A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

139the third century; see above, § 23, b. In the following passagehe combines the argument from the apostolic churches withthe authority of the apostolic witness. This is the specialimportance of the reference to the connection of St. Mark'sGospel with St. Peter, and is an application of the principlethat the authority of a book in the Church rested upon itsapostolic origin.If it is evidently true that what is earlier is more true, that whatis earlier is what is from the beginning, that what is from thebeginning is from the Apostles, it will be equally evidently truethat what is handed down from the Apostles is what has been asacred deposit in the churches of the Apostles. Let us see whatmilk the Corinthians drank from Paul; to what rule the Galatianswere brought for correction; what the Philippians, the Thessalonians,the Ephesians, read; what the Romans near by also say,to whom Peter and Paul bequeathed the Gospel even sealed withtheir own blood. We have also John's nursling churches. For,although Marcion rejects his Apocalypse, the order of bishops,when traced to their origin, will rest on John as their author.Likewise the noble lineage of the other churches is recognized. Isay, therefore, that in them, and not only in the apostolic churches,but in all those which are united with them in the fellowshipof the mystery [sacramenti], that Gospel of Luke, which we aredefending with all our might [cf. § 23], has stood its groundfrom its very first publication; whereas Marcion's gospel is notknown to most people, and to none whatever is it known withoutbeing condemned. Of course it has its churches, but they areits own; they are as late as they are spurious. Should you wantto know their origins, you will more easily discover apostasy init than apostolicity, with Marcion, forsooth, as their founder orsome one of Marcion's swarm. Even wasps make combs; so, [123]also, these Marcionites make churches. The same authority ofthe apostolic churches will afford evidence to other gospels, also,which we possess equally through their means and according