jerusalem; and rule in the midst of Your enemies. With You is the government in the day of Your power, in the beauties of Your saints: from the womb of morning have I begotten You.” What he means by, “He will send to You the rod of power out of Jerusalem,” predicts the mighty word, which His apostles, going forth from Jerusalem, preached everywhere; and even though death is decreed against those who teach or at all confess the name of Christ, we both embrace and teach it everywhere. And if you also interpret these words with hostility, you can do no more, as I said before, than kill us; which indeed does no harm to us, but brings eternal punishment by fire to you and all who unjustly hate us and do not repent.