Tertullian — Against Marcion 3.17
Let us compare the rest of his order with the Scriptures. Isaiah is present again: We announced, he says, before him: as a little child, as a root in thirsty ground, and there is no appearance of his nor glory, and we saw him, and he had neither appearance nor beauty, but his appearance was dishonored, failing short of all humans—as also above the Father’s voice to the Son: How many will be astonished over you; so without glory will your form be from humans.
Whatever that little body is, in what habit and look was he? If inglorious, if ignoble, if without honor, mine will be the Christ. For such by habit and look he was announced. For even if timely in beauty with David beyond sons of humans, yet in that allegorical state of spiritual grace when he is girt with the sword of the word, which truly is his appearance and beauty and glory. Otherwise in bodily habit with the same prophet he is even a worm and not a human, humans’ disgrace and the people’s nullification.
Nor are announcements of his inner quality of another kind. For if fullness of the Spirit stood in him, I recognize the rod from Jesse’s root: his flower will be my Christ, in whom according to Isaiah rested the spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and vigor, knowledge and piety, fear of God. For the totality of spiritual documents suited no human except Christ—equated to a flower for the Spirit’s grace, yet reckoned from Jesse’s stock through Mary thence descending.
I also demand of the purpose: if you grant him the intention of all humility and patience and calm, and from these he will be Isaiah’s Christ—a human in stripe and knowing how to bear weakness, who was led as a sheep to the victim and as a lamb before the shearer opened not his mouth, who neither contended nor cried nor was his voice heard outside, who did not crush the bruised reed—that is shaken Jewish faith—who did not quench the smoking flax—that is the nations’ momentary ardor—he cannot be other than who was foretold.
His act too ought to be recognized by the Scriptures’ rule, distinct by a double operation unless I err: of preaching and of power. But about each title I will so arrange that, since it has pleased to shake out Marcion’s gospel itself too, we defer species of teachings and signs there as into the present matter; here however we generally clear the order begun, teaching Christ announced as preacher through Isaiah: Who among you who fears God will hear his Son’s voice?—likewise as healer: For he himself, he says, took away our weaknesses and carried our languors.
Latin
Reliquum ordinem eius cum scripturis conferamus. adest rursus Esaias: adnuntiauimus, inquit, coram ipso: uelut puerulus, uelut radix in terra sitienti, et non est species eius neque gloria, et uidimus eum, et non habebat speciem neque decorem, sed species eius inhonorata. deficiens citra omnes homines, sicut et supra patris ad filium uox: quemadmodum expauescent multi super te. sic sine gloria erit ab hominibus forma tua. quodcumque illud corpusculum sit, quonam habitu et quonam conspectu fuit? si inglorius, si ignobilis, si inhonorabilis, meus erit Christus. talis enim habitu et adspectu adnuntiabatur. nam etsi tempestiuus decore apud Dauid citra filios hominum, sed in allegorico illo statu gratiae spiritalis, cum accingitur ense sermonis, qui uere species et decor et gloria ipsius est. ceterum in corporali habitu apud eundem prophetam uermis etiam et non homo, ignominia hominis et nullificamen populi. neque interiorem qualitatem eius eiusmodi adnuntia sunt. si enim plenitudo in illo spiritus constitit., agnosco uirgam de radice Iesse: flos eius meus erit Christus.,\' in quo requieuit secundum Esaiam spiritus sapientiae et, intellectus, spiritus consilii et uigoris, spiritus agnitionis et pietatis, spiritus timoris dei. neque enim ulli\' hominum uniuersitas spiritalium documentorum competebat nisi in Christum, flori quidem ob gratiam spiritus adaequatum, ex stirpe autem Iesse deputatum per Mariam, inde consemdam. expostulo autem de proposito: si das ei omnis humilitatis et patientiae et tranquillitatis intentionem et ex his Esaiae erit Christus, — homo in plaga et sciens ferre imbecillitatem, qui tamquam ouis ad uictimam adductus est et tamquam agnus ante tondentem non aperuit os, qui neque contendit neque clamauit nec audita est foris uox eius, qui arundinem contusam, id est quassam Iudaeorum fidem, non comminuit, qui linum ardens, id est momentaneum ardorem gentium, non extinxit — non potest alius esse, quam qui praedicebatur. oportet (et) actum eius ad scripturarum regulam recognosci, duplici, nisi fallor, operatione distinctum: praedicationis et uirtutis. sed de utroque titulo sic disponam, ut, quoniam ipsum quoque Marcionis euangelium excuti placuit, de speciebus doctrinarum et signorum illuc differamus, quasi in rem praesentem, hic autem generaliter expungamus ordinem coeptum, docentes praedicatorem interim adnuntiari Christum per Esaiam: quis enim, inquit, in uobis, qui deum metuit, [et] exaudiat uocem filii eius? item medicatorem: ipse enim, inquit, imbecillitates nostras abstulit et languores portauit t.