38. And, in good truth, I
hold Marcion, and Valentinian, and Basilides, and other heretics, to be
sainted men when compared with this person. For they did
display a certain kind of intellect, and they did, indeed, think
themselves capable of understanding all Scripture, and did thus
constitute themselves leaders for those who were willing to listen to
them. But notwithstanding this, not one of these dared to
proclaim himself to be either God, or Christ, or the Paraclete, as this
fellow has done, who is ever disputing, on some occasions about the
ages, and on others
about the sun, and how these objects were made, as though he were
superior to them himself; for every person who offers an exposition of
the method in which any object has been made, puts himself forward as
superior to and older than the subject of his discussion. But who
may venture to speak of the substance of God, unless, it may be, our
Lord Jesus Christ alone? And, indeed, I do not make this
statement on the bare authority of my own words, but I confirm it by
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