| BibleFacts |
The Magi
|
On the early
church |
Here is what the early church taught on the Magi:
- Tertullian 190-210AD
- Idolatry 1.9 Astrology is Idolatry, but the science of the Magi is different than
pagan
astrology.
- Hippolytus 170-236AD
- The Refutation of all Heresies 4.48-49 - The constellations of Lyra and corona Adam
repenting of sin. Phoenicians the great bears. and more explanations of the
stars.
- Julius Africanus 160-240 AD
- In ECF6.129 he gives the Magi's
account of when they met the savior.
- Origen 230 AD
- Against Celsus 1:6 - Christians do not employ incantations or spells to perform miracles.
- Against Celsus 1.58 - The Magi that visited Jesus were not Chaldeans.
- Against Celsus 1:60 - He believes the Magi had a copy of the prophecies of Balaam.
Other related material; Demons and the Occult:
- Tatian 166 AD
- Greeks 9 - Demons invented the concept of fate with astrology to enslave
man into worshiping them.
- Irenaeus 177 AD
- Against Heresies 2.25 - God is Not to Be Sought After by Means of Letters,
Syllables, and Numbers.
- Tertullian 190-210 AD
- Apology 1 - Christians don't blame fate or the stars for their
actions.
-
Apology 22 - Every spirit is possessed of wings. So they
are everywhere in a single moment; rivals of the true God, while they steal
His divinations.
-
Apology 23 - Moreover, if sorcerers call forth ghosts, and even
make what seem the souls of the dead to appear; if they put boys to death, in
order to get a response from the oracle; if, with their juggling illusions,
they make a pretence of doing various miracles; if they put dreams into
people's minds by the power of the angels and demons whose aid they have
invited, by whose influence, too, goats and tables are made to divine,-how
much more likely is this power of evil... The wicked spirit, bidden to speak
by a follower of Christ, will as readily make the truthful confession that he
is a demon.
- Apology 35 - The arts of astrologers, soothsayers, augurs, and
magicians were made known by the angels who sinned, and are forbidden by God.
- Marcion 1.18 - The Marcionites are very strongly addicted to astrology.
-
Marcion 2.10 - Ezekiel 28 refers to Satan, whom he calls an
archangel as well as cherub. God created the angels in paradise.
-
Treatise of the Soul 1.57 - Magic and sorcery only seem to raise
the death, only God can really raise the dead. the medium of Endor could not
have raised Samuel, it was a trick of her demon. Ghosts can't appear to
people, only demons.
- Hippolytus 170-236 AD
- The Refutation of all Heresies 4.3 - The Horoscope was invented by the Chaldean
astrologers.
-
The Refutation of all Heresies 4.16 - Examining bumps on the head is an equally
stupid method of divination.
- Lactantius 285 AD
- Divine Institutes 2.15 - There are Angels and the 2 kinds of Demons.
Demons also called Genii.
- Divine Institutes 2.16 - Demons have no power over Christians, must tell truth if commanded by
a Christian.
- Divine Institutes 2.17 - Astrology, soothsaying, divination, oracles, necromancy, and the art
of magic are the invention of Demons and vain according to the Sybil.
Magicians and Enchanters call demons by their true name. Mingle false things
with true.
- Divine Institutes 4.27 - Demons flee at the sign of the cross. Divination does not work if the
person is wearing a cross. Even the Greek Gods flee when the name of Jesus is
used. If a god is commanded to tell the truth it confesses that it is a demon.
If one calls up Jupiter or one of the other from the dead, they would confess
they were men and not gods and that there is only one true God. The spirits
that pretend to be them lie.
- Origen 230 AD
- Against Celsus 3.28 - Apollo is a demon.
- Against Celsus 3:31 - He believes astral projection is not possible, but a trick of
demons.
- Against Celsus 3:36 - All angels, demons, and other unseen powers are subject to the name of
Jesus.
- Against Celsus 4:93 - There are different species of Demons.
-
Against Celsus 7:3 - A true
prophet under the control of the Holy Spirit does not fall in to Ecstasy or
madness like the pagans do.
-
Against Celsus
7:4 - Every Christian, even new ones, have no
problem casting out demons.
-
Against Celsus
7:5 - Some ghosts may remain on earth, some may be able to prophesy, and some
may be good or bad.