History of the Bogomils

For I believe that all things required for an inner knowledge of this subject can be conveniently referred to three chapters, with the agreement of those who have ever been occupied in considering either this or other heresies. Since, however, I was aware that certain writers on the history of heresy—specifically Gottfried Arnold Gottfried Arnold (1666–1714) was a radical Pietist historian famous for his "Impartial History of the Church and Heretics," in which he often argued that the so-called heretics were the true Christians and the established Church was the oppressor.—had held the reliability of Euthymius in suspicion, and had pronounced that most things were attributed to the Bogomils not so much out of the truth of the matter as from a lack of self-control, or rather malice, and a zeal for fabricating heresy original: αἱρετικοποιΐας (haeretikopoiïas); the act of inventing or labeling heresies where they may not exist driven by their own emotions, I have set out to assert and defend Euthymius's reliability. I have done this by periodically bringing forward the testimonies of other authors—who are, however, very few—who concur in opinion original: ὁμοψήφων (homopsēphōn); literally "voting with the same pebble," meaning unanimous or in agreement, thereby securing either clarity or some defense for his assertions. Among other things, I saw this objection raised in particular: that these assertions were attributed to the Bogomils whose absurdity is so great that it exceeds all belief that they could ever have been approved. I thought this argument could be conveniently countered if it were shown that men of this kind were not lacking in the Church of old, nor are they missing even now, who on one hand preceded the Bogomils by their example, and on the other hand follow in their footsteps through imitation.

These things suffice for understanding the rationale of this undertaking. Now mention must be made of those who showed themselves to be my strenuous fellow-soldiers in this commentary. They are JOHN CHRISTOPHER COLER, of Altenburg, HERMANN HEEREN, of Bremen, and JOHN HENRY WARDENBURG, of Oldenburg, most distinguished and learned MEN, born for the hope of their fatherland, for whom my expectation is so great that it could not be greater. For when they had collected for themselves no common stores of learning in this Academy and had decided to publish some public specimen of their work, they shared their plans with me and encouraged me to undertake this treatment, comprised of three dissertations, to be examined in the manner of a formal debate. Therefore, I believe the Kind Reader will look upon it kindly and will extensively favor our endeavors.

Given at Wittenberg, September 28, in the year 1711. original: "IV. Kal. Octobreis An. clɔ Iɔ CCXI"; the fourth day before the Kalends of October in Roman dating.