Apocriticus

Macarius Magnes, tr. Crafer, 1919

Book 4: Proem (Introduction to ten attacks by the Philosopher)

Proem (introducing the first ten questions by the Philosopher).

When a large number of points had been raised by the judgment of my Greek opponent, and we had made clear the obscurity that was in them by means of much sweat and labour and toil, the philosopher plainly marked out, so to speak, this fourth contest, for which, even with your help, Theosthenes,¹ we scarcely took heart.² But what argument it contained I must now relate.

When no small company was again gathered together, but a large and distinguished one, as though his intention was purposely to perplex us by the sight of so many persons, he began to rend in pieces the apostolic judgment, to the accompaniment of much laughter, saying as follows:—

Notes

Theosthenes seems to have been the friend to whom he dedicated the Apocriticus, as well as his supporter during the disputations. If the whole situation is a fictitious one, the name may have been suggested by that of Theophilus in S. Luke’s dedication. Cf. Proem to Book III.
Possibly this is a reminiscence of the Homeric use of the words, as in the passage θάρσει τόνδε γ᾽ ἄεθλον (Od. 8. 197).