A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

152 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[134]who regard death as a deep sleep and forgetfulness [cf. Hom.,Iliad, XVI. 672], to be regarded as living piously? But men whoreckon the present life as of very small worth indeed, and are ledby this one thing along—that they know God and with Him HisLogos, what is the oneness of the Son with the Father, what thecommunion of the Father with the Son, what is the Spirit, andwhat is the unity of these and their distinction, the Spirit, the Son,and the Father—and who know that the life for which we lookis far better than can be described in word, provided we arriveat it pure from all wrong-doing, and who, moreover, carry ourbenevolence to such an extent that we not only love our friends… shall we, I say, when such we are and when we thus live thatwe may escape condemnation, not be regarded as living piously?(C) Moralistic ChristianityThe moralistic conception of Christianity, i.e., the view of Christianityas primarily a moral code by the observance of whicheternal life was won, remained fixed in Christian thought alongwith the philosophical conception of the faith as formulated bythe apologists. This moralism was the opposite pole to theconceptions of the Asia Minor school, the Augustinian theology,and the whole mystical conception of Christianity.For additional source material, see above, § 16.Theophilus, Ad Autolycum, II, 27. (MSG, 6:27.)God made man free and with power over himself. That [death],man brought upon himself through carelessness and disobedience,this [life], God vouchsafes to him as a gift through Hisown love for man and pity when men obey Him. For as man,disobeying, drew death upon himself, so, obeying the will ofGod, he who desires is able to procure for himself everlasting