Contra celsum
Capable of overthrowing any of the faithful, being unable to shake his words. and may there not be found anyone who has received such a love of god i
To be called an empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world. p.6 and it seemed good to us to place th
And it must be said further in response to this that there is a certain proper demonstration of the word, more divine than the greek one from dialecti
To be separated from men, and especially when those who speak them do so from a sound and genuinely believing disposition. so powerful, however, is th
To begging priests of cybele and to wonder-workers, to mithras and sabadios, and to whomever one happened to meet, apparitions of hecate or of some ot
Teaching that one must worship him alone, and disregard the rest, either as not existing or as existing indeed and worthy of honor, but not of adorati
Is. therefore the apostle does not say simply: wisdom is foolishness with god, but the wisdom of this world. and again, not if any man among you
Has treated, he also included among them the jews, not hesitating in his writing to use prophetic words and to allegorize them. and hermippus is said,
There are the more reasonable ones having made his accusation as he wishes, he, as it were, prevents those who are able from defending themselves, as
But also bringing the divinity down to irrational creatures, beyond the mythical transmigration concerning the soul that falls from the vaults of heav
More effective and better than all these fictions is that which from things seen persuades us to worship the creator of the cosmos according to its we
The fathers of celsus's doctrines and the ancient theologians of the greeks. for what is the distinction, that zeus should be spoken of literally but
Not flattering the account but trying to examine the matters with careful consideration, i would say that not even those who treat many ailing bodies
It contributes to one becoming distinguished and glorious and their name a famous family, when the parents happen to be in a position of pre-eminence
Of noble nature, and the death which seems to be dishonorable was sufficient for one crucified both to wipe out the glory that had preceded and been a
Strange that he did not have a birth, but the most lawless and most shameful of all births? but i shall speak as to greeks and especially to celsus, w
A man lie with her in the city, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of their city, and they shall be stoned with stones, and they shall die
That their own prophets have spoken beforehand for the consolation of those desiring such things, so that samuel prophesied even concerning the lost
Disciples, whom he was about to use as ministers of his own teaching. for did those men, having been taught so to perform miracles, win over their hea
To establish it as having happened and to create a convincing impression about it is one of the most exceedingly difficult things, and in some cases i
That, as he himself says and it is understood, there being no workers to work the harvest of souls, the harvest is so great, with people being gathere
Many as if unwilling have come to christianity, some spirit having suddenly turned their ruling faculty from hating the word to dying for it and havin
To have been opened and that his body being opened had been divided, so that ezekiel might record such a thing. perhaps then, also in the case of the
However, since you say and bring on one of those punished with you, it is necessary to point out to him that he has not fittingly assigned this to the
Bethlehem, coming to be leader of the people. but concerning the birth of jesus in bethlehem, if anyone wishes, after the prophecy of micah and after
If one of the unbelievers were to reflect upon the prophecy spoken by moses, he would wonder how moses was able to foretell that the rulers of the jew
They might happen on the pretext that jews were scattered among the other nations. and thus he would explain your appearance shall be inglorious amon
Being disciplined by fear but choosing it for its own sake is a son of god but this one differs much and greatly from every son of god who is so call
In the same way sometimes comets have also appeared for good things to come, and he sets forth the history concerning these things. if, then, for new
Observing the sequence of events, even if celsus does not believe it, to withdraw with the child and his mother into egypt but herod destroyed al
The gospel records concerning them, and celsus in accordance with this has believed them, speaking the truth concerning their ignorance-, confidently
But if we are to reproach those who have changed for their former life, it is time for us also to accuse phaedo even after he became a philosopher, si
Commanding you and your household to flee, lest being left behind you die. but was he not able to protect you there, the great god who had already sen
The churches of god through jesus, of those who have been changed from countless evils. and furthermore the name of jesus removes distractions of the
Many and in some sense the body of god. but indeed he disbelieves the things written about his conception by the holy spirit, and believes that he was
Believing in jesus have not abandoned the ancestral law. for they live according to it, having been named from the poverty of the law according to the
Doctrines born and brought up with them until the age of manhood, and which had persuaded those who received them that these things are divine but to
After this, it seems to me that there is a certain cleverness in the charge: how is it that you begin from our sacred writings, but as you go on you d
Let them show where even an emphasis of speech proceeding from arrogance is found in jesus. for how is he arrogant who says: learn from me, for i am
Of their metropolis and of their proper place to their ancestral religion than the jews alone? and they have suffered this as being most ignoble, even
Is spirit: every one who has understood what it is to be joined to the lord, and having been joined to him is one spirit with the lord, how is not th
Gave to the crowd that had come to arrest jesus a sign, saying, 'the one i kiss is the man seize him,' saving some respect for him for if he had
That after aristotle graduated, he spoke against the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and called plato's ideas triflings? and still raising
Go up with me in thought to jesus saying these things, and see things prophesied which have not yet happened, unless you will say, disbelieving him, t
Seeing that the word by its power would take hold of men, they set down such things also, i know not how, so as not to harm those who encounter them n
They will find many things to collect. and what is surprising, if jesus, knowing what was going to happen, did not turn aside but fell into the circum
Of a certain thing being possible to happen and also not to happen, one of them will be this specific thing. and we do not say that the one foreknowin
In the man, and seeing what he would dare, both from being a lover of money and from not thinking securely about the teacher as he ought, he said amo
They listen to the divine scriptures impiously and speak injustice against the most high. for they seem to have heard the i will kill and often re
The same men were both deceived about jesus as god and as one prophesied, and also fabricated things about him, obviously knowing that the fabrication
God preparing the nations for his teaching, so that they might come under one roman emperor, and that it might not, on the pretext of the multitude of
He considers himself one of christians, but disbelieves in the things that establish the divinity in jesus, we shall say to him: o you, either disbeli
He knows that he tells the truth.” of the dead bodies of other men, then, the blood coagulates and pure water does not flow out but from the dead
And how is it not an outright falsehood that he did not even persuade his own disciples, who indeed suffered something human from cowardice then—for t
To the so-called, according to his words, age to come, but to live in the so-called present age is a misfortune or the first and greatest struggle o
After being scourged, rejoicing, that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name, and far surpassing many of the things recorded amo
Of zarephath in sidon for she had become worthy of the miracle performed by the prophet with the loaves, according to some divine judgment thus the
Of some power to pretend that he himself is the christ, to seem to perform things similar to christ and others in the name of jesus things as it were
That since magic and sorcery, which are effected by evil demons who are charmed by elaborate incantations and obey human sorcerers, have real substanc
He expressly declares, as you yourselves have written, that others will come to you, using similar powers, evil men and sorcerers. for it is written i
His voice from the stake, when he expired, and the earthquake and the darkness? that while living he did not help himself, but dead he rose again an
Of men who have dedicated themselves to teaching a way of life, which they would not have taught so vigorously if they were fabricating the story that
Of a necessary dogma, that the soul of the dead subsists and not in vain has he who has accepted this dogma believed in its immortality or even its c
He announced to his disciples the things concerning the kingdom of god but in the gospels it is not that he was always with them, but that in one p
Matthias having been ranked in place of judas, and after them to more than five hundred brethren at once, then he appeared to james, then to the o
Being for each of those able to see it, and to see according to the measure which they could contain. and surely he did not guard against being seen f
A new thing, so to speak, that being a dead body he should be in a new and pure tomb that just as his birth was purer than any birth, in that he was
He announced the things concerning god to his genuine disciples whose traces we find in the written records and have starting points for theologizing
In the likeness of a calf that eats grass nor would they have said to one another about the calf: these are your gods, o israel, who brought <you> u
Could be said to him concerning god? for the god of the prophets is found to be in similar circumstances, as the jew thinks, with the charge of being
Has done? so that we might see and believe that he is a portion of god. or is it permitted for you to make an apology for god's not always appearing t
Contests of piety toward the god who created all things. therefore jesus christ came, proclaimed beforehand not by one prophet but by all. and this to
Of the foreknowledge of future events to those <wishing> to desert to the demons among the others? consider then if it is not necessary for a whole na
And dedicated to the god of all things and partaking of a diviner spirit, he also set down laws for the hebrews, as the divine inspired him, and recor
And a very small number have died for the christian piety, as god prevented their entire nation from being warred out of existence for he willed it t
To have come and concerning the day of the lord, whether it is at hand or not. but also the phrase avoiding the profane empty chatter and contrad
Might be proved to be established on a credible foundation. but the sedition and the benefit derived from it, and the fear of outsiders, are a credibl
And to one who goes further inside, a cat or a monkey or a crocodile or a goat or a dog is seen being worshipped. for what among us is analogous to th
To those who came to him privately in the house. but <one> will wonder, having understood, what is the meaning of some being called outside and ot
A shadow appeared. and let the stories concerning those men be compared with the story of jesus. or does celsus wish those stories to be true, but the
Celsus says these things, adducing from histories things that are marvelous and in themselves seem incredible, but are not disbelieved by him, at leas
And strive so much for marvels, that they both live a life of turmoil on account of them and die violently? therefore, place yourself between the thin
Profitable for demons and for those who consider them to be gods, for this reason the demons on earth, who are considered to be gods by those not inst
Contrived-, in order that the things prophesied concerning jesus and the things said by him might either be slandered as fictions similar to those, or
From the divine—as things more fitting for demons established i know not how in some place, which they either occupy beforehand, or, being brought by
Not only to men who wish to be of sound mind but also to demons and to other invisible powers who even until now show themselves either fearing the n
Faith of whatever kind, having preoccupied [us]. for it was necessary, on account of the various upbringings, to speak of the differences in the faith
Wishes to place around it, and often, having laid aside the former ones, it takes up better and different ones. for if such things are sound, what is
The things said by a very few, who are considered christians, contrary to the teaching of jesus—not more prudent, as he thinks, but most ignorant—he b
Of his own words: who is wise and will understand these things? or prudent and will know them? and daniel and those with him who were taken captive
God has chosen the despised things and the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no flesh should boast before him, so
These men, who do not assemble those who are considered educated, but call and gather listeners from the crossroads, will they say they are similar to
Of those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. would those, then, who believe these words as having been we
Trying in every way to lead the soul up to the creator of all things, showing also that one must despise all things sensible and temporary and visible
For we turn away from teachers who teach the indecencies of comedy and the licentious iambics and all other such things, which neither convert the one
Of the wicked, but to the more mystical things of those who are already most pure. 3.61 we do not, then, call to mysteries and to fellowship of wisdom
I have not hidden my iniquity. i said, ‘i will confess my iniquity against myself to the lord,’” and so on? but can he show that such a thing does not
He seems to be mistaken, by not granting complete change to those who are by nature prone to sin and are accustomed to doing it, whoever thinks they c
Or rather, the word of god, changing through them many of those who are by nature and habit prone to sin whom no man could have changed even by punis
I should use by mercy, but those who have strongly condemned themselves for their sins, so as on this account to, as it were, mourn and lament thems
But i, even if i seek the so-called unintelligent, do a similar thing, as if a philanthropic physician sought the sick, in order to bring them remedie
To jesus, the teacher of the doctrines concerning himself. but none of us is so arrogant as to say to his acquaintances what celsus has attributed to
He may imagine there to be superstition rather than wickedness among the many who believe in the word, and should he accuse our word of making men sup
Remaining divine and delivered from inspiration. from what better things do we teach those who abstain to depart in a better way? for if it is not bur
Faith in christ, he ought to have set forth the prophecies themselves, which we christians and jews use when we dispute with one another for in this
But if you posit that there is a god and a providence, as your writing indicates, it is necessary for him to know. and if he knows, why does he not co
To us that god is among us like the newly rich among men, making a show? for god does not make a show to us, wishing us to comprehend and understand h
Whatsoever. 4.10 after this again, as is his custom, having constructed nothing nor proven anything, celsus, as if we were not piously nor devoutly sp
Using the name by custom, and thus also to ascend. 4.13 but since celsus, mocking, says that we say that god comes down like a torturer bringing fire
Philanthropy emptied himself, so that he might be able to be received by men. surely there was no change for him from good to evil, for he did no s
That god truly changes, as these men say, into a mortal body, and the impossibility of this has been stated before or he himself does not change, but
Jesus is said to have undertaken all things of sinners, in order to release them from sin and make them righteous. 4.20 then, since he personifies
Let anyone who wishes consider this a falsehood, if the entire nation of the jews has not been overthrown not even one whole generation after jesus su
Reason elevates the rational above all irrational creatures—but not even the excellent and blessed, whether, as you say, the good demons, or, as it is
Like frogs? what then, does the brightness of righteousness, which maintains what is social and just and philanthropic and good toward one’s neighbor
Having been taught that god demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, christ died for us. and yet scarcely for a ri
Whether such a thing is not said, or is said differently, celsus slanders us also in these matters. we used to say, according to celsus, we who are wo
That they should not fashion other things contrary to the truth, falsifying what is truly masculine or what is truly feminine or the nature of cattle
And misinterpreted by the ignorant and foolish, and this, though in the long time before such a thing was never even disputed. but it seems to me that
These names are, for us, not ambiguous, even if they are taken up by those foreign to our piety but according to celsus, who does not represent the a
Having composed two other books against christians, perhaps contending with us, he called those divinely inspired whom he did not consider divinely in
Like a modest maiden through the counsels of the son of cronos and the goddess, bright-eyed athene, girded and adorned her > and around her the divin
Imitate, which god forbid christians should do, they will laugh at the myth and hold in derision so great a man as plato but if, by philosophically e
Will end in one cubit of length and breadth? and how was not the structure more wonderful, and like a very great city, in that its measurements were s
The various unions of the righteous, concerning which it will be more opportune for one to try to clarify in the exegetical works on these very things
But however the event occurred, it is referred to a tropical sense, but it also has a certain defense in itself. 4.46 celsus then casts aside the hatr
To recount the absurd histories of the greeks concerning the gods, which are worthy of shame in themselves and are allegorized? where chrysippus of so
Lying upon those who read and do not understand the things spoken figuratively which veil is taken away when god grants it, whenever he hearkens to
But the nature of the body is different. and in this respect, the body of a bat or a worm or a frog or a man will differ in no way for the matter is
So many created works, and in giving to many gods the task of fashioning, with some not contemptible reason, the differences between them, so that som
Spoken thus by the prophet: the heavens shall perish, but thou remainest and they all shall wax old as doth a garment and as a vesture shalt thou f
Had its origin in a sound conception. or will the wise man, after the death of anytus and socrates, care equally for the burial of the body of socrate
Saying: but when the gods purify the earth with water, has shown that the earth, being purified by waters, has fewer evils than the time before it w
To know what is. but we also say to this that to know the origin of evils is not easy even for one who has philosophized, and perhaps it is not even p
Will write this book, having written it countless times before. 4.68 celsus, then, says that only the cycle of mortals, according to its appointed rev
Paul, teaching us that even the most worthless will contribute something to the needs of the whole, but that they will be in the category of things to
A prophet says, arise, why do you sleep, lord? and again he says, and the lord was aroused as one sleeping, as a mighty man who has been overcome w
Thunders and lightnings and rains, already more clearly assisting but secondly he says that, even if one should grant these to be works of god, they
He brings up by way of objection a euripidean iambic verse, opposed to his own opinion and coming to close quarters with what has been said, he denou
A time, when there were no cities at all, nor had arts yet been invented. but let it be that we agree with him on these points yet he no longer agree
And are more frugal with things useful to themselves, and observing the bees, they obey their leaders and divide up the useful tasks of their state fo
Wishes, he increases the work of the word that has ordered all things and shows the skill in men, able to order by reason even the advantages of the n
Wiser than men, who from experience found through reason the natural remedy given to eagles and used it with understanding? 4.87 and let it be that ot
Whether the art of augury and, in general, divination by animals exists or does not exist and secondly, among those who have accepted the existence o
The things that will be, clearly they knew much earlier the things concerning themselves and knowing the things concerning themselves, they would hav
Happen, since demons are unable to work so powerfully in the tamer animals as they are in these others, which they activate because of their likeness
Our imaginative faculty. and we pray for the light of the knowledge of the glory of god to shine in our hearts, when the spirit of god visits our
To anyone unless perhaps he has called their tameness and their, as it were, compact with men, once they have come under their control, the keeping o
Soul's visit well. 5.t against the so-called true doctrine of celsus by origen book five 5.1 it is not because we are pursuing that forbidden talkati
To deny that god visits, taking forethought for men one by one, or, by positing such a thing, to falsify the argument of celsus. if, therefore, you de
The name of demons is ranked among the powers of a grosser body, who lead men astray and distract them, and drag them down from god and heavenly thing
Worms and every kind of serpent, but also of birds and of fish which not even those who say the world is god will say. the jews, however, who live ac
The lord your god for all the nations that are under the whole heaven. but us the lord god took and brought us out of the iron furnace, out of egypt,
By the pre-eminence of the surpassing divinity of god, and also by his only-begotten surpassing the rest. but being persuaded that the sun and moon an
All the stars and the light and praise him, you heavens of heavens, he would not have pronounced concerning us that we say such great things, which
You, lest i destroy you. but we have been compelled to allude to matters not suited to those who believe more simply and who require the simpler econ
Let us set forth and present a few things, according to our ability, with due consideration for our readers. neither we, then, nor the divine writings
Of his own sting, with which he stings the soul that is not entirely fenced in, and produces in it the wounds that come from sin. 5.20 but since our o
They are by no means able to establish, so far as their own pleasure is concerned but we, being persuaded that what is sown is not made alive, unles
But that which is raised from it in incorruption. but also the word of all things is, according to celsus, god himself, but according to us, his son
To repeal ancestral laws about marrying mothers and daughters, or about it being blessed to depart this life by hanging, or that those who give themse
Their tongue, so that each one might not hear the voice of his neighbor. and the lord scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and th
More numerous, but still tolerable and understanding this to happen for a longer time, and that therapy is always being applied, and that these men a
The piety of jesus christ come and let us go up to the mountain of the lord and to the house of the god of jacob, and he will announce to us his way
They ordered him to speak auspiciously. so, then, these things have been established by custom, and pindar seems to me to have composed correctly, whe
The written law is opposed to the law of god not to distress the citizens on the pretext of foreign laws but where the law of nature, that is, of god
A god in alexandria. and we have read in numenius the pythagorean about its construction, how it partakes of the substance of all things governed by n
It is likely that these people are approved by god and are loved in a manner different from others, and that angels are sent from thence to them alone
The highest of the mountains <ascending> not seeing that as the jews knew one god, so they had one holy house of prayer and one altar of whole burnt
Could do nothing nor have any power among those who think it makes no difference to call zeus most high, or zen, or adonai, or sabaoth? 5.46 knowing
Let so much be said, to which i will add one more thing fitting for a christian, and then i will move on to what follows. for this angel, i think, had
We listen to moses of god and have accepted jesus, the god testified to by him, as son of god, hoping for the best things, when we have lived accordin
But he thinks to counter each through many arguments, since indeed no one who is truly a christian says that christ alone has visited the <human race
To the women who came to the tomb or those seen within sitting in white garments. now it is possible to show that each of these things both happened
We have discussed above the things said by him. but what does celsus mean by <the fact> that according to the scriptures angels are recorded to have b
Would the disagreement in the sects of the philosophers be considered analogous, a disagreement not about small and random matters but about the most
We beseech and we would not say things spoken and unspoken against those who hold different opinions from what we have supposed but if we were able
Having ceased, let us begin the sixth from what follows. 6.t origen's sixth book against the work of celsus entitled 'true discourse' 6.1 in setting f
We assent to what is well said, that for god to them these things and whatever has been well said has revealed. for this reason we also say that t
Of the glory of god in the face of christ. wherefore, the most ancient prophet, prophesying many generations before the reign of cyrus—for he was mor
To have handed down such things concerning god. but celsus, having already often repeated the charge that we demand immediate belief, says this again
By name in plato, but jesus is shown by him as second after john, to whom the word became flesh applies, being analogous to the word in plato. plato
For nowhere in the world are there simonians and yet in order to win over more people, simon removed from his disciples the danger of death, which ch
Spoken of the one wise according to divine wisdom, who will not see corruption, it says, when he sees wise men dying. divine wisdom, therefore, be
According to plato of one humble and ordered, he is humble and ordered who is ordered by walking in great and wondrous things beyond him but hu
His lesser power of understanding god. and that the rarity with which the knowledge of god reaches men and is found in very few might be shown, moses
They recorded, and moreover, that having encountered the prophetic words, he set them forth, in which it was said: the super-celestial place no poet
And soft, of tin the third of zeus, brass-based and firm the fourth of hermes, for both iron and hermes are enduring of all works, and concerned wit
I think the things of the diagram have been set forth in part from the misrepresentations of the most insignificant heresy of the ophites. and we, in
It is not fitting for those who philosophize according to plato to make an apology concerning epicurus and his impious doctrines, so neither is it for
Of a serpent most hostile to men and most dreadful, not as men, of whom the serpent is an enemy, but as serpents they pride themselves on being called
I greet the uncircumspect, the first power, preserved by a spirit of providence and by wisdom from whence i am sent, pure, already a part of the ligh
The flaming sword is the diameter of a certain fiery circle, as if it were a guard to the tree of knowledge and of life. celsus, then, was unwilling o
Those who introduce reincarnation will say. and it is not unlikely that gates opening of their own accord has been said by some who were speaking al
Having life and on the second circle was inscribed, which was intertwined with and contained two other circles and another rhomboid figure, provid
The things said by celsus against christians were of such a kind, so as to be refuted by the majority, who learned by experience that such things are
Thus he hears also homer, as hinting at things similar to heraclitus and pherecydes and those who introduce the mysteries concerning the titans and gi
What beginning and origin it had, and that wickedness came into existence from some who shed their wings and followed the first one who shed his wings
But let them be on guard against the contrary. and it was necessary that the one of the extremes, the best, should be proclaimed son of god because of
And from where this very thing occurred to them, to call him the son of god, i shall explain. men of old called this world, as having come into being
Heaven and earth having come into being and the earth being invisible and unformed, and what the abyss is and the darkness upon it, and what the water
The lord shall be to them an everlasting light, and god their glory. but i think, having misheard some wicked heresy which badly explained the
Antecedents but i wonder if what he thinks follows for us, who say that this world also is the work of the god over all, concerning god having made e
For builders <to> seem to make the things lying beside the buildings as if they were dung falling from the stones and the plaster. 6.56 but if someone
In this manner: but the lord god, seeing that the evils of those on the earth were multiplied, and every one in his heart thinks diligently upon evil
Stars, and on the fifth the swimming creatures, and on the sixth the land animals and man, we have spoken to the best of our ability in our treati
Nor by thought. for while remaining the same, he administers mutable things, as is their nature, and reason itself chooses for them to be administer
Attainable, i distinguish the meaning and say: if by the word which is in us, whether immanent or expressed, we too will say that god is not attainabl
We choose to stand by every means, but we in no way wish to be with the darkness. but the true light, being animate, knows to whom its flashes must be
To anyone, but also his only-begotten. for the word of god is hard to see, and in this way wisdom is also hard to see, in which god has made all thing
To happen, and the word of god which descends even to men and the least of creatures is nothing other than a corporeal spirit but according to us, wh
Having already spoken of the opinion of marcion, and how in one way he truly sets forth the views of marcion, and in another has misheard them to whi
A prophet speaks of comeliness and beauty about him, he no longer wants the prophecy to be referred to jesus christ? and if it were possible to learn
Comparing hermes to our god, the creator of the universe. we have indeed said in the preceding passages that god did not send jesus to the human race
To mention also the nation of the egyptians, and most divinely inspired from the beginning, perhaps because from the beginning they have been hostile
Let us make our defense in addition to what has been said above. 7.3 he says, therefore: the things foretold by the pythia or the priestesses of dodon
To be defeated and having yielded to depart from the soul of a man and body of some wise and powerful person in the rational proofs concerning the fai
Of things said by the poet, having read that the words of chryses to apollo and the plague sent by apollo upon the greeks teaches that homer knew cert
Having acted impiously towards god and the one prophesied by the prophets among them. but signs of the holy spirit at first <at the time> of jesus' te
To prove that celsus is lying in these matters and that the prophecies are inspired yet we too have done so as far as was in our power, by explaining
To the they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink, having spoken before in the preceding sections we are forced
Prophecies. for the prophecies did not foretell that god would be crucified, which speak concerning the one who accepted death: and we saw him, and h
That one should care no more for food and a storehouse than the ravens, and less for clothing than the lilies, and to the one who has struck once,
To those not obeying the law, that they would suffer the same things which they did to their enemies. and before celsus, adding something to these, us
Admired by all who saw it. therefore, at the same time as the rays of the sun of righteousness shone upon his soul, as if being empowered and streng
And why are you anxious about clothing? consider the lilies of the field and the things that follow are contrary to the blessings in the law, which
7.27 next to these things, celsus, through many words, setting down things not said by us as if they were said by us concerning god, as if he were cor
Of a good and great land situated in a pure heaven, in which is the heavenly jerusalem concerning which the apostle, having discussed it as one rais
And he says simply, in contrast to sensible things, of which nothing is true, the saying: god, his works are true, placing the works of god among tr
God. 7.34 but not even as if god were in a place will we ask anyone and say: how shall we go to him? for god is greater than every place and contains
As a cowardly and body-loving race if, having closed your eyes to sense-perception, you look up with the mind, and having turned away from the flesh,
We have presented to our members. and man, then, that is, a soul using a body, called the inner man but also soul, answers not what celsus wrote d
Deceivers and sorcerers and those who court idols. and not even knowing that such men, as sorcerers, no less than celsus, speak evil of jesus with him
It is impossible to declare to all. then he adds to these, saying: see how the way of truth is sought by prophets and <philosophers>, and how plato k
To come but the word of god, having said: no one has known the father except the son, and to whomsoever the son chooses to reveal him, declares tha
Indeed, ancient men, being filled, announced many and good things of which if you are not able to hear, be silent and cover up your own ignorance and
They are given over by god to the lusts of their hearts to impurity, and their bodies are dishonored in indecencies and licentiousness, because th
You have brought me down to the dust of death wherefore it has also been said, who will deliver me from this body of death? and who will transfo
The men of old who were glorified, you had orpheus, a man who confessedly used a holy spirit and who himself died a violent death. but perhaps he had
And we have rendered. but that we may hear what has been said more simply, see if the prayer is not spoken with piety towards god, by one who does not
He should suffer anything from them. plato says these things, and again these: consider then very carefully yourself, whether you agree and it seems
To him who has eaten, how would a discourse which produces multitudes of patient and meek people, or at least of those advancing toward these virtues,
For the doctrines, from which those who do not tolerate them, do not tolerate temples and statues so that if one does not tolerate them from sound do
Of him who is without need or of his son and firstborn of all creation. therefore, in addition to those things, these also are sufficient concerning
Of the greatest god, and is each one who has been deemed worthy appointed, having been allotted a power? will not the one who reveres god then rightly
Just as those who commit robbery in the deserts, and set one man over them as their ruler, so the demons, having become, as it were, bands in various
We accept the saying, no one can serve two masters, to which is added, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
Praising creation and seeing, in what way all will be set free from the bondage of corruption and will attain to the freedom of the glory of the
We will worship god not as needing it, nor as being grieved if we do not worship him, but as ourselves being benefited from the worship towards god an
Each one proceeds, having made progress. 8.12 and next to these things, someone might seem to say something plausible against us in this: if, indeed,
Unspotted from the activity of god and an image of his goodness, we know that this one is son of that one, and that one is father of this one. and th
He adduces the saying, <why> are there many around the well, but no one in the well? and, why, when you have come so far on the road, are you timid
Saying: i will dwell in them and walk among them, and i will be their god, and they shall be my people, and the savior: if anyone hears my words an
A perception, by which one perceives god and his statues and temples and altars, which are fitting for god. it is not, then, because of a pledge of an
That paul, having perceived, named the festival on days set apart from others a part of a festival, but that it was hinted from this statement that
Wicked for this reason we shall say that the argument of celsus is false, who said this: but if there are certain demons, clearly these also are of g
By which your brother stumbles and again: do not destroy with your food that one for whom christ died, and again: if meat causes my brother to stu
Dedicated to the god over all to which he said what is set forth. we, then, so far as it relates to food and drink, know of no other ways of feasting
The word of god and prayer. but it would not be good nor possible to be sanctified, if, as celsus thinks, these things were appointed to demons. 8.
A governor, and furthermore also those who have lesser authorities or charges or services, could do great harm if neglected, while the aerial and terr
Roman, and thus each one according to his own dialect prays to god and praises him as he is able and the lord of every dialect hears those who pray f
To explain what the saying means about sins being visited <unto> the third and fourth generation. 8.41 then, reviling us like old women, he says:
Their plot against their own land, no longer able to contain those who had dared such a great pollution against jesus. 8.43 therefore, a new thing has
Flees because of cowardice, but keeping the commandment of the teacher and preserving himself pure for the salvation of others who will be helped. 8.4
Of those who have received supposed benefits, unless he shall see that the nation of the jews was of old philosophical, before they committed outrage
Often said, often to be defended. but celsus slanders us, as if we considered nothing in our constitution to be better or more honorable than the body
To do for himself and, if it were possible, after his primary argument that was apparent to him, to build upon it and to prove through more arguments
Thus they reviled moses and the prophets and jesus and his apostles and not only did they reject the jews among all the nations on earth, saying that
To depart from here all together, leaving behind no seed, so that such a race might be completely desolated from the earth but if they will take wive
We owe them thanks and we, clarifying the argument concerning thanksgiving, say to those who confer no benefits but even stand on the opposite side,
Having with great power sown the pure word of piety upon the whole inhabited world of men, and i will not lie in adding and saying that also of the ot
Being bound to them, able to do nothing better than these things. and it is likely that, when we stand against celsus, who treats as divine the oracle
Become worthy, but also cooperate with those who wish to serve the god over all, and are reconciled and pray together and count worthy together so th
The lord, sun and moon, and with as much power as they can praising the father and the creator of the universe. however, the stories of the greeks ha
Honor by keeping them safe and yet, in such a hypothetical case, neither will the king be left alone, nor will he be deserted, nor will earthly affa
To have been numbered of him. 8.71 then again, as is the custom for celsus, he causes confusion in what follows, saying things which none of us has wr
That all call upon the name of the lord, to serve him under one yoke, so that the vile things of insolence might be removed, and there might no lo
Forcing, whom we are persuaded is the son of god, the word of god. and if the rulers in the church of the fatherland which is according to god—i mean
attainable, I distinguish the meaning and say: if by the word which is in us, whether immanent or expressed, we too will say that God is not attainable by word; but if, understanding "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," we declare that by this Word God is attainable, not only being apprehended by Him alone but also by whomever He himself might reveal the Father, we shall prove false the statement of Celsus when he says: God is not even attainable by word. And the phrase "not nameable" also needs a distinction. For if it is because nothing among words and their meanings can represent the properties of God, the saying is true, since indeed many qualities are not nameable. For who can by names give the difference of the quality of the sweetness of a date and the sweetness of a dried fig? And who can by name distinguish and represent the peculiar quality of each thing? It is not surprising, therefore, if God is not nameable in this way. But if you take "nameable" in the sense that it is possible by names to represent something about Him, so as to guide the hearer and make him understand something about God, as far as is attainable for human nature, there is nothing absurd in calling Him nameable. And in this way we also distinguish the phrase "for He has suffered nothing that can be comprehended by a name." And it is true also that God is beyond all passion. So much for this. 6.66 But let us look at his next statement, by which he, as it were, personifies someone, who after hearing these things says the following: How then can I know God? And how can I learn the way there? And how do you show Him to me? For now you cast darkness before my eyes, and I see nothing clearly. Then he, as it were, answers the one who has thus raised these difficulties, and thinks he is giving the reason why darkness has been poured over the eyes of the one who said the aforementioned things, by stating: Those whom one might lead out of darkness into a brilliant light, being unable to bear the dazzling rays, have their sight punished and are harmed and think they are being blinded. And to these things we will say that all those who gaze upon the evil arts of painters and sculptors and statue-makers are sitting in darkness and are established in it, but not wishing to look up and to ascend with the mind from all visible and sensible things to the Creator of all, who is light; but that everyone who has followed the rays of the Word is in light, since it has been shown from how much ignorance and impiety and want of knowledge about the divine these things were worshipped instead of God, and it has guided the mind of the one wishing to be saved to the unbegotten God who is over all. For "the people that sat in darkness," that of the Gentiles, "saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up," God Jesus. No Christian therefore answers Celsus or any of the accusers of the divine word, saying: How can I know God? For each of them, as far as is possible, has known God. And no one says: How can I learn the way there? since he has heard the one who said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," and having tasted in the journeying the benefit from journeying. And no Christian would say to Celsus: How do you show me God? 6.67 But Celsus said this true thing in the preceding passages, that someone hearing his words answers, but seeing that his words are words of darkness, that you cast darkness before my eyes. Celsus, then, and those like him, wish to cast darkness before our eyes, but we by the light of the Word make the darkness of impious doctrines disappear. And a Christian might say to Celsus who says nothing clear and striking: I see nothing clear in your words. Celsus therefore does not lead us out of darkness into a brilliant light, but wishes to transfer us from light into darkness, putting "darkness" to be "light, and light darkness," and being subject to what was well said by Isaiah in this manner: "Woe unto them that put darkness for light, and light for darkness." But we, since the Word has opened the eyes of our soul, seeing the difference of light and darkness, in light indeed
ἐφικτός, διαστέλλομαι τὸ σημαινόμενον καί φημι· εἰ μὲν λόγῳ τῷ ἐν ἡμῖν, εἴτε ἐνδιαθέτῳ εἴτε καὶ προφορικῷ, καὶ ἡμεῖς φήσομεν
ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐφικτὸς τῷ λόγῳ ὁ θεός· εἰ δὲ νοήσαντες τὸ "Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ
λόγος" ἀποφαινόμεθα ὅτι τούτῳ τῷ λόγῳ ἐφικτός ἐστιν ὁ θεός, οὐ μόνῳ αὐτῷ καταλαμβα νόμενος ἀλλὰ καὶ ᾧ ἂν αὐτὸς ἀποκαλύψῃ τὸν
πατέρα, ψευδοποιήσομεν τὴν Κέλσου λέξιν φάσκοντος· οὐδὲ λόγῳ ἐφικτός ἐστιν ὁ θεός. Καὶ τὸ οὐκ ὀνομαστὸς δὲ διαστολῆς δεῖται.
Εἰ μὲν γάρ, ὅτι οὐδὲν τῶν ἐν λέξεσι καὶ σημαινομένοις δύναται παραστῆσαι τὰς ἰδιότητας τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀληθές ἐστι τὸ λεγόμενον,
εἴ γε καὶ πολλαὶ ποιότητες οὐκ εἰσὶν ὀνομασταί. Τίς γὰρ δύναται ὀνόμασι διαφορὰν δοῦναι ποιότητος γλυκύτητος φοίνικος καὶ
γλυκύτητος ἰσχάδος; Τίς δὲ ὀνόματι δύναται διαστείλασθαι καὶ παραστῆσαι τὴν ἑκάστου ἰδίαν ποιότητα; Οὐδὲν οὖν θαυμαστόν, εἰ
οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως ὀνομαστὸς ὁ θεός. Εἰ δὲ τὸ ὀνομαστὸν λαμβάνεις καθὸ οἷόν τε ἐστὶν ὀνόμασι παραστῆσαί τι τῶν περὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς
τὸ χειραγωγῆσαι τὸν ἀκροατὴν καὶ ποιῆσαι νοῆσαι περὶ θεοῦ κατὰ τὸ ἐφικτὸν τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ φύσει τινὰ τῶν περὶ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲν ἄτοπον
λέγειν αὐτὸν ὀνομαστόν. Οὕτω δὲ διαστελούμεθα καὶ τὸ οὐδὲν γὰρ πέπονθεν ὀνόματι καταληπτόν. Ἀληθὲς δὲ καὶ τὸ ἔξω παντὸς πάθους
εἶναι τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ταύτῃ. 6.66 Ἴδωμεν δὲ καὶ τὴν ἑξῆς αὐτοῦ λέξιν, δι' ἧς οἱονεὶ προσωποποιεῖταί τινα, μετὰ τὸ
ἀκοῦσαι τούτων τοιαῦτα λέγοντα· Πῶς οὖν γνῶ τὸν θεόν; Καὶ πῶς τὴν ἐκεῖσε ὁδὸν μάθω; Καὶ πῶς αὐτόν μοι δεικνύεις; Ὡς νῦν γε
σκότον μου τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν προβάλλεις, καὶ οὐδὲν ἐναργὲς βλέπω. Εἶτα πρὸς τὸν οὕτως ἐπαπορήσαντα οἱονεὶ ἀποκρί νεται, καὶ τὴν
αἰτίαν τοῦ σκότον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν κατακεχύσθαι τοῦ εἰπόντος τὰ προειρημένα ἀποδιδόναι νομίζει φάσκων· Οὓς ἄν τις εἰς λαμπρὸν
φῶς ἐκ σκότους προαγάγῃ, τούτους μὴ δυναμένους ἀντέχειν ταῖς μαρμαρυγαῖς κολάζεσθαι τὴν ὄψιν καὶ βλάπτεσθαι καὶ νομίζειν πηροῦσθαι.
Καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα δὲ φήσομεν καθῆσθαι μὲν ἐν σκότῳ καὶ ἱδρῦσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ πάντας τοὺς εἰς τὰς τῶν ζωγράφων καὶ πλαστῶν καὶ ἀνδριαντοποιῶν
ἐνορῶντας κακοτεχνίας, μὴ βουλομένους δ' ἀναβλέψαι καὶ ἀναβῆναι τῷ νῷ ἀπὸ ὁρατῶν πάντων καὶ αἰσθητῶν ἐπὶ τὸν ὅλων δημιουργόν,
ὅς ἐστι φῶς· ἐν φωτὶ δὲ τυγχάνειν πάντα τὸν ταῖς τοῦ λόγου αὐγαῖς ἀκολουθήσαντα, δείξαντος ἀφ' ὅσης ἀγνοίας καὶ ἀσεβείας καὶ
τῆς περὶ τὸ θεῖον ἀμαθίας ταῦτα ἀντὶ τοῦ θεοῦ προσεκυνεῖτο, καὶ χειραγωγήσαντος τὸν τοῦ βουλομένου σῴζεσθαι νοῦν πρὸς τὸν
ἀγένητον καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι θεόν. "Λαὸς" γὰρ "ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ", ὁ τῶν ἐθνῶν, "φῶς εἶδε μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθη μένοις ἐν χώρᾳ
καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν", ὁ θεὸς Ἰησοῦς. Οὐδεὶς οὖν Χριστιανὸς ἀποκρίνεται τῷ Κέλσῳ ἤ τινι τῶν κατηγορούντων τοῦ θείου
λόγου φάσκων· Πῶς γνῶ τὸν θεόν; Ἕκαστος γὰρ αὐτῶν, ὡς ἐγχωρεῖ, ἔγνω τὸν θεόν. Καὶ οὐδείς φησι· Πῶς τὴν ἐκεῖσε ὁδὸν μάθω; ἅτε
ἀκούσας τοῦ εἰπόντος· "Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωὴ" καὶ γευσάμενος ἐν τῷ ὁδεύειν τῆς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὁδεύειν ὠφελείας.
Καὶ οὐδεὶς ἂν Χριστιανῶν λέγοι Κέλσῳ· Πῶς μοι δεικνύεις τὸν θεόν; 6.67 Τοῦτο δ' ἐν τοῖς προκειμένοις ὁ Κέλσος εἶπεν ἀληθές,
ὅτι ἀκούσας τις αὐτοῦ τῶν λόγων ἀποκρίνεται, ἰδὼν δ' ὅτι λόγοι σκότους εἰσὶν οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ, ὅτι σκότος μου τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν προβάλλεις.
Κέλσος μὲν οὖν καὶ οἱ παραπλήσιοι αὐτῷ προβάλλειν σκότον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἡμῶν θέλουσιν, ἡμεῖς δὲ τῷ φωτὶ τοῦ λόγου ἐξαφανίζομεν
τὸ σκότος τῶν ἀσεβῶν δογμάτων. Εἴποι δ' ἂν ὁ Χριστιανὸς πρὸς Κέλσον οὐδὲν ἐναργὲς καὶ πληκτικὸν λέγοντα τό· Οὐδὲν ἐναργὲς
βλέπω ἐν τοῖς σοῖς λόγοις. Οὐκ ἐκ σκότου τοίνυν εἰς λαμπρὸν φῶς προάγει ἡμᾶς ὁ Κέλσος, ἀλλὰ βούλεται ἐκ φωτὸς μεταστῆσαι εἰς
σκότον, τιθεὶς "τὸ σκότος" εἶναι "φῶς καὶ τὸ φῶς σκότος" καὶ ὑποκείμενος τῷ καλῶς εἰρημένῳ ὑπὸ Ἡσαΐου τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον· "Οὐαὶ
οἱ τιθέντες τὸ σκότος φῶς καὶ τὸ φῶς σκότος." Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς, ἀνοίξαντος τοῦ λόγου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῆς ψυχῆς ἡμῶν, ὁρῶντες διαφορὰν
φωτὸς καὶ σκότους ἐν φωτὶ μὲν
