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Methodius, A. D. 290. 197
says of the Ebionites, that ' i* they assert the prophets spoke
of their own motion.' Possibly our author has liore an eye
to 2 Pet. i. 20, 21. " Knowing- this first, tliat no prophecy
of the scripture Is i of any private interpretation : for the
prophecy came not in ohl time by the will of man, but holy
men of God"^ spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
He says :
' The** Jews look for a sensible [or earthly kingdoni,
and place their hopes in this strange land, which the
divine word says shall pass away.' In 2 Pet. iii. 10. it is
said, " the heavens shall pass away* with a great noise:"
perhaps Methodius refers to this text, perhaps to some others.
In another place he says, ' the" whole world shall be consumed
[or overflowed] with fire ;' though according to his
opinion it will not then utterly perish, but will be renewed
and restored : possibly Methodius here refers to 2 Pet. iii.
6, 7, where it is said : " the world that then was, being''
overflowed with water, perished : but the heavens and the
earth which are now, are kept in store, reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment."
3. He observes, that " '*^the world lieth in wickedness:"
the same thing- that is said in the same words in 1 John v.
20.
4. I transcribe nothing- more here relating- to these epistles.
Undoubtedly Methodius received the first epistle of Peter,
and the first epistle of John ; for they were admitted as
g-enuine, without controversy, by all catholic christians. But
what was our author's opinion concerning- the epistle of
James, the second of Peter, the second and third of John,
and the epistle of Jude, does not clearly appear from his
remaining- works.
X. The Revelation is very often quoted by Methodius as
tlie writing- of John: ' And" that the Word who became
man is the chief virgin, [or prince of virgins,] as well as
the chief shepherd, and chief prophet of the church, John,
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