Chapter 2
PATIENCE
Chapter 2 (1) There has been given to us as a model in the practice of patience no [merely] human product fashioned of the dullness of Cynic indifference, but the divine ordinance of a life-giving and heavenly way of life which points out as an exemplar of patience God Himself. (2) Long has He been scattering the brilliance of this light [of the sun] upon the just and unjust1 alike and has allowed the deserving as well as the undeserving to enjoy the benefits of the seasons, the services of the elements, and the gifts of all creation. (3) He endures un grateful peoples who worship the trifles fashioned by their skill and the works of their hands, who persecute His name and His children, and who, in their lewdness, their greed, their godlessness and depravity, grow worse from day to day; by His patience He hopes to draw them to Himself. There are many, you see, who do not believe in the Lord because for so long a time they have no experience of His wrath
[directed] against the world.
Chapter 3 (1) This is, indeed, a picture of the divine patience which exists, so to speak, far away from us, the patience, we might say, which prevails on high. But what about that patience which exists openly among men on earth, which is, as it were, within our reach? (2) God allows Himself to become incarnate: in His mother's womb He awaits [the time of birth] and after His birth suffers Himself to grow into man hood, and, when an adult, shows no eagerness to become
1 Cf. Matt. 5.45.
TERTULLIAN
known, but bears reproaches and is baptized by His own servant and by His words alone repels the attacks of the Tempter. (3) When He, [begotten] of the Lord, becomes a master1 teaching man how to avoid death, He teaches him for his own good how to offer reparation to outraged patience. (4) He did not wrangle or cry aloud; neither did anyone hear His voice in the streets; a bruised reed He did not break, a smoking wick He did not quench.2 (Now, the Prophet—or, rather, the testimony of God Himself, placing
His own spirit in His Son with all patience—has not lied!) (5) He did not force one who was unwilling to stay close to Him; He scorned no one's table or dwelling; in fact, He ministered personally to His disciples by washing their feet.
(6) He did not despise sinners or publicans, He showed no anger even toward that city which refused to receive Him, even when the disciples wished fire from heaven to fall upon such a shameful town;3 He healed the ungrateful, yielded to His persecutors. (7) More than this, He even kept in His company the one who would betray Him and did not firmly denounce him. Why, even when He is betrayed, when He is led like a beast to the slaughter—for thus [is it written]: 'He does not open His mouth any more than does a lamb in the power of its shearer'4—He who could have had if He wished, at a single word, legions of angels from heaven to assist Him5 did not approve of an avenging sword on the part of even one of His disciples.6 (8) It was the forbearance of the Lord
1 Cf. John 3.2.
2 Cf. Isa. 42.2,3; Matt. 12.19,20.
3 Cf. Luke 9.52-56.
4 Isa. 53.7.
5 Matt. 26.53.
6 Matt. 26.51; John 18.10.