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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 86
But they confess Christ also, for they say that he was made man in appearance1; for they themselves in appearance are called Christians. For the matters which are worthy of laughter and ill words I pass by, that I may not fill the ears of them which light upon them with things very grievous to hear and monstrous tales. For taking opinions from Philistion the maker of plays2 and from Hesiod and others that are called philosophers and mingling them with the opinions of the Christians they builded up their own heresy. For even as a painter making a mixture of divers colours perfecteth the appearance of a man or a beast or some other thing for the deceit of them that behold it, that it may seem to them that are foolish and without understanding to be true, but to them that have understanding it is a shadow and a deceit and an invention of man; so also the Manichaeans having drawn out of divers opinions did perfect their own evil belief, nay rather, having gathered together and mingled the venom of divers serpents, did prepare a deadly poison for the destruction of the souls of men. But, as aforesaid, that pestilent woman having come to the city, certain persons were led away by her deceitful teaching.
Notes
- in appearance. This opinion (Docetism) was held by various Christian sects, including Marcionites and Gnostics, as well as by the Manichaeans.
- Philistion the maker of plays. Draeseke suggests that this may be the writer of mimes, a native of Sardes, Magnesia or Nicaea, who lived in Rome in the time of Tiberius. See W. Christ, Gesch. d. griech. Litt.³, p. 625.