INTRODUCTION

In the third century, the philosopher Porphyry, an enemy of Christianity, was as zealous in his condemnation of blood offerings as Apollonius had been in the first century. Unquestionably, neo-Pythagorean A school of philosophy emphasizing mysticism and strict ethical living. propaganda did much to discredit ancient paganism. Apollonius and other missionaries of this school were all, unwittingly, working toward that ideal of "bloodless sacrifice" which, after the destruction of the Jewish Temple, by an inexorable logic, imposed itself upon the Christian Church.

It is well to conclude this all-too-brief notice of Apollonius with a passage cited by Eusebius Eusebius, On the Preparation for the Gospel, Bk. iv. Ch. 13. from his lost work concerning sacrifice. There is no good reason to doubt its authenticity, and it serves as an apt summary of his religious belief:

"In no other manner, I believe, can one exhibit fitting respect for the Divine Being—or, more than any other man, ensure that one is singled out as an object of His favor and goodwill—than by refusing to offer any victim at all to the God whom we term 'First,' who is One and separate from all, and as subordinate to whom we must recognize all the rest. To Him, we must not kindle fire or make any promise of any sensible Meaning 'perceptible to the senses' or 'material'.