Folia Theologica 19. (2008)
Perendy László: Judging Philosophers - Theophilus of Antioch on Hellenic inconsistency
192 PERENDY, László tent, because they say that immortal gods have an end in their existence. So in Theophilus' mind the efforts made by the philosophers are either useless or unacceptable. Here again are some examples: the journey made by Pythagoras to the end of the world was futile; his great labours over the gods, his definition of their nature did not result in anything; his statements that everything was produced spontaneously or that gods do not take thought for men cannot be proved; his opinion that souls pass into other men and, in some cases, into irrational animals is nonsense; his rejection of providence is in contradiction with other Hellenic authors, just like his denial of the existence of religion; it cannot be accepted, either, that the world is uncreated and everything is produced spontaneously. Theophilus rejects Empedocles for his atheism and denial of providence, and Protagoras the Abderite, who admitted his ignorance about the nature of gods, for his agnosticism. In Robert M. Grant's opinion Theophilus knows less about Pythagoras than Tatian does. He also thinks that Theophilus confuses Pythagoras with Epicurus, because he accuses him of "denying the concern of the gods for men"12. Plato nÀâxcov ôè Kai oi xrjç aipéaecoç aùxoû 0eôv pèv ópoA-oyotiatv ayeviytov Kai naxépa Kai Ttovrycfiv xcov oÀcov et var etxa ónoxt- 0evxat napà 0eôv ayevrytov Kai t)À,r|v âyévrixov Kai xaúxr|v cpaoîv owr|K|j.aKévai xcp 0ecp. Ei ôè 0eôç àyévrixoç Kai i3A,r| âyévrjxoç, oùk ëxt ô 0eôç novr|xfiç xœv oÀ,cov èaxîv Kaxà xoùç nXaxcoviKoôç, ot)ôe pfjv povapyla 0eot3 ôeÎKvnxat, ooov xô Kax’ aùxoôç. ’'Ext ôè Kai cóanep ó 0eôç, àyévrixoç cóv, Kai àvaÀAoiœxôç èaxtv, otSxœç, et Kai f] x3A,r| àyévrixoç rjv, Kai àvaÀAotœxoç Kai iaoGeoç rjv xô yàp yevrjxôv xpenxôv Kai àA,Àotcoxôv, xô ôè âyévrixov âxpenxov Kai àvaÀAotcùxov. "Plato and his followers acknowledge that God is uncreated, the Father and Maker of the universe; next they assume that uncreated 12 R. M. Grant, Early Christianity..., 100.
