Thus he predicts and condemns[442] their pestilential teaching in respect of meats and drinks and concerning matrimony.

In his Epistle to Timothy[443] he relates that Hymeneus and Philetus taught that the Resurrection was past already.

What wonder if a flood of impious teaching broke loose on the Church when the last of the Apostles had been gathered in, and another generation of men had arisen, and the age of Miracles was found to be departing if it had not already departed, and the loftiest boast which any could make was that they had known those who had [seen and heard the Apostles of the Lord].
The 'grievous wolves' whose assaults St.Paul predicted as imminent, and against which he warned the heads of the Ephesian Church[444], did not long 'spare the flock.' Already, while St.John was yet alive, had the Nicolaitans developed their teaching at Ephesus[445] and in the neighbouring Church of Pergamos[446].

Our risen Lord in glory announced to His servant John that in the latter city Satan had established his dwelling-place[447].

Nay, while those awful words were being spoken to the Seer of Patmos, the men were already born who first dared to lay their impious hands on the Gospel of Christ.
No sooner do we find ourselves out of Apostolic times and among monuments of the primitive age than we are made aware that the sacred text must have been exposed at that very early period to disturbing influences which, on no ordinary principles, can be explained.