Arnold, a Teacher of the Gospel and the Christian Faith, in the Year 511

It is recorded that in the eleventh year of the sixth century a certain pious teacher named Arnold, unwilling to bury in the earth the talent God had given him, but wanting if possible to win some spiritual gain for Christ his Savior by preaching the Gospel, exchanged his life for death in the forests of France, and has thus been counted among the number of the pious martyrs. Concerning this, P. J. Twisck, among others, records the following for the year 511: "When Arnold preached the Gospel of Christ and the Christian faith in a forest in France, near Paris, he was martyred, and was buried there by his wife." Chron., 6th book, page 117, column 2, from Chron. Nicol. Gillem., folio 44. [n310-1]

NOTE. All the details given about this Arnold clearly show the uprightness of his mind and views, and also how far he stood apart from the superstitions of the Roman church, superstitions which by then had already risen very high. This last point especially appears from various circumstances.

First, because it is stated that he did not preach the traditions and legends of the Romanists, but the Gospel.

Secondly, because it is shown what he preached out of the Gospel, namely, Christ and the Christian faith, but nothing about the power of the Roman bishop, or about the Roman faith.

Thirdly, because it is stated, according to ancient writers, that after he was martyred for that faith he was buried there (where he had been put to death) by his wife; but many years before this the Romanists had forbidden teachers and deacons to have a wife, on pain of deposition. With regard to this, the article established about the year 495 in a certain papal council reads as follows: "The priests, that is, those who also preach, and deacons shall abstain from taking wives for themselves; if they do not observe this, they shall be deposed from their office." Seb. Franck, Chron. Rom. Concilen, folio 48, column 4, from Concil. Aphr.

Fourthly, because in the ancient registers, in which the names of the chief ancient teachers and martyrs are recorded, we have found not the least charge laid against this man, either of superstition or of anything else; although we searched diligently, and had others search.

NOTE. It appears that about nine years after the death of this martyr Arnold, namely, in the year 520, a great persecution against the Christians arose in Arabia; of which P. J. Twisck writes the following: "In the year 520, a rebellious Jew, who claimed to be the second Moses, brought about a dreadful massacre and persecution of the Christians at Nagra in Arabia, in the reign of the Emperor Justin; he killed the pious Bishop Arethas and many thousands of Christians." Chron. 6th book, page 180, column 1, from Nicephor., book 16, chapter 6. But since we have not been able to obtain reliable information, beyond what we have shown, about this Bishop Arethas, whether he was a true and orthodox bishop, and likewise about the many thousands of Christians who were killed with him, whether they made a good profession of faith, which we very much doubt, we will not concern ourselves with them. Nevertheless, it must be considered that among so great a number there were at least some, here and there, who died in the true faith, since such people were sometimes scattered in various countries. Of this we will let the well-meaning reader judge for himself.