24 October 2024
And neither do we honour with many sacrifices and garlands of flowers
such deities as men have formed and set in shrines and called gods; since we
see that these are soulless and dead, and have not the form of God (for we do
not consider that God has such a form as some say that they imitate to His
honour), but have the names and forms of those wicked demons which have
appeared. For why need we tell you who already know, into what forms the
craftsmen, Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:3. carving and cutting, casting and
hammering, fashion the materials? And often out of vessels of dishonour, by
merely changing the form, and making an image of the requisite shape, they make
what they call a god; which we consider not only senseless, but to be even
insulting to God, who, having ineffable glory and form, thus gets His name
attached to things that are corruptible, and require constant service. And that
the artificers of these are both intemperate, and, not to enter into
particulars, are practised in every vice, you very well know; even their own
girls who work along with them they corrupt. What infatuation! That dissolute
men should be said to fashion and make gods for your worship, and that you
should appoint such men the guardians of the temples where they are enshrined;
not recognising that it is unlawful even to think or say that men are the
guardians of gods.
Justin Martyr
No comments:
Post a Comment