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Translated by Frederick Crombie.
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This Part: 66 Pages
Page 33
8. Having spoken thus briefly [2852] on the subject of the divine inspiration of the holy Scriptures, it is necessary to proceed to the (consideration of the) manner in which they are to be read and understood, seeing numerous errors have been committed in consequence of the method in which the holy documents [2853] ought to be examined; [2854] not having been discovered by the multitude. For both the hardened in heart, and the ignorant persons [2855] belonging to the circumcision, have not believed on our Saviour, thinking that they are following the language of the prophecies respecting Him, and not perceiving in a manner palpable to their senses [2856] that He had proclaimed liberty to the captives, nor that He had built up what they truly consider the city of God, nor cut off "the chariots of Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem," [2857] nor eaten butter and honey, and, before knowing or preferring the evil, had selected the good. [2858] And thinking, moreover, that it was prophesied that the wolf--the four-footed animal--was to feed with the lamb, and the leopard to lie down with the kid, and the calf and bull and lion to feed together, being led by a little child, and that the ox and bear were to pasture together, their young ones growing up together, and that the lion was to eat straw like the ox: [2859] seeing none of these things visibly accomplished during the advent of Him who is believed by us to be Christ, they did not accept our Lord Jesus; but, as having called Himself Christ improperly, [2860] they crucified Him. And those belonging to heretical sects reading this (statement), "A fire has been kindled in Mine anger;" [2861] and this, "I am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation;" [2862] and this, "I repent of having anointed Saul to be king;" [2863] and this, "I am a God that maketh peace, and createth evil;" [2864] and, among others, this, "There is not wickedness in the city which the Lord hath not done;" [2865] and again this, "Evils came down from the Lord upon the gates of Jerusalem;" [2866] and, "An evil spirit from the Lord plagued Saul;" [2867] and countless other passages like these--they have not ventured to disbelieve these as the Scriptures of God; but believing them to be the (words) of the Demiurge, whom the Jews worship, they thought that as the Demiurge was an imperfect and unbenevolent God, the Saviour had come to announce a more perfect Deity, who, they say, is not the Demiurge, being of different opinions regarding Him; and having once departed from the Demiurge, who is the only uncreated God, they have given themselves up to fictions, inventing to themselves hypotheses, according to which they imagine that there are some things which are visible, and certain other things which are not visible, all which are the fancies of their own minds. And yet, indeed, the more simple among those who profess to belong to the Church have supposed that there is no deity greater than the Demiurge, being right in so thinking, while they imagine regarding Him such things as would not be believed of the most savage and unjust of mankind.
[2852] hos en epidrome.
[2853] ta hagia anagnosmata.
[2854] pos dei ephodeuein.
[2855] hoi idiotai ton ek tes peritomes.
[2856] aisthetos.
[2857] Cf. Zech. ix. 10.
[2858] Cf. Isa. vii. 15.
[2859] Cf. Isa. xi. 6, 7.
[2860] para to deon.
[2861] Cf. Jer. xv. 14.
[2862] Cf. Ex. xx. 5.
[2863] Cf. 1 Sam. xv. 11.
[2864] Cf. Isa. xlv. 7.
[2865] Cf. Amos iii. 6.
[2866] Cf. Mic. i. 12.
[2867] Cf. 1 Sam. xvi. 14; xviii. 10.
Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/principles.asp?pg=33
