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Translated by Frederick Crombie.
Origen Resources OnLine & in Print
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This Part: 66 Pages
Page 44
19. But that no one may suppose that we assert respecting the whole that no history is real [2915] because a certain one is not; and that no law is to be literally observed, because a certain one, (understood) according to the letter, is absurd or impossible; or that the statements regarding the Saviour are not true in a manner perceptible to the senses; [2916] or that no commandment and precept of His ought to be obeyed;--we have to answer that, with regard to certain things, it is perfectly clear to us that the historical account is true; as that Abraham was buried in the double cave at Hebron, as also Isaac and Jacob, and the wives of each of them; and that Shechem was given as a portion to Joseph; [2917] and that Jerusalem is the metropolis of Judea, in which the temple of God was built by Solomon; and innumerable other statements. For the passages that are true in their historical meaning are much more numerous than those which are interspersed with a purely spiritual signification. And again, who would not say that the command which enjoins to "honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee," [2918] is useful, apart from all allegorical meaning, [2919] and ought to be observed, the Apostle Paul also having employed these very same words? And what need is there to speak of the (prohibitions), "Thou shalt not commit adultery," "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal," "Thou shalt not bear false witness?" [2920] And again, there are commandments contained in the Gospel which admit of no doubt whether they are to be observed according to the letter or not; e.g., that which says, "But I say unto you, Whoever is angry with his brother," [2921] and so on. And again, "But I say unto you, Swear not at all." [2922] "And in the writings of the apostle the literal sense is to be retained: "Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men;" [2923] although it is possible for those ambitious of a deeper meaning to retain the profundities of the wisdom of God, without setting aside the commandment in its literal meaning. [2924] The careful (reader), however, will be in doubt [2925] as to certain points, being unable to show without long investigation whether this history so deemed literally occurred or not, and whether the literal meaning of this law is to be observed or not. And therefore the exact reader must, in obedience to the Saviour's injunction to "search the Scriptures," [2926] carefully ascertain in how far the literal meaning is true, and in how far impossible; and so far as he can, trace out, by means of similar statements, the meaning everywhere scattered through Scripture of that which cannot be understood in a literal signification.
[2915] gegonen.
[2916] kata to aistheton.
[2917] Cf. Gen. xlviii. 22 and Josh. xxiv. 32.
[2918] Cf. Ex. xx. 12 and Eph. vi. 2, 3.
[2919] choris pases anagoges.
[2920] Cf. Ex. xx. 13-16.
[2921] [Matt. v. 22.]
[2922] Matt. v. 34.
[2923] 1 Thess. v. 14.
[2924] Ei kai para tois philotimoterois dunatai sozein hekaston auton, meta tou me atheteisthai ten kata to rheton hentolen, bathe Theou sophias.
[2925] perielkusthesetai.
[2926] John v. 39.
Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/principles.asp?pg=44
