Prescrição contra os Hereges 31

1Se houver heresias tão ousadas que se situem em plena era apostólica para parecerem transmitidas pelos apóstolos por terem existido em seu tempo, podemos dizer: apresentem os registros originais de suas igrejas; desenrolem a lista de seus bispos, sucedendo-se devidamente desde o princípio, de modo que seu primeiro bispo possa apontar como ordenante e predecessor um dos apóstolos ou um homem apostólico que tenha permanecido firme com eles. Pois assim as igrejas apostólicas transmitem seus registros: a igreja de Esmirna registra que Policarpo ali foi estabelecido por João; a igreja de Roma, igualmente, afirma que Clemente foi ordenado por Pedro.

1But if there be any (heresies) which are bold enough to plant themselves in the midst Of the apostolic age, that they may thereby seem to have been handed down by the apostles, because they existed in the time of the apostles, we can say: Let them produce the original records of their churches; let them unfold the roll of their bishops, running down in due succession from the beginning in such a manner that [that first bishop of theirs] bishop shall be able to show for his ordainer and predecessor some one of the apostles or of apostolic men,--a man, moreover, who continued stedfast with the apostles. For this is the manner in which the apostolic churches transmit their registers: as the church of Smyrna, which records that Polycarp was placed therein by John; as also the church of Rome, which makes Clement to have been ordained in like manner by Peter.

2Da mesma forma, as demais igrejas apresentam seus homens eminentes, considerados transmissores da semente apostólica por terem sido colocados nas sedes episcopais pelos apóstolos. Que os hereges inventem algo semelhante. Depois de suas blasfêmias, que lhes seria ilícito tentar? Mas, mesmo que consigam inventá-lo, não avançarão um passo. Comparada à dos apóstolos, sua própria doutrina, por sua diversidade e contradição, declarará que não teve por autor nem apóstolo nem homem apostólico: pois, assim como os apóstolos jamais ensinariam coisas contraditórias entre si, os homens apostólicos não transmitiriam ensino diferente do dos apóstolos, a menos que aqueles que deles receberam instrução tivessem ido pregar o contrário.

2In exactly the same way the other churches likewise exhibit (their several worthies), whom, as having been appointed to their episcopal places by apostles, they regard as transmitters of the apostolic seed. Let the heretics contrive something of the same kind. For after their blasphemy, what is there that is unlawful for them (to attempt)? But should they even effect the contrivance, they will not advance a step. For their very doctrine, after comparison with that of the apostles, will declare, by its own diversity and contrariety, that it had for its author neither an apostle nor an apostolic man; because, as the apostles would never have taught things which were self-contradictory, so the apostolic men would not have inculcated teaching different from the apostles, unless they who received their instruction from the apostles went and preached in a contrary manner.

3A essa prova serão submetidos pelas igrejas que, embora não tenham por fundador apóstolos ou homens apostólicos, por serem muito posteriores e surgirem diariamente, são tidas por não menos apostólicas, em virtude da afinidade doutrinária, já que concordam na mesma fé. Que todas as heresias, ao serem desafiadas por nossa igreja apostólica a essas duas provas, mostrem como se consideram apostólicas. Na verdade, porém, não o são nem podem provar ser o que não são. Tampouco são admitidas à paz e à comunhão pelas igrejas de qualquer modo ligadas aos apóstolos, pois sua divergência nos mistérios da fé mostra que não são apostólicas em sentido algum.

3To this test, therefore will they be submitted for proof by those churches, who, although they derive not their founder from apostles or apostolic men (as being of much later date, for they are in fact being founded daily), yet, since they agree in the same faith, they are accounted as not less apostolic because they are akin in doctrine. Then let all the heresies, when challenged to these two tests by our apostolic church, offer their proof of how they deem themselves to be apostolic. But in truth they neither are so, nor are they able to prove themselves to be what they are not. Nor are they admitted to peaceful relations and communion by such churches as are in any way connected with apostles, inasmuch as they are in no sense themselves apostolic because of their diversity as to the mysteries of the faith.