To the Reader.

NOT SURPRISING is it that in our age—one as unjust as it is polluted by unspeakable crimes—all those heresies, which were once put to rest and condemned by the Catholic Church (in which alone the writings of the New and Old Testaments are held in high esteem), are now rightly sprouting up again. This occurs because almost everyone is permitted to propose to others whatever they have dreamed at night or thought during the day, following Satanic suggestions. And this is astonishing: heresies always find followers and supporters who are so bold, so frivolous, and so shameless that they dare to thrust whatever comes into their mouths as a Divine oracle upon the simple-minded, who are prone to being led astray. The unwary are deceived and are beautifully persuaded by the allure of words, so that they think everything these people babble was brought forth as if from the tripod of Apollo original: "ex tripode Apollinis". A reference to the seat of the Oracle at Delphi; the author is saying these people treat their own ideas as divine prophecies., or spoken by CHRIST himself, the Son of God.

Therefore, we are not warned in vain by CHRIST himself not to believe all those who say, "Look, here is CHRIST, look, there he is." They are deceived, and they deceive others, so that they do not seem to wander alone. However, this is the consolation of the Church: that God always raises up some from the elect who oppose these impious seducers, refute the false dogmas spread abroad, and bring forth the Truth from the panoply original: "panoplia" – a full suit of armor. The author views the Bible as a complete set of spiritual weapons. of the divine Scriptures, so that there is no escape for false prophets to either respond or defend their own claims. Professors of Theology ought to diligently drag this company of impious men out of their hiding places through sound doctrine.

Did not the Satanic offspring of Arius Arius (c. 250–336 AD) taught that Jesus was a created being, a view condemned as heresy at the Council of Nicaea. cause much trouble for the pious, and was finally destroyed through the word of CHRIST? Did not Paul of Samosata original: "Samosatenus". A 3rd-century bishop whose views on the nature of Christ were condemned. destroy himself with his own knife A metaphorical way of saying he was undone by his own arguments.? Have not also the Anabaptists, Stork Nikolaus Storch (d. 1525), a radical reformer and associate of the Zwickau prophets., Servetus Michael Servetus (1511–1553), a Spanish theologian executed for his non-trinitarian views., and countless others been exposed to the mockery of the whole world because of their devised madness without the authority of God's word? The same happens to all heretics.

When, however, PIETRO GALATINO The author, an Italian Franciscan friar (c. 1460–1540). noticed the arrogance, pride, and insolence of the Jews toward the Christian religion, he considered it his duty—since he had made no small progress in Hebrew letters—to finally bring something forward into the public eye. He successfully set his hand to the task and wrote these Twelve Books, filled with all kinds of erudition and doctrine, for the benefit of the Church of CHRIST, which is tossing about in various opinions. He wrote against that treacherous crowd which not only denies both the divinity and humanity of CHRIST, even when convinced by the Scriptures, but also [denies] all the Scriptures themselves, especially those of Moses and the Prophets...