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TOPIC: Post-Nicene Fathers Vol 03 (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 23.02.08 Gennadius Additions Part 3
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Chapter LXXXVIII.
Victoriushyperlink the Aquitanian, a carefulhyperlink reckoner, on invitation of St. Hilary bishop of Rome, composed a Paschal cycle with the most careful investigation following his four predecessors, that is Hippolytus, Eusebius, Theophilus and Prosper, and extended the series of years to the year five hundred and thirty-two, reckoning in such wise that in the year 533 the paschal festival should take place again on the same month and day and the same moon as on that first year when the Passion and resurrection of our Lord took place.
Chapter LXXXIX.
Theodoretushyperlink hyperlink bishop of Cyrus (for the city founded by Cyrus king of the Persians preserves until the present day in Syria the name of its founder) is said to have written many works. Such as have come to my knowledge are the following: On the incarnation of the Lord, Against Eutyches the presbyter and Dioscorus bishop of Alexandria who deny that Christ had human flesh; strong works by which he confirmed through reason and the testimony of Scripture that He had real flesh from the maternal substance which he derived from His Virgin mother just as he had true deity which he received at birth by eternal generation from God the Father. There are ten books of the ecclesiastical history which he wrote in imitation of Eusebius of Caesarea beginning where Eusebius ends and extending to his own time, that is from the Vicennalia of Constantine until the accession of the elder Leo in whose reign he died.
Chapter XC.
Gennadiushyperlink a Patriarchhyperlink of the church of Constantinople, a man brilliant in speech and of strong genius, was so richly equipped by his reading of the ancients that he was able to expound the prophet Daniel entire commenting on every word.
He composed also many Homilies. He died while the eider Leo was Emperor.
Chapter XCI.
Theodulus,hyperlink hyperlink a presbyter in Coelesyria is said to have written many works, but the only one which has come to my hand, is the one which he composed On the harmony of divine Scripture, that is, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, against the ancient heretics who on account of discrepancies in the injunctions of the ritual, say that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New. In this work he shows it to have been by the dispensation of one and the same God, the author of both Scriptures, that one law should be given by Moses to those of old in a ritual of sacrifices and in judicial laws, and another to us through the presence of Christ in the holy mysteries and future promises, that they should not be considered different, but as dictated by one spirit and one author, since these things which if observed only according to the letter, would slay, if observed according to the spirit, would give life to the mind. This writer died three years sincehyperlink in the reign of Zeno.
Chapter XCII.
Sidoniushyperlink bishop of the Arverni wrote several acceptable works and being a man sound in doctrine as well as thoroughly imbued with divine and human learning and a man of commanding genius wrote a considerable volume of letters to different persons written in various metres or in prose and this showed his ability in literature. Strong in Christian vigour even in the midst of that barbaric ferocity which at that time oppressed the Gauls he was regarded as a catholic father and a distinguished doctor. He flourished during the tempest which marked the mle of Leo and Zenos.]hyperlink
Chapter XCIII.
Johnhyperlink of Antioch first grammarian, and then Presbyter, wrote against those who assert that Christ is to be adored in one substance only and do not admit that two natures are to be recognized in Christ. He taught according to the Scriptural account that in Him God and man exist in one person, and not the flesh and the Word in one nature.
He likewise attacked certain sentiments of Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, unwiselyhyperlink delivered by Cyril against Nestorius, which now are an encouragement and give strength to the Timotheans.hyperlink He is said to be still living and preaching.
Chapter XCIV.
[Gelasius,hyperlink hyperlink bishop of Rome wrote Against Eutyches end Nestorius a great and notable volume, also Treatises on various parts of the scripture and the sacraments written in a polished style. He also wrote Epistles against Peter and Acacius which are still preserved in the catholic church. He wrote also Hymns after the fashion of bishop Ambrosius. He died during the reign of the emperor Anastasius.
Chapter XCV.
Honoratus,hyperlink bishop of Constantina in Africa wrote a letter to one Arcadius who on account of his confession of the catholic faith had been exiled to Africa by King Genseric.hyperlink This letter was an exhortation to endure hardness for Christ and fortified by modern examples and scripture illustrations showing that perseverance in the confession of the faith not only purges past sins but also procures the blessing of martyrdom.
Chapter XCVI.
Cerealishyperlink the bishop, an African by birth, was asked by Maximus bishop of the Arians whether he could establish the catholic faith by a few testimonies of Divine Scripture and without any controversial assertions. This he did in the name of the Lord, truth itself helping him, not with a few testimonies as Maximus had derisively asked, but proving bv copious proof texts from both Old and New Testaments and published in a little book.
Chapter XCVII.
Eugenius,hyperlink bishop of Carthage in Africa and public confessor, commanded by Hunerichyperlink King of the Vandals to write an exposition of the catholic faith and especially to discuss the meaning of the word Homoousian, with the consent of all the bishops and confessors of Mauritania in Africa and Sardinia and Corsica, who had remained in the catholic faith, composed a book of faith, fortified not only by quotations from the Holy Scriptures but by testimonies of the Fathers, and sent it by his companions in confession. But now, exiled as a reward for his faithful tongue, like an anxious shepherd herd over his sheep he has left behind works urging them to remember the faith and the one sacred baptism to be preserved at all hazards. He also wrote out the Discussions which he held through messengers with the leaders of the Arians and sent them to be given to Huneric by his major domo. Likewise also he presented to the same, petitions for the peace of the Christians which were of the nature of an Apology, and he is said to be still living for the strengthening of the church.
Chapter XCVIII.
Pomeriushyperlink the Mauritanian was ordained presbyter in Gaul. He composed a dialectical treatise in eight books On the nature of the soul and its properties, also one On the reszerrection and its particular bearing for the faithful in this life and in general for all men, written in clear language and style, in the form of a dialogue between Julian the bishop, and Verus the presbyter. The first book contains discourses on what the soul is and in what sense it is thought to be created in the image of God, the second, whether the soul should be thought of as corporeal or incorporeal, the third, how the soul of the first manhyperlink was made, fourth, whether the soul which is put in the body at birth is newly created and without sin, or produced from the substance of the first man like a shoot from a root it brings also with it the original sin of the first man, fifth, a review of thc fourth book of the discussion,hyperlink and an inquiry as to what is the capability of the soul, that is its possibilities, and that it gains its capability from a single and pure will, the sixth, whence arises the conflict between flesh and the spirit, spoken of by the apostle, seventh, on the difference between the flesh and the spirit in respect of life, of death and of resurrection, the eighth, answers to questions concerning the things which it is predicted will happen at the end of the world, to such questions, that is, as are usually propounded concerning the resurrection. I remember to have once read a hortatory work of his, addressed to some one named Principius, On contempt of the world, and of transitory things, and another entitled, On vices and virtues. He is said to have written yet other works, which have not come to my knowledge, and to be still writing. He is still living, and his life is worthy of Christian profession, and his rank in the church.
Chapter XCIX.
I Gennadius,hyperlink a presbyter of Marseilles, have written eight books Against all heresies, fivehyperlink books Against Nestorius, tenhyperlink books Against Eutyches, three books Against Pelagius, also treatises On the Millennium and On the Apocalypse of Saint John, also an epistle On my creed, sent to the blessed Gelasius, bishop of Rome.]
Footnotes
158 Wrote 457. 30 a read Victorinus.
159 careful T 25 30 31 a Fabr.; most diligent A Norimb?; Bern Norimb. et alt add of the Scriptures: of measures Her.
160 Theodoret born about 393, bishop of Cyrrhaus 423, wrote 450, died 457.
161 Theodoretus A a e; Theodoritus 31; Theodorus T 25 30.
162 Bishop (or "Pontiff") 458, died 471.
163 Patriarch (Pontiff) A T 30 31 e 21; bishop 25 a Fabr. Her.
164 Died 492 (C) - rather before 491.
165 Theodulus A T 31 a e; Theodorus 25 30 21.
166 three years since A T 30? 31 21; omit 25 a.
167 Caius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius born about 430, bishop 472, died about 488.
168 This chapter is in Norimb. and three only of the mss. seen by the translator N. British Museum Harl. 3155, xv cent.; 43 Wolfenbüttel 838 xv cent.; k Paris B. N. Lat. 896. It is omitted by A T 25 30 31 a e 21 etc. etc. etc. and really has no place in the text, but as it was early introduced and is in the editions (not however the earliest ones) it is given here.
169 Flourished 477-495.
170 unwisely T 25 30 31 e; unwisely saying A? a?
171 Timotheans A T 25 30 31 a e 21 etc; add which is absurd Fabr. Migne, Her.
172 Bishop 492, died 496.
173 From this point to the end is bracketed, as a large part of the mss. end with John of Antioch. Of our mss. Gelasius and Gennadius are contained in 25 30 e², Honoratus to Pomerius in A 30 31 e² 40.
174 Bishop of Constantina (Cirta) 437.
175 exiled by King Genseric; omit e² 30 31 40.
176 Bishop of "Castelli Ripensis" in Africa 484.
177 Bishop 479, died 505.
178 Huneric A; omit e² 30 31 40.
179 Died 498.
180 the first man A; the first man's soul e² 30 31 40.
181 discussion 30 40 e²; discussion and definition A 31.
182 Died 496.
183 five e 25 30; six Fabr. Her.
184 ten e 25 30; six Norimb Her.; eleven Guelefenb.