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Translated from the Greek original by Frederick Crombie.
Origen Resources OnLine & in Print
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128 Pages
Page 72
And to this also, Paul, referring in terms of commendation, as we have stated a little above, says: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." [3188] For, according to the predictions in the prophets, foretelling the preaching of the Gospel, "the Lord gave the word in great power to them who preached it, even the King of the powers of the Beloved," [3189] in order that the prophecy might be fulfilled which said, "His words shall run very swiftly." [3190] And we see that "the voice of the apostles of Jesus has gone forth into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." [3191] On this account are they who hear the word powerfully proclaimed filled with power, which they manifest both by their dispositions and their lives, and by struggling even to death on behalf of the truth; while some are altogether empty, although they profess to believe in God through Jesus, inasmuch as, not possessing any divine power, they have the appearance only of being converted to the word of God. And although I have previously mentioned a Gospel declaration uttered by the Saviour, I shall nevertheless quote it again, as appropriate to the present occasion, as it confirms both the divine manifestation of our Saviour's foreknowledge regarding the preaching of His Gospel, and the power of His word, which without the aid of teachers gains the mastery over those who yield their assent to persuasion accompanied with divine power; and the words of Jesus referred to are, "The harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest." [3192]
[3188] Cf. 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5.
[3189] Cf. Ps. lxviii. 11 (Septuagint).
[3190] Ps. cxlvii. 15.
[3191] Ps. xix. 4.
[3192] Matt. ix. 37, 38.
Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/against-celsus.asp?pg=72
