Philocalia

From the work on “Principles,” and carious other works of Origen.

1. Inasmuch as when we investigate matters of such importance we are not content with common notions and such light as is given by the things that are seen, we strengthen our position by the additional evidence of the Seriptures, which we believe to be Divine, viz. both that which is called the Old estament and that which is called the New, and endeavour with the help of reason to confirm our faith. Dnt as we have never yet discussed the Scriptures on the side of their Divine inspiration, let us bring together a few brief remarks concerning them, by way of showing upon what grounds we regard them as Divine. And before we procecd to make use of the text of the Seriptures and of what is revealed in thei, a few particulars must be given concerning Moses and Jesus Christ—the lawyiver of the Hebrews, and the Author of the saving doctrines of Christianity. For of all the numerous lawgivers that have arisen among Greeks and Barbarians, we recall no one who could induce other nations to eagerly accept his tenets; and although the professors of philosophic truth made claborate efforts to establish their doctrine on a sceming basis of reason, not one of them succeeded in introducing into different nations the truth which he supported, or in mfluencing considerable numbers of one nation. And yet the lawgivers would have liked, if it had been possible, to bind the good laws, as they appeared to be, on the whole human race, and the teachers would desire that what they imagined to be truth should be spread throughout the world. Conscious, however, that they would not succeed if they invited men of different languages and of many nationalities to observe the law they promulgated, and accept the instruction they cave, they did not even attempt this at first, for they shrewdly suspected that the attempt would end in failure, But in every land, Greck and Barbarian, throughout the world, countless adherents of our faith may be found who have abandoned their ancestral customs and familar gods, to beeome zealous observers of the law of Moses and eager disciples of Jesus Christ; and this in spite of the fact that they who submit to the law of Moses are hated by the worshippers of images, and they who accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ are not only hated but are in peril of death.