A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 27. The Apostolic Tradition and the Episcopate 131is such subverteth and sinneth, being condemned by himself.”There is also a very powerful Epistle of Polycarp written tothe Philippians, from which those who wish to, and who areconcerned for their own salvation, may learn the character of hisfaith and the preaching of the truth.(b) Tertullian, De Prœscriptione, 20, 21. (MSL, 2:38.)Tertullian worked out in legal fashion the argument of Irenæusfrom the testimony of the bishops in apostolic churches. Hemay have obtained the argument from Irenæus, as he wasevidently acquainted with his works. From Tertullian's use ofthe argument it became a permanent element in the thoughtof the West.Ch. 20. The Apostles founded in the several cities churches fromwhich the other churches have henceforth borrowed the shoot offaith and seeds of teaching and do daily borrow that they may [115]become churches; and it is from this fact that they also will becounted as apostolic, being the offspring of apostolic churches.Every kind of thing must be judged by reference to its origin.Therefore so many and so great churches are all one, being fromthat first Church which is from the Apostles. Thus they are allprimitive and all apostolic, since they altogether are approvedby their unity, and they have the communion of peace, the titleof brotherhood, and the interchange of hospitality, and they aregoverned by no other rule than the single tradition of the samemystery.Ch. 21. Here, then, we enter our demurrer, that if the LordJesus Christ sent Apostles to preach, others than those whomChrist appointed ought not to be received as preachers. For noman knoweth the Father save the Son and he to whom the Sonhas revealed Him [cf. Luke 10:22]; nor does it appear that theSon has revealed Him unto any others than the Apostles, whom