Complete Works XVIII: Against Celsus I-IV (Lommatzsch)

the Marcomanni and the Quadi in the year of Christ 171, infers: "But as concerns Lucian, who wrote these things, although everyone affirms he flourished in the times of the emperor Trajan; yet from the same writings it is clearly evident that he survived until these times, and even surpassed them." Indeed, Baronius is correct; but what you have at the year 145 is less pleasing: "Furthermore, that the origin of these (that is, the Ophites) was so ancient that they were hardly later than Valentinus can be easily known from the fact that Celsus, who lived in the times of Hadrian (as the same Origen testifies), and undoubtedly of Antoninus, being skilled in their dogmas, was accustomed to object to them to the Catholics for the sake of insult, as if they were contrary to all Christians." Indeed, it is not at all credible that either Celsus or Lucian flourished in the times of Hadrian; since the latter mentions the war undertaken against the Marcomanni and dedicated the aforementioned book to Celsus. Between these times, namely the reign of Hadrian and the Marcomannic war, I think a space of about fifty years is interposed. Therefore, Origen added cautiously: "and later." But you will say, from where is it certain to you that this intimacy was contracted with this Celsus? I answer: First, the most illustrious men agree with me, Caesar Baronius in his Ecclesiastical Annals at the year of Christ 132, and Gerardus Vossius in his book on the sects of philosophers. Second, it is clear from Origen and Lucian that a man so named wrote against magic. Third, he is called an Epicurean by both. Fourth, they agree in time. And so much for his age.

"As concerns his writings, since they seem to reek equally of impiety and erudition, if I were to judge them worthy of blame and praise, who (unless you except Lucian, who was most friendly to him) would bear it with difficulty? And we have the testimony of this matter at hand: the Alethes Logos True Discourse, a book divided into two volumes, and most pleasant to read; whether you desire to learn of the strifes of the ancient philosophers and Christians;