De principiis

 To one who has received instruction and has practiced the ticklings and irritations occur, but reason, having been greatly strengthened and nourished

 He speaks to us as having free will and being the cause of our own destruction or salvation for he says, or do you despise the riches of his goodnes

 Since it was possible for him to be persuaded, and he certainly would have been persuaded, not being of an earthly nature, when constrained by the won

 In the underlying matter, from the one heat the wax is melted, but the clay is dried so the one energy working through moses on the one hand exposed

 In proportion to the unspeakable beneficence, to the greatest possible degree of blessedness they have attained. 3.1.13 therefore, he who is abandoned

 Stony hearts” and places in them “fleshy ones,” so that “his ordinances may be kept” and the commandments observed, it is not in our power to put away

 From the old [testament], being accused of such things. but if they seek a defense concerning the gospel, it must be said to them, unless they act rep

 Such things, by which having been seen and heard, the sin of those who after such great and numerous things have not believed is proven to be heavier

 Therefore, that which is from god is manifoldly and exceedingly more for salvation than that which is in our power. therefore, i think the saying mean

 Of the body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad” is it sound, when those who have done evil things have come to this course of a

 To advance to better things, while others fall from better things to worse, and some are preserved in good things or ascend from good things to better

 Nor when the teachers were many, to be preached everywhere in the world, so that greeks and barbarians, wise and foolish were added to the worship

 “grace is poured out on his lips”? for a proof of the “grace poured out on his lips” is that after a short time of his teaching (for he taught for abo

 In the sun and moon and stars and is not so manifest in the events of human life, as in the souls and the bodies of animals, since the “for what purp

 They thought, since the creator was imperfect and not good, that the savior had come announcing a more perfect god, whom they say is not the creator,

 You did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” 4.2.4 the way, therefore, that appears to us for how one ought to approach the scripture

 Character. but a spiritual interpretation for the one who is able to show of what “heavenly things the pattern and shadow” the jews “according to the

 Is so great upon the earth, and if not only upon the earth, but also elsewhere, it is necessary for us to learn. 4.2.8 these things, and others like t

 Like a farmer, that god 'planted a paradise in eden toward the east,' and made in it a 'tree of life,' visible and perceptible, so that by tasting of

 But also the saying “to be struck on the right jaw” is most improbable, since everyone who strikes, unless he happens to have some unnatural condition

 Every part has the spiritual, but not every part the corporeal for in many places the corporeal is shown to be impossible. therefore, much attention

 Of us.” and in another epistle: “but you have come to mount zion and to the city of the living god, the heavenly jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

 Of israel or of those being far off, and the “descent into egypt of the seventy souls”, that there they might become “as the stars of heaven in number

to advance to better things, while others fall from better things to worse, and some are preserved in good things or ascend from good things to better, while others again remain in evil things or from evil things, as wickedness is poured out, become worse. <...> 3.1.24 And since where the apostle does not attribute to God the power to become a "vessel for honor or for dishonor," but refers the whole matter to us, saying: "If therefore a man purge himself, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the master, prepared for every good work," but where he does not attribute it to us, but seems to refer the whole matter to God, stating: "The potter has power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor," and the things said by him are not contradictions, both must be brought together and one perfect account rendered from both; neither what is in our power without the knowledge of God, nor does the knowledge of God compel us to advance, unless we also contribute something towards the good, nor does what is in our power without the knowledge of God and the use according to merit of that which is in our power make someone for honor or dishonor, nor does what is from God alone fashion someone for honor or dishonor, unless it receives some material for difference from our choice, inclining towards better or worse things. And let these things be sufficiently established by us concerning free will. 4.1.t Concerning the inspiration of the divine scripture 4.1.1 Since, <and> when examining matters of such importance, not being satisfied with common notions and the clear evidence of what is seen, we adduce for the apparent proof of our statements testimonies from the writings we believe to be divine, both from the so-called Old Testament and the so-called New, and we try to strengthen our faith with reason, and have not yet discussed the scriptures as being divine; come, let us discuss these things also briefly, as in a summary, setting forth the things that move us to this belief concerning the divine writings. And first, using what is declared in the writings themselves and the sayings therein, concerning Moses and Jesus Christ, the lawgiver of the Hebrews and the introducer of the saving doctrines of Christianity, these things must be considered. For though there have been very many lawgivers among Greeks and barbarians, and teachers announcing doctrines that profess the truth, we have not learned of any lawgiver who has been able to inspire zeal in other nations to accept his words; and though those who profess to philosophize about truth have introduced much preparation with what seems to be rational proof, no one has been able to instill what he believed to be truth in different nations, or in considerable numbers of one nation. And yet the lawgivers would have wished to establish the laws that appeared to be good, if possible, among the whole human race, and the teachers for the truth they imagined to be spread throughout the whole inhabited world. But as they were not able to summon those of other languages and the many nations to the observance of their laws and the acceptance of their teachings, they did not even attempt to do this in the beginning, having not unwisely considered that such a thing was impossible for them. But every Greek and barbarian throughout our inhabited world has countless zealots, who have abandoned their ancestral laws and supposed gods, for the observance of the laws of Moses and the discipleship of the words of Jesus Christ; and yet those who attach themselves to the law of Moses are hated by those who worship idols, and those who have accepted the word of Jesus Christ are in danger of death in addition to being hated. 4.1.2 And if we consider how in very few years, with those who confess Christianity being plotted against, and some being killed on this account, and others losing their possessions, the word has been able, although

εἰς κρείττονα προκόπτειν, ἑτέρους δὲ ἀπὸ κρειττόνων εἰς χείρονα καταπίπτειν, καὶ ἄλλους ἐν τοῖς καλοῖς τηρεῖσθαι ἢ ἀπὸ καλῶν εἰς κρείττονα ἐπαναβαίνειν, ἄλλους τε αὖ τοῖς κακοῖς παραμένειν ἢ ἀπὸ κακῶν, χεομένης τῆς κακίας, χείρονας γίνεσθαι. <...> 3.1.24 Ἐπεὶ δὲ ὅπου μὲν ὁ ἀπόστολος οὐ προσποιεῖται τὸ ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι «σκεῦος εἰς τιμὴν ἢ εἰς ἀτιμίαν», ἀλλὰ τὸ πᾶν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς ἀναφέρει λέγων· «ἐὰν οὖν τις ἐκκαθάρῃ ἑαυτόν, ἔσται σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν, ἡγιασμένον καὶ εὔχρηστον τῷ δεσπότῃ, εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἡτοιμασμένον», ὅπου δὲ οὐ προσποιεῖται τὸ ἐφ' ἡμῖν, ἀλλὰ τὸ πᾶν ἐπὶ τὸν θεὸν ἀναφέρειν δοκεῖ φάσκων· «ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦ ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι ὃ μὲν εἰς τι μὴν σκεῦος ὃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν», καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐναντιώματα τὰ εἰρημένα ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, συνακτέον ἀμφότερα καὶ ἕνα λόγον ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων τέλειον ἀποδοτέον· οὔτε τὸ ἐφ' ἡμῖν χωρὶς τῆς ἐπιστήμης τοῦ θεοῦ, οὔτε ἡ ἐπιστήμη τοῦ θεοῦ προκόπτειν ἡμᾶς ἀναγκάζει, ἐὰν μὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐπὶ τὸ ἀγαθόν τι συνεισαγάγωμεν, οὔτε τοῦ ἐφ' ἡμῖν χωρὶς τῆς ἐπιστή μης τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τῆς καταχρήσεως τοῦ κατ' ἀξίαν τοῦ ἐφ' ἡμῖν ποιοῦντος εἰς τιμὴν ἢ εἰς ἀτιμίαν γενέσθαι τινά, οὔτε τοῦ ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ μόνου κατασκευάζοντος εἰς τιμὴν ἢ εἰς ἀτιμίαν τινά, ἐὰν μὴ ὕλην τινὰ διαφορᾶς σχῇ τὴν ἡμετέραν προαίρεσιν, κλίνουσαν ἐπὶ τὰ κρείττονα ἢ ἐπὶ τὰ χείρονα. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν αὐτάρκως ἡμῖν κατε σκευάσθω περὶ τοῦ αὐτεξουσίου. 4.1.τ Περὶ τοῦ θεοπνεύστου τῆς θείας γραφῆσ 4.1.1 Ἐπεὶ <δὲ> περὶ τηλικούτων ἐξετάζοντες πραγμάτων, οὐκ ἀρ κούμενοι ταῖς κοιναῖς ἐννοίαις καὶ τῇ ἐναργείᾳ τῶν βλεπομένων, προσπαραλαμβάνομεν εἰς τὴν φαινομένην ἡμῖν ἀπόδειξιν τῶν λεγο μένων μαρτύρια τὰ ἐκ τῶν πεπιστευμένων ἡμῖν εἶναι θείων γραφῶν, τῆς τε λεγομένης παλαιᾶς διαθήκης καὶ τῆς καλουμένης καινῆς, λόγῳ τε πειρώμεθα κρατύνειν ἡμῶν τὴν πίστιν, καὶ οὐδέπω περὶ τῶν γραφῶν ὡς θείων διελέχθημεν· φέρε καὶ περὶ τούτων ὀλίγα ὡς ἐν ἐπιτομῇ διαλάβωμεν, τὰ κινοῦντα ἡμᾶς ὡς περὶ θείων γραμμάτων εἰς τοῦτο παρατιθέμενοι. καὶ πρῶτόν γε τοῦ ἀπ' αὐτῶν τῶν γραμμάτων καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς δηλουμένων ῥητοῖς χρήσασθαι, περὶ Μωσέως καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ νομοθέτου τῶν Ἑβραίων καὶ τοῦ εἰσηγητοῦ τῶν κατὰ χριστιανισμὸν σωτηρίων δογμάτων, ταῦτα διαληπτέον. Πλείστων γὰρ ὅσων νομοθετῶν γεγενημένων ἐν Ἕλλησι καὶ βαρ βάροις, καὶ διδασκάλων δόγματα καταγγελλόντων ἐπαγγελλόμενα τὴν ἀλήθειαν, οὐδένα ἱστορήσαμεν νομοθέτην ζῆλον ἐμποιῆσαι δεδυνη μένον τοῖς λοιποῖς ἔθνεσι περὶ τοῦ παραδέξασθαι τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ· πολλήν τε παρασκευὴν τὴν μετὰ τῆς δοκούσης ἀποδείξεως λογικῆς εἰσενεγκαμένων τῶν περὶ ἀληθείας φιλοσοφεῖν ἐπαγγελλομένων, οὐδεὶς δεδύνηται τὴν νομισθεῖσαν αὐτῷ ἀλήθειαν ἔθνεσι διαφόροις ἐμποιῆ σαι, ἢ ἑνὸς ἔθνους ἀξιολόγοις πλήθεσι. καίτοιγε ἐβούλοντο ἂν καὶ οἱ νομοθέται κρατῦναι τοὺς φανέντας νόμους εἶναι καλοὺς εἰ δυνατὸν παρὰ παντὶ τῷ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένει, οἵ τε διδάσκαλοι ἐπινεμηθῆναι ἣν ἐφαντάσθησαν εἶναι ἀλήθειαν πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης. ἀλλ' ὡς οὐ δυνάμενοι προσκαλέσασθαι τοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ἑτέρων διαλέκτων καὶ τῶν πολλῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπὶ τὴν τήρησιν τῶν νόμων καὶ τὴν παραδοχὴν τῶν μαθημάτων, τοῦτο ποιῆσαι οὐδὲ ἐπεβάλοντο τὴν ἀρχήν, οὐκ ἀφρόνως γε σκοπήσαντες περὶ τοῦ ἀδύνατον αὐτοῖς τὸ τοιοῦτον τυγ χάνειν. πᾶσα δὲ Ἑλλὰς καὶ βάρβαρος ἡ κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἡμῶν ζηλωτὰς ἔχει μυρίους, καταλιπόντας τοὺς πατρῴους νόμους καὶ νο μιζομένους θεούς, τῆς τηρήσεως τῶν Μωσέως νόμων καὶ τῆς μαθη τείας τῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγων· καίτοιγε μισουμένων μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν τὰ ἀγάλματα προσκυνούντων τῶν τῷ Μωσέως νόμῳ προστιθεμένων, καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ δὲ πρὸς τῷ μισεῖσθαι κινδυνευόντων τῶν τὸν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον παραδεξαμένων. 4.1.2 Καὶ ἐὰν ἐπιστήσωμεν πῶς ἐν σφόδρα ὀλίγοις ἔτεσι, τῶν ὁμο λογούντων τὸν χριστιανισμὸν ἐπιβουλευομένων, καί τινων διὰ τοῦτο ἀναιρουμένων, ἑτέρων δὲ ἀπολλύντων τὰς κτήσεις, δεδύνηται ὁ λόγος, καίτοιγε