Tertullian · a new plain-English translation from the original language
[1] But what, further, are believing slaves or freedmen to do — and officials likewise — who are attached to masters, patrons, or governors who offer sacrifice? Well: if anyone hands the wine to the one sacrificing, or even helps the sacrifice along by so much as a necessary word, he will be reckoned a servant of idol-worship. Keeping this rule in view, we can nevertheless still perform service toward magistrates and authorities, following the pattern of the patriarchs and the other men of old, who attended idol-worshipping kings right up to the very edge of idolatry itself. [2] From this a debate has recently arisen: whether a servant of God may take up the administration of some rank or power, if he can keep himself untouched by every form of idolatry, whether by some special allowance or even by his own resourcefulness —
just as Joseph and Daniel, clean of idolatry, administered both rank and power, adorned with the robes and the purple of the governorship of all Egypt, or of Babylon. [3] Let us grant, then, that one can succeed to some office in such a way that he walks in it in name of honor alone, and neither sacrifices nor lends his authority to sacrifices; that he does not
contract out the victims, does not delegate the care of the temples, does not administer their revenues, does not
put on games either at his own expense or the public's, or preside over their being put on; that he proclaims or decrees nothing solemn, does not even swear an oath; and further, as regards what belongs to power itself, that he does not judge a man's life or honor — I will let the matter of money pass — does not condemn or pre-condemn, chains no one, imprisons no one, tortures no one — if it is even credible that this could be managed.
XVIII.