Writings in Connection with the Donatist Controversy

by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine

[646] 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.

[647] John xv. 5.

[648] Rom. xii. 5.

[649] Matt. xxiii. 3.

[650] Rom. iv. 25, 5.

[651] Matt. vii. 17, 16.

[652] Matt. xii. 35.

[653] See below, Book II. vi. 12.

[654] So the Donatists commonly quoted Ecclus. xxxiv. 25, which is more correctly rendered in our version, "He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing?" Augustine (Retract. i. 21, sec. 3) says that the misapplication was rendered possible by the omission in many African Mss. of the second clause, "and touches it again."

[655] Rom. vi. 9.