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  • Claudius Apollinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis, and Apologist.
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    Claudius Apollinaris,3755

    3755 Westcott, Canon, p. 248.

    Bishop of Hierapolis, and Apologist.

    [a.d. 160–180.]  This author, an early apologist, is chiefly interesting as a competent witness, who tells the story of the Thundering Legion3756

    3756 See vol. i. p. 187, this series, and references in my note (II.) on same page.  The incident occurred during the war against the Quadi, a.d. 174.

    in an artless manner, and gives it the simple character of an answer to prayer.  This subject is treated by Lightfoot, in his recent work on the Apostolic Fathers,3757

    3757 Part ii. vol. i. pp. 469–476.

    in an exhaustive manner; and the story, reduced to the simple narrative as Apollinaris gives it, receives from him a just and discriminating approval.

    Apollinaris, as well as Rhodon, has been imagined the author of the work (ascribed to Asterius Urbanus) against Montanism, dedicated to Abiricius Marcellus.3758

    3758 See p. 766, note 3, supra; also vol. vii., this series, p. 338.

      This is sufficiently refuted by Routh,3759

    3759 Rel. Sac., tom. ii. p. 196; and Ibid., tom. i. pp. 157–174.

    whose Greek text, with notes, must be consulted by the studious.3760

    3760 Rel. Sac., tom. i. p. 173.

    Apollinaris was bishop of Hierapolis on the Mæander, and, Lightfoot thinks, was probably with Melito and Polycrates, known to Polycarp, and influenced by his example and doctrine.3761

    3761 Ap. Fathers, part ii. vol. i. p. 428.

      He addressed his Apology, which is honourably mentioned by Jerome, to M. Antoninus, the emperor.  He also wrote Adversus Gentes and De Veritate; also against the Jews.  Serapion calls him3762

    3762 See p. 775, infra.

    “most blessed.”

    From an Unknown Book.3763

    3763 [See vol. i. p. 187, note 2.]

    This narration (says Eusebius, Hist., v. 5) is given” (it relates to that storm of rain which was sent to the army of the Emperor M. Antoninus, to allay the thirst of the soldiers, whilst the enemy was discomfited by thunderbolts hurled upon them) “even by those historians who are at a wide remove from the doctrines that prevail among us, and who have been simply concerned to describe what related to the emperors who are the subjects of their history; and it has been recorded also by our own writers.  But historians without the pale of the Church, as being unfriendly to the faith, while they have recorded the prodigy, have refrained from acknowledging that it was sent in answer to our prayers.  On the other hand, our writers, as lovers of truth, have reported the matter in a simple and artless way.  To this number Apollinaris must be considered as belonging.  ‘Thereupon,’ he says, ‘the legion which had by its prayer caused the prodigy received from the emperor a title suitable to the occurrence, and was called in the Roman language the Thunder-hurling Legion.’”

    From the Book Concerning the Passover.3764

    3764 This extract and the following are taken from the preface to the Chronicon Paschale.

    There are, then, some who through ignorance raise disputes about these things (though their conduct is pardonable:  for ignorance is no subject for blame—it rather needs further instruction), and say that on the fourteenth day the Lord ate the lamb with the disciples, and that on the great day of the feast of unleavened bread He Himself suffered; and they quote Matthew as speaking in accordance with their view.  Wherefore their opinion is contrary to the law, and the Gospels seem to be at variance with them.3765

    3765 [Routh, R. S., vol. i. p. 160.]

    From the Same Book.

    The fourteenth day, the true Passover of the Lord; the great sacrifice, the Son of God instead of the lamb, who was bound, who bound the strong, and who was judged, though Judge of living and dead, and who was delivered into the hands of sinners to be crucified, who was lifted up on the horns of the unicorn, and who was pierced in His holy side, who poured forth from His side the two purifying elements,3766

    3766 Πάλιν καθάρσια, qu. παλινκαθάρσια ="re-purifiers.”

    water and blood, word and spirit, and who was buried on the day of the passover, the stone being placed upon the tomb.

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