By Water & Blood

Panarion 51, Chapter 17: One Gospel truth and Peter’s primacy

For so precise a demonstration will leave no room for those who oppose themselves—for I do not say the truth, since they cannot.

For it is clear that from the baptism the beginning of the rest of the narrative took place. For so it is shown that the Lord, after the day of the baptism, was in the temptation of the forty days in the wilderness—about which it was not a care for the Holy Spirit through John to signal; for this had already been signaled through the three evangelists.

And again it was not a care for the other evangelists about the other things, because each is helped from each. For the truth gathered from all is shown to be one and not at strife with itself.

For from there, immediately after the temptation, as I said, he comes into Nazareth and remains there, no disciple yet being with him. And from there he comes down to John, when immediately through Andrew Peter is called, then Philip, and through Philip Nathanael.

And let no one, doubting this also, be over-busy, seeing that Andrew first met Jesus, then Peter, and through him was called, so as to begin to be distressed about this as well.

For the meeting took place first with Andrew, who was younger than Peter in years of age; but later again, when the complete renunciation took place for them, it was from Peter. For he led his own brother, and the Lord knew this—being God who knows the inclinations of hearts and who knows who is worthy to be set among the first—and he chose Peter to be leader of his disciples, as has been clearly demonstrated everywhere.

For afterward, when they had come and stayed with him the first day as I said, traveling on the second, and on the third day when the first divine sign took place, certain people being with him (not Andrew nor Peter nor John nor James, but those around Nathanael and Philip and certain others, as one may understand),

next thereafter, after he came into Capernaum and went up again into Nazareth and from there again into Capernaum and did a certain portion of the signs, he went up again into Nazareth and read the book of Isaiah the prophet, where it says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because of which he anointed me to bring good news to the poor,” and what follows. And this was taking place after the day of the Epiphanies, after some days.

And after John had been handed over, coming down again into Capernaum he thereafter settled, when the complete calling of those around Peter and John took place, when he came beside the lake of Gennesaret. And so the whole sequence is reckoned, nothing contradictory existing, but the whole Gospel narrative being most clear and proclaimed in truth.

What then seemed good to these who have deceived their own mind—and we have justly called their heresy Alogos (ἄλογος), because they do not receive the God Word who came from above, proclaimed through John?

For not understanding the power of the Gospels they say: How have the other evangelists said that Jesus went as a fugitive from the face of Herod into Egypt, and after the flight came and remained in Nazareth, then taking the baptism went away into the wilderness, and after this returned, and after returning began to preach?