Warning Against Idolatry
Why was Moses unable to gaze? Some say that because a perfect man was born of Mary, the ever-virgin, we make him a man. And because of this, he became human so that the one beyond understanding, through whom all things were made, could be written about through your hands. He is not like the Father, nor does He give life to the dead. Where did he command you to come to earth, make him similar, worship, and gaze? This is the devil's command, that you may despise God. For God, in both the Old and New Testaments, abolishes these things, saying: 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.'
Greek
ον οὐκ ι σχυσε Μωυσῆς ἀτενίσαι; 13 φασίν τινες οτι ἐπειδὴ τέλειος ανθρωπος ἐγένετο ἐκ Μαρίας τῆς ἀειπαρθένου, διὰ τοῦτο ανθρωπον αὐτὸν ποιοῦμεν. 14 καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐνηνθρώπησεν, ινα τὸν ἀκατάληπτον δι' ου τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο, διὰ χειρῶν σου γράψαι δυνηθῇς; 15 οὐκοῦν οὐκ εστιν ομοιος τοῦ πατρὸς οὐδὲ ζωοποιεῖ τοὺς νεκρούς; 16 ποῦ σοι διέταξε ταῦτα ἐλθὼν ἐπὶ γῆς, ποιῆσαι ομοιον αὐτῷ καὶ προσκυνεῖν καὶ ὁρᾶν; 17 αυ τη ἡ διάταξις τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν, ινα καταφρονήσῃς θεοῦ. 18 ὁ θεὸς γὰρ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ παλαιᾷ καὶ καινῇ ταῦτα ἀναιρεῖ, ἀκριβῶς λέγων· «κύριον τὸν θεὸν προσκυνήσεις καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις».
About this text
Epiphanius of Salamis, Tractatus contra eos qui imagines faciunt (Greek).
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 41–43 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.