Refutation of the Sects (1959) - Page 21

A. The adventitious character of Paganism The term "adventitious" implies that paganism is not natural or original to humanity, but rather an external error that was added later in history. 341-343
    a. Before paganism existed, there were men who rendered worship to the true God 341.... 101 117
    b. Even after paganism had existed, there were men who rendered worship to the true God 342................................................ 101 118
    c. Conclusion: God ensured that witnesses to the truth would always remain 343.......... 102 118
B. Why the coming of Christ was so delayed 344-349
Objection 344........................................................................... 102 118
Response 345-349
    a. God has, at all times, caused the worship of God to be preached 345.................................................................. 102 118
    b. Reasons God had for sending His Son at the moment He sent Him 346-349
        α. REASONS WHY CHRIST DID NOT COME DURING THE WORLD'S INFANCY NOR IN ITS YOUTH 346........ 102 118
        β. GOD, TO CREATE THE WORLD, CHOSE HIS MOMENT. REASONS FOR THIS CHOICE 347.................................. 102 119
        γ. LIKEWISE, GOD CREATED MAN AFTER HAVING CREATED THE WORLD AND HAVING PREPARED IT FOR MAN 348......... 103 119
        δ. LIKEWISE FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST: GOD DOES EVERYTHING AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME 349........................... 103 119
Conclusion of the First Part 350-357
    1º. Grand conclusion on the transcendent and creator God, including the finale of Methodius Refers to Methodius of Olympus, a 3rd-century Church Father whose writings on free will and the resurrection heavily influenced Eznik. (thetic From the Greek 'thesis,' referring to a formal, positive dogmatic teaching rather than a polemical argument. and positive teaching) and recalling the very beginning, the Introduction 350-354
        A. Prescience Divine foreknowledge., self-sufficiency, and the oneness of God in three persons 350..................................... 103 120
        B. Falsity of the Greek, Valentinian Followers of Valentinus, a 2nd-century Gnostic teacher who proposed a complex system of divine "aeons.", and Persian theses 351.......................................... 103 120
        C. A single creator, and good creatures, and from all eternity 352.................................... 104 121
        D. Reasons God had for creating 353...................... 104 121
        Conclusion to 1º 354....................................... 105 122
    2º. Transition to the Second Part: heretics 355-357
        A. The Martyrs (Cf. Methodius, Martyr) alone are qualified to speak worthily of God 355.................. 105 122
        B. Impotence of the Greeks and philosophers to speak of God, as they never knew how to distinguish the creator from the creatures 356................................ 106 123