Page:Ante-Nicene Christian Library Vol 5.djvu/338

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312
IRENÆUS AGAINST HERESIES.
[Book iii.

as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, among whom my name has been invoked, saith the Lord, doing these things.[1] Known from eternity is His work to God. Wherefore I for my part give judgment, that we trouble not them who from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that it be enjoined them, that they do abstain from the vanities of idols, and from fornication, and from blood; and whatsoever[2] they wish not to be done to themselves, let them not do to others."[3] And when these things had been said, and all had given their consent, they wrote to them after this manner: "The apostles, and the presbyters, [and] the brethren, unto those brethren from among the Gentiles who are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, greeting: Forasmuch as we have heard that certain persons going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment: it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; men who have delivered up their soul for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, that they may declare our opinion by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from fornication; and whatsoever ye do not wish to be done to you, do not ye to others: from which preserving yourselves, ye shall do well, walking[4] in the Holy Spirit." From all these passages, then, it is evident that <ref follow=p311>the received text of the New Testament which occur in our author, his quotations are very often in accordance with the readings of the Cambridge ms.

  1. Amos ix. 11, 12.
  2. This addition is also found in Cod. Bezæ, and in Cyprian and others.
  3. Acts xv. 14, etc.
  4. Another addition, also found in the Codex Bezæ, and in Tertullian.