St Athanasius the Great TO THE BISHOPS OF EGYPT, Complete

Translated by Cardinal Newman.

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4. It profits not to receive part of Scripture, and reject part.

For whence do Marcion and Manichaeus receive the Gospel while they reject the Law? For the New Testament arose out of the Old, and bears witness to the Old; if then they reject this, how can they receive what proceeds from it? Thus Paul was an Apostle of the Gospel, 'which God promised afore by His prophets in the holy Scriptures [1167] :' and our Lord Himself said, 'ye search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of Me [1168] .' How then shall they confess the Lord unless they first search the Scriptures which are written concerning Him? And the disciples say that they have found Him, 'of whom Moses and the Prophets did write [1169] .' And what is the Law to the Sadducees if they receive not the Prophets [1170] ? For God who gave the Law, Himself promised in the Law that He would raise up Prophets also, so that the same is Lord both of the Law and of the Prophets, and he that denies the one must of necessity deny the other also. And again, what is the Old Testament to the Jews, unless they acknowledge the Lord whose coming was expected according to it? For had they believed the writings of Moses, they would have believed the words of the Lord; for He said, 'He wrote of Me [1171] .' Moreover, what are the Scriptures to him [1172] of Samosata, who denies the Word of God and His incarnate Presence [1173] , which is signified and declared both in the Old and New Testament? And of what use are the Scriptures to the Arians also, and why do they bring them forward, men who say that the Word of God is a creature, and like the Gentiles 'serve the creature more than' God 'the Creator [1174] ?' Thus each of these heresies, in respect of the peculiar impiety of its invention, has nothing in common with the Scriptures.

[1167] Rom. i. 2.

[1168] John v. 39.

[1169] John i. 45.

[1170] Vid. Prideaux, Conn. ii. 5. (vol. 3, p. 474. ed. 1725).

[1171] John v. 46.

[1172] See Prolegg. ch. ii. S:3 (2) a.

[1173] See Orat. i. 49.

[1174] Rom. i. 25.

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