Gaius Marius Victorinus

quotes from Victorinus: →

Gaius Marius Victorinus, also known as Victorinus, converted from paganism to Christianity “at an advanced old age” (c. 355).  His conversion is historically important in foreshadowing the conversion of more and more of the traditionally pagan intellectual class.  He wrote various theological and exegetical works, as well as translating two of Aristotle’s books from ancient Greek into Latin.

Extant Writings:

  • On the Creation of the World
  • Commentary on the Apocalypse 
  • Against Arius 

Quotes & Excerpts:

“The followers of Marcellus and Photinus proclaim Father, Son, and Spirit, but create a fourth person by saying the Son assumed the man born of Mary. They say the Logos rules as an administrator within this man, who was prepared as a dwelling for Him. Thus do they destroy the Trinity. For if He Himself was not the man born of Mary, why did He empty Himself? What does receiving the form of a servant mean? What does the Logos was made flesh mean?” -Against Arius 1:45 by Marius Victorinus (Written in 355 A.D.)

“The sixth day [Friday] is called parasceve, that is to say, the preparation of the kingdom.. On this day, on account of the passion of the Lord, we make either a station to God or a fast.
On the seventh day he rested from all his works, blessed it, and sanctified it. On the former day we are accustomed to fast rigorously, that on the Lord’s day we receive our bread, giving thanks.
And let the parasceve become a rigorous fast, lest we should appear to observe any Sabbath with the Jews, which Christ, in his body, abolished.” -The Creation of the World (Written 355 A.D.)

“For unless what the prophets foretold had been consummated in Christ, their preaching was vain. For the Catholic Church holds those things which were both before predicted and afterwards accomplished.” -Commentary on the Apocalypse 4:8 (written in 350 A.D.)

“That He might re-create that Adam by means of the week, and bring aid to His entire creation, was accomplished by the nativity of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.. that on the same day on which the dragon seduced Eve, the angel Gabriel brought the glad tidings to the Virgin Mary; that on the same day the Holy Spirit overflowed the Virgin Mary, on which He made light; that on that day He was incarnate in flesh..” -On the Creation of the World (Written 350 d. D.)