3. Idolatry in deed and word (23)
INTRODUCTION
aa) Somebody binds us by an oath by pagan gods and we do not protest. This silence makes us guilty of idolatry. (21, 1-3) bb) Somebody utters a malediction and we retort it. This is, of course, an act of idolatry. Even if we should not retort it, but show ourselves indignant, we would perpetrate idolatry. The Christian should react by a benediction in the name of God.
(21, 4-5) cc) Somebody blesses us in the name of the gods of the heathens and we keep silence. Here, too, this silence makes us guilty of idolatry, because it means a denial of our faith. (22, 1-4)
3. Idolatry in deed and word (23) The Christian who borrows money from a heathen has to give a written guarantee under oath. This means idolatry in deed and word.
He may try to exculpate himself by sagacious arguments, but these are not valid. We ought rather to pray the Lord not to come in such a necessity or, if we do, to find another solution. (23, 1-7)
C. EPILOGUE: avoid all idolatry (24)
TEXT AND TRANSLA nON
Amid these dangers the ship of faith has to sail. We have to safeguard ourselves against them at all costs. (24, 1-2)
This law should be imprinted upon the catechumens and candidates for baptism. (24, 3) For idolaters there is no place in the Church. (24, 2)
INDEX SIGLORUM
Codex Agobardinus (Parisinus latinus 1622) saec. IX, fol. 105"-fol. 118". ed. Martini Mesnart (Parisiis 1545), vulgo Gangneiana, pp. 279"-284r. margo editionis Mesnartianae. ed. Sigismundi Gelenii (Basileae 1550), pp. 728-4~. ed. Jacobi Pamelii (Antverpiae 1579), pp. 279-90 (adnott.: pp. 291-300). ed. Ludovici de la Cerda, I (Lutetiae 1624), pp. 478-550 (adnotationes singulis capitibus adiectae sunt). ed. Nicolai Rigaltii (Lutetiae 1634), pp. !O4-19 (adnott.: pp. 20-5).
Rigaltiana iterata (ib. 1664), pp. 85-100 (adnotationes singulis capitibus adiectae sunt). ed. J. S. Semleri, IV (Halae Magdeburgicae 1771), pp. 145-83. ed. E. F. Leopoldii (Bibl. Patr. Eccles. Latin. selecta, cur. E. G. Gersdorf, vol.
IV), pars I (Lipsiae 1839), pp. 29-53. ed. Fr. Oehleri, I (Lipsiae 1853), pp. 65-107.
G. Currey, Tertulliani libri tres, De Spectaculis, De Idololatria et De Corona Militis (Cantabrigiae 1854), pp. 56-110. ed. Aug. Reifferscheidii (Corpus Script. Eccles. Latin., vol. XX, Vindobonae
A B Bmg Gel Pam LaC Rig Rig 1664 SemI Leop Oehl Currey Rjd 1890), pp. 30-58. coniecturae Harrisii a Pamelio adservatae. notae Francisci Iunii editioni Pamelianae iteratae (Franekerae 1597) additae, pp. !O1-l1. notae Josephi Justi Scaligeri manu adscriptae exemplari editionis lunianae, quod in bibliotheca Academiae Lugduno-Batavae adservatur.
Fulvii Ursini lectiones, adservatae a loa. a Wouwer, Ad Q. Septimii Florentis Tertulliani opera emendationes epidicticae (Francofurti 1603), pp. 40-4.
Iosiae Merceri collatio Codicis Agobardini (vide p. 6).
Latini Latinii Bibliotheca Sacra et Profana, a Dominico Macro Melitensi e Bibliotheca Brancaccia in lucem edita (Romae 1677), p. 195. coniecturae Petri Ciacconii Toletani a Latinio adservatae. coniecturae Guilelmi Hartelii, in adnotatione critica editionis Reifferscheidianae memoratae. coniecturae Georgii Wissowa, in adnotatione critica editionis Reifferscheidianae memoratae.
Heraldus Desiderii Heraldi adnotationes editioni Arnobii Adversus gentes II. VII (Lugduni Batavorum 1651) additae.
Kellner vide p. 7.
Gomperz, Hartel, Hoppe, Klussmann, Kroym(ann), L6jst(edt), ThOrn(ell), vdVliet: vide Indicem librorum.
Harrisius fun Seal Urs Mercerus Lat Ciacconius Hartel ap. Rjd Wissowa • = litera erasa.
Qu. SEPTIMI FLORENTIS TERTULLIANI
IDOLATRY
DE IDOLOLATRIA
1. 1. Idolatry is the chief crime of mankind, the supreme guilt of the world, the entire case put before judgement. For even if every sin retains its own identity and even if each is destined for judgement under its own name, each is still committed within idolatry. f. 105 v 1. 1. Principale crimen generis humani, summus saeculi reatus, tota causa iudicii idololatria. Nam etsi suam speciem tenet unumquodque delictum, etsi suo quoque nomine iudicio destinatur, in idololatriae tamen crimine expungitur. Omitte titulos, operas recognosce. Idololatres idem homicida est. QuaeDo not observe the rubrics, just examine the deeds. The idolater is at the same time a murderer. Do you ask whom he has killed? Not a stranger nor an enemy, but himself-if this contributes anything to the extent of the indictment. By what schemes? Those of his error. With what weapon? Affront to God. With how many strokes? As many as his idolatries. 2. Only he who denies that the idolater is dead will deny that the idolater has committed murder. Likewise you may perceive in the same person adultery and fornication. For whoever serves false gods undoubtedly commits adultery against truth, since all falsehood is adultery. He thus also sinks into fornication, for what person cooperating with impure spirits does not go about as a man tainted and dishonoured? And this is why Holy Scripture uses the word 'fornication' in its censure of idolatry. 3. One has to do with fraud, I think, if somebody steals another's property or denies him a debt; and, of course, fraud, already if it is committed against a human being, is a name of a very grievous offence. Idolatry, however, commits fraud against God by denying
Him the honours due to Him and offering them to others, thus adding contumely to fraud.
5 ris, quem occiderit? Si quid ad elogii ambitionem facit, non extraneum nec inimicum, sed ipsum se. Quibus insidiis? Erroris sui. Quo telo? Offensa dei.
Quot plagis? Quotquot idololatriis. 2. Qui negat idololatren perisse, is negabit idololatren homicidium fecisse. Proinde adulterium et stuprum in eodem recognoscas. Nam qui falsis deis servit, sine dubio adulter est veritatis, quia
IO omne falsum adulterium est. Sic et stupro mergitur. Quis enim immundis spiritibus cooperator non conspurcatus et constupratus incedit? Atque adeo scripturae sanctae stupri vocabulo utuntur in idololatriae exprobratione. 3.
Fraudis condicio ea est, opinor, si quis alienum rapiat aut alii debitum deneget, et uti que erga hominem admissa fraus maximi criminis nomen est; at 15 enim idololatria fraudem deo facit honores ilii suos denegans et conferens aliis, ut fraudi etiam contumeliam coniungat. Quodsi tam fraus quam / f. 106 stuprum atque adulterium mortem afferunt, iam in his aeque idololatria de homicidii reatu non liberatur. 4. Post talia crimina, tam exitiosa, tam devoratori a salutis, cetera quoque ad aliquem modum et seorsum proinde disposita
20 in idololatria condicionem suam repraesentant. In ilia et concupiscentiae saeculi. Quae enim idololatriae sollemnitas sine ambitione cultus et ornatus?
In ilia lasciviae et ebrietates, cum plurimum victus et ventris et libidinis causa frequententur. In illa iniustitia. Quid enim iniustius ea, quae iustitiae patrem nescit? In ilia etiam vanitas, cum tota eius ratio vana sit. In illa mendacium,
And if fraud as well as fornication and adultery cause death, then equally because of these sins idolatry cannot be claimed innocent of murder.
4. Like these so pernicious sins, so destructive of salvation, the other ones, too, have also separate existences in idolatry and show in one way or another their nature in it. In idolatry are also the concupiscences of the world, for what idolatrous ceremony lacks the pomp of dress and finery? In it is lustfulness and drunkenness, for mostly the ceremonies are visited for the sake of gluttony, carousing and lust. In it is unrighteousness, for what is more unrighteous than that which does not know the Father of righteousness? In it is also vanity, for its whole nature is vain. In it is mendacity, for its entire
12. Ezech. 16; 23. Os. 2; 3; 4, 10 seqq.
Titulus: in spatia, quod supra textum librarius vacuum reliquerat, scripsit De idololatria m. rec. in A.
1. Principale crimen generis humani. sum uncialibus litteris (P minio) A 2. et si Gel alt. etsi Pam 1597] ... A et si B Gel 3. quodque fun Scal; lectionem traditam vindicat Gomperz
f~ql~n A 4. opera Lot; dubitanter repudiat Hoppe Beitr. 76 recog .. sce A item Oehl 5. occi .. rit A occiderit Gel] occident B hoc modo distinguens: occident si quid ... facit? non extrane.m A neque LaC 6. seipsum B Gel sui B Gel] ... A Quo] Quod A 7. idololatriis B Gel] idolo ....... A negavit A 8. idololatren B Gel] idolola .... A Perinde Gel stuprum B Gel] stu ... . A 9. sine dubio B Gel] si ..... io A veritatis ... est (10) am. A 10. in stupro B Gel immundis B Gel] .... ndis A 11. cooperator A Bmg] operatus B Gel conspurgatus
A constupratus B Gel] cons .... atus A 12. vocabulo B Gel] voca .... A 13. conditio B Gel] ..... cio A ea est B Gel] est ea LaC; A am. est deneget B Gel] A 14. arga A maxi ..... .inis A 14-15. Atenim adidololatria A 15. fraudem deo Rig] deo fraudem B Gel deo om. A facit B Gel] ..... A 17. in delet fun aeque B Gel] ... A 18. homicidi A 9rimina A 19. ad aliquem modum B Gel] ad aliquem admodum A aliquem ad modum Rig perinde Rid 20. conditionem A repraesentat A B eoneupiscen\i. A 21. sollempnitas A ambition~ A 22. ebrietates cum plurimum, vietus fun distinguit
23. frequentantur Pam frequentatur LaC post frequententur virgulam exhibet B ilia A patrem A 24. alt. in] i. A mendatium A
1,4-2,5 J ,'f-L.,.}
25 cum tota substantia eius mendax sit. 5. Ita fit, ut omnia in idololatria et in omnibus idololatria deprehendatur. Sed et alias, dum universa delicta adversus deum sapiant, nihil autem, quod adversus deum sapiat, non daemoniis et immundis spiritibus deputetur, quibus idola mancipantur, sine dubio idololatrian admittit quicumque delinquit. Id enim facit, quod ad idolorum mancipes substance is mendacious. 5. Thus it happens that all sins are found in idolatry and idolatry in all sins.
But this also holds true in another way: since all sins are directed against God and everything directed against God is allotted to the demons and impure spirits, to whom the idols are subject, it is beyond doubt that everybody who sins makes himself guilty of idolatry, for he does that which is in the realm of the masters of the idols.
2. 1. But let all the names of crimes withdraw to their own specific deeds, and let idolatry remain limited to that which it is itself. A name so hostile to God and a substance so rife with crime is sufficient to itself; it extends so many branches and pours forth so many veins, that I have undertaken to expound mainly on the many ways we must guard against the extensive domain of idolatry, since it variously overthrows the servants of God both when it is not recognized and when people turn a blind eye to it.
30 pertinet.
2. 1. Sed universa nomina criminum discedant in operum suorum proprietates, remaneat idololatria in eo, quod ipsa est. Sufficit sibi tam inimicum deo nomen, tam locuples substantia criminis, quae tot ramos porrigit, tot venas f. 106 v defundit, ut de hoc cum maxime materia / suscepta sit, quot modis nobis
5 praecavenda sit idololatriae latitudo, quoniam multifariam servos dei nec tantum ignorata, sed etiam dissimulata subvertit. 2. Plerique idololatrian simpliciter existimant his solis modis interpretandam, si quid aut incendat aut immolet aut polluceat aut sacris aliquibus aut sacerdotiis obligetur, quemadmodum si quis existimet adulterium in osculis et in amplexibus et in ipsa carnis
2. Most people simply think that idolatry is only then to be assumed, if somebody makes a burnt offering or brings a sacrifice or organizes a sacrificial banquet or makes himself guilty of certain other sacred actions or priesthoods. Accordingly one could regard adultery as to be restricted to kisses and embraces and carnal union itself, or murder as to be restricted to bloodshed and the actual taking away of life.
10 congressione censendum aut homicidium in sola sanguinis profusione et in animae ereptione reputandum. 3. At enim dominus quam extensius ista disponat, certi sumus, cum adulterium etiam in concupiscentia designat, si oculum quis impegerit libidinose et animam commoverit impudice, cum homicidium etiam in verbo maledicti vel convicii iudicat et in omni impetu irae et in negle15 gentia caritatis in fratrem, 4. sicut Iohannes docet homicidam esse qui oderit fratrem. Alioquin in modico consisteret et diaboli ingenium de malitia et dei domini de disciplina, qua nos adversus diaboli altitudines munit, si in his tantum delictis iudicaremur, quae etiam nationes decreverunt vindicanda.
5. Quomodo abundabit iustitia nostra super scribas et pharisaeos, ut dominus 3. However, we clearly know how much wider meaning the Lord assigns to these sins. For He even indicates adultery in desire, namely when somebody casts a lascivious glance and rouses a lecherous excitement in his soul; and He considers murder to be present even in a word of imprecation or abuse and in every access of anger and in the neglect of charity towards a brother; 4. so John teaches that he is a murderer who hates his brother.
20 praescripsit, nisi abundanti am adversariae eius, id est iniustitiae, perspexerif. 107 mus? Quodsi caput iniustitiae idololatria est, / prius est, uti adversus abunOtherwise the devil's ingenuity in wickedness would have but a limited extent, as would the ingenuity of the Lord God in the discipline by which He fortifies us against the depths of the devil, if we were to be judged only for those crimes which the heathens, too, have decreed punishable. dantiam idololatriae praemuniamur, dum illam non solum in manifestis recognoscimus.
5. How will our righteousness be more abundant than that of the scribes and pharisees, as the Lord commanded, unless we have seen through the abundance of its adversary, that is unrighteousness? But if idolatry is the summit of unrighteousness, then all the more must we safeguard ourselves against the abundance of idolatry by not only recognizing it in its conspicuous manifestations.
12. Mllh. 5, 28.
13-14. Mtth. 5, 22-4.
IS. I Iah . 3, 15.
17. Apac. 2, 24.
19. Mllh. 5, 20.
25. sit. Ita B Gel] ~ .... . A 25-26. idalala\ ..... praehendatur A 26-27. adversus B Gel] ..... sus A 27. deum A] dam inurn B Gel post sapiant punctum exhibent A BaIt. deum A] dam inurn
B Gel nan B Gel] .. . A 28. idala B Gel] ... .. A idalalatriam B Gel (ut semper) 29. qui ... que A 29-30. manci .. .... tinet A I. in aperum B Gel] ..... rum A 2. remaneant. Idalalatri~ A jl) A 3. nam~I) .. l)1 A parrigj\ A 4. diffundit Urs Rig sllscepta B Gel] 'll~l=~pta A S. idalalatrae Pam 1597 latituda B Gel] .~\j\uda A 7. existimant his B Gel] existimantes A si quid A] Si quis B Gel in.endat A 8. palluceat Harrisius Pam] proluceat A B Gel 8. sacerdatiis Bmg Gel] .acerdatibus A sacerdatibus B 10. cangres .. ane A 11. enim] etiam LaC .xtensius A 12. can .... .. entia A 13. animam B Gel] ..... m A 14. verba B Gel] ... . a A c~nvitii iudicii iudicat B; ·'al. deest iudicii'
Bmg indicat fun et in negligentia B Gel] ...... glegentia A IS. Iaannes B Gel da .. .. 9micidam A 16. madica B Gel] ... jca A 17. damini B Gel] da .... A daminium fun, quem refutal
Kroym Q. C. 25 d~ A latitudines Urs Rig; lectionem traditam vindicat Hartel P. S. 1,39, quem approbat Kroym Q. C. 25 munit] innuit B 17-18. si in his tantum B Gel] (4 vel 5 litt.)~ tantum
~ 'alii si his tantum' fun 18. <.I .... verunt A 19. nastra super B Gel] .... .... per A 20. ~1;)Undantlam A 20-21. interrogation is signum post perspexerimus primus posuit Pam
21. capud A 22. pr .... niamur A in om. B Gel 23. recagnascil)1 .. A