Huon

The context makes the difference. I suppose that you speak of "a god" (noun) and "God" (name). In both cases, it is "DEUS". Lower-case letters are recent. And when it is Latin at the time of Cicero (before JC), DEUS is a noun, JUPITER, APOLLO, etc.. are the names of some gods. Monotheism was not debatable at that time, in a Roman context.

One century later, at the time of Marcus Aurelius for instance, the problem is different. If the author is polytheist, DEUS is (very likely) still a noun. If the author is a Christian, DEUS is the name of his God, he may call the other gods "idols". An author can also write "my God, DEUS MEUS", "your God, or your Gods, DEI TUI". Articles are not really necessary. ILLE DEUS, ILLA DEA, ILLI DEI, ILLAE DEAE can also be used, if wished.

Pilate

Thank you Huon you answered my questions.

Roger Pearse

The English translation (1987/1994) by Frank Williams is in copyright. I have a few snippets about the Council of Nicaea online, under "fair usage".

Now I get rather more emails than I would like from people asking me to do photocopies of parts of the Panarion for them (which, of course, I can't do). One of these told me that it was impossible to get the second volume of this by interlibrary loan in the USA (whether this is so or not I do not know -- anyone?).

Anyhow, I would suggest placing a request for an interlibrary loan through your local library for the two volumes; or do as I did, and buy a copy. I got mine from Brill in the Netherlands, for an admittedly revoltingly high price. But these will come out of copyright long after all of us are dead, and, as some have found, it is a useful volume to consult. I wish it were online. I wonder what it would cost to buy the copyright from Brill and release it into the public domain.

Note that I did a review of the volumes on Amazon.com, and specify there which heresies are included in which volume.

Btw, the link posted did not work for me.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Toto

Amazon link for The Panarion of St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis: Selected Passages (Hardcover) tr Amidon with Roger's review.

The Panarion of St. Epiphanius, Williams translation with a more glowing review from Roger.