c. 200

Tertullian, The Prescription against Heretics: Scripture Belongs to the Church

In Roman law the word praescriptio denotes an objection that the opposing party has no right to bring the case. Developing the arguments of Irenaeus, Tertullian does not discuss the teachings of the heretics but denies them the right to argue on the basis of Scripture: the apostles handed on the Scriptures and the true teaching, briefly expressed in the rule of faith, to their successors, and these to theirs. The heretics cannot prove succession; they are "newcomers" with new teachings and are therefore not Christians. Hence also the famous question: "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?"