Tertullian — Scorpiace 9

It remains for us, lest ancient times may perhaps have had the sacrament (exclusively) their own, to review the modern Christian system, as though, being also from God , it might be different from what preceded , and besides, therefore, opposed thereto in its code of rules likewise, so that its Wisdom knows not to murder her own sons! Evidently, in the case of Christ both the divine nature and the will and the sect are different from any previously known !

He will have commanded either no martyrdoms at all, or those which must be understood in a sense different from the ordinary, being such a person as to urge no one to a risk of this kind as to promise no reward to them who suffer for Him, because He does not wish them to suffer; and therefore does He say, when setting forth His chief commands, Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . The following statement, indeed, applies first to all without restriction, then specially to the apostles themselves: Blessed shall you be when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, since very great is your reward in heaven; for so used their fathers to do even to the prophets .

So that He likewise foretold their having to be themselves also slain, after the example of the prophets . Though, even if He had appointed all this persecution in case He were obeyed for those only who were then apostles , assuredly through them along with the entire sacrament, with the shoot of the name, with the layer of the Holy Spirit , the rule about enduring persecution also would have had respect to us too, as to disciples by inheritance, and, (as it were,) bushes from the apostolic seed.

For even thus again does He address words of guidance to the apostles : Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; and, Beware of men , for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues ; and you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles , etc. Matthew 10:16 Now when He adds, But the brother will deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and the children shall rise up against their parents , and cause them to be put to death , He has clearly announced with reference to the others, (that they would be subjected to) this form of unrighteous conduct, which we do not find exemplified in the case of the apostles . For none of them had experience of a father or a brother as a betrayer, which very many of us have.