With respect to matter, they debated whether one should posit events without a beginning—so that for every portion of matter there is yet another prior matter—or whether matter itself is to be judged eternal or newly originated. As for the form of the celestial sphere, they affirmed its origination, in accordance with what the messengers had conveyed, and the first person known to have claimed its eternity was Aristotle.

More than one scholar of sects and doctrines has recorded this, and Aristotle’s own inquiry in his book attests to it. Elsewhere I have discussed Aristotle himself and the theological statements transmitted from him, laying bare the scant knowledge and abundant ignorance they contain, and demonstrating that such men are among the farthest of people from true knowledge of the Lord of all worlds.