Now, would not any one who investigated with ordinary care the nature of
these facts, be struck with amazement at this man’s victory?—with his
complete success in surmounting by his reputation all causes that tended
to bring him into disrepute, and with his superiority over all other
illustrious individuals in the world? And yet it is a rare thing for
distinguished men to succeed in acquiring a reputation for several
things at once. For one man is admired on account of his wisdom, another
for his military skill, and some of the barbarians for their marvellous
powers of incantation, and some for one quality, and others for another;
but not many have been admired and acquired a reputation for many things
at the same time; whereas this man, in addition to his other merits, is
an object of admiration both for his wisdom, and for his miracles, and
for his power of government. For he persuaded some to withdraw
themselves from their laws, and to secede to him, not as a tyrant would
do, nor as a robber, who arms[1171] his followers against men; nor as a
rich man, who bestows help upon those who come to him; nor as one of
those who confessedly are deserving of censure; but as a teacher of the
doctrine regarding the God of all things, and of the worship which
belongs to Him, and of all moral precepts which are able to secure the
favour of the Supreme God to him who orders his life in conformity
therewith. Now, to Themistocles, or to any other man of distinction,
nothing happened to prove a hindrance to their reputation; whereas to
this man, besides what we have already enumerated, and which are enough
to cover with dishonour the soul of a man even of the most noble nature,
there was that apparently infamous death of crucifixion, which was
enough to efface his previously acquired glory, and to lead those who,
as they who disavow his doctrine assert, were formerly deluded by him to
abandon their delusion, and to pass condemnation upon their deceiver.
Footnote 1171:
Gelenius reads ὁπλίζων (instead of ἀλείφων), which has been adopted in
the translation.