Page:Early Christianity outside the Roman empire.djvu/52

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42
EARLY CHRISTIANITY

(§4). God gives the most exalted titles to whom He will: He called impious Nebuchadnezzar King of Kings. For man was formed by Him in His own image to be a Temple for Him to dwell in, and therefore He gives to man honours which He denies to the Sun and the Moon and the host of Heaven[1] (§§5, 6). Man of all creatures was first conceived in God's mind[2], though he was not placed in the world till it was ready for him (§7). Why should not we worship Jesus, through whom we know God, Jesus who turned away our mind from vain superstitions and taught us to adore the One God, our Father and Maker, and to serve Him? Is it not better to do this than to worship the kings and emperors of this world, who not only are apostates themselves but drive others also to apostasy? (§8). Our Messiah has been spoken of in the prophets even to the details of the Crucifixion[3]

  1. Deut iv 17.
  2. Ps xc (lxxxix) i, 2.
  3. Among other more ordinary Testimonia Aphraates quotes Zech xiv 6 (In that day there shall be cold and frost) as a prophecy of the cold day when Peter had to warm himself by the fire (Joh xviii 18).