ANF04. Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second

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Of the Foolishness of the Cross.
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XXXVI.—Of the Foolishness of the Cross.

I have spoken of the twofold sign whence death proceeded, and again I have said that thence life frequently proceeds; but the cross has become foolishness to an adulterous people. The awful King of eternity shadows forth these things by the cross, that they may now believe on Him.¹⁸⁴⁹

¹⁸⁴⁹ [Or, “shadows forth Himself.”]
O fools, that live in death! Cain slew his younger brother by the invention of wickedness. Thence the sons of Enoch¹⁸⁵⁰

¹⁸⁵⁰ “Eusebius tells of another Enoch, who was not translated without seeing death.”—Rig. [See Gen. iv. 17, 18. S.]
are said to be the race of Cain. Then the evil people increased in the world, which never transfers souls to God. To believe the cross came to be a dread, and they say that they live righteously. The first law was in the tree; and thence, too, the second. And thence the second law first of all overcame the terrible law with peace.¹⁸⁵¹

¹⁸⁵¹ Et inde secunda terribilem legem primo cum pace revincit.—Davis, conjecturally.
Lifted up, they have rushed into vain prevarications. They are unwilling to acknowledge the Lord pierced with nails; but when His judgment shall come, they will then discern Him. But the race of Abel already believes on a merciful Christ.
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