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“Lucian - The Passing of Peregrinus: 11-14”
About the philosopher who "duped" 2nd century Christians
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 This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more about our use of cookies here. Click here to read at earlychurchtexts.com in the original Greek (with dictionary lookup links). The English translation below is from the Loeb (A.M. Harmon) 1936 edition of Lucian (vol. 5, pages 12-17) which is believed to be in the public domain. earlychurchtexts.com 
  
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    Relevant books Lucian: Selected Dialogues (Oxford World's Classics) ----------- ![]() Chattering Courtesans and Other Sardonic Sketches 
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     11. “It was then that he learned the wondrous lore of the Christians, by associating with their priests and scribes in Palestine. And—how else could it be?—in a trice he made them all look like children, for he was prophet, cult-leader, head of the synagogue, and everything, all by himself. He interpreted and explained some of their books and even composed many, and they revered him as a god, made use of him as a lawgiver, and set him down as a protector, next after that other, to be sure, whom they still worship, the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world. 
     13. “Indeed, people came even from the cities in 
    Asia, sent by the Christians at their common expense, to succour and defend 
    and encourage the hero. They show incredible speed whenever any such public 
    action is taken; for in no time they lavish their all. So it was then in the 
    case of Peregrinus; much money came to him from them by reason of his 
    imprisonment, and he procured not a little revenue from it. The poor 
    wretches have convinced themselves, first and foremost, that they are going 
    to be immortal and live for all time, in consequence of which they despise 
    death and even willingly give themselves into custody; most of them. 
    Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded them that they are all brothers 
    of one another after they have transgressed once for all by denying the 
    Greek gods and by worshipping that crucified sophist himself and living 
    under his laws. Therefore they despise all things indiscriminately and 
    consider them common property, receiving such doctrines traditionally 
    without any definite evidence. So if any charlatan and trickster, able to 
    profit by occasions, comes among them, he quickly acquires sudden wealth by 
    imposing upon simple folk. 14. “However, Peregrinus was freed by the then 
    governor of Syria, a man who was fond of philosophy. Aware of his 
    recklessness and that he would gladly die in order that he might leave 
    behind him a reputation for it, he freed him, not considering him worthy 
    even of the usual chastisement.  | 
    
  
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De Morte Peregrini
Proteus Peregrinus
Harmon Loeb Lucian
Περι Της Περεγρινου Τελυτης
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Περί της Περεγρίνου τελευτής
Peregrinus in Prison
Peregrinus and Christians - Christianity
Patrologiae Latinae Cursus Completus
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