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Translated by John Patrick.
Origen Resources OnLine & in Print
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128 Pages
Page 84
Let others, then, who are strangers to the doctrine of the Church, assume that souls pass from the bodies of men into the bodies of dogs, according to their varying degree of wickedness; but we, who do not find this at all in the divine Scripture, say that the more rational condition changes into one more irrational, undergoing this affection in consequence of great slothfulness and negligence. But, also, in the same way, a will which was more irrational, because of its neglect of reason, sometimes turns and becomes rational, so that that which at one time was a dog, loving to eat of the crumbs that fell from the table of its masters, comes into the condition of a son. For virtue contributes greatly to the making of one a son of God, but wickedness, and mad fury in wanton discourses and shamelessness, contribute to the giving of a man the name of dog according to the word of the Scripture. [5523] And the like you will also understand in the case of the other names which are applied to animals without reason. Only, he who is reproached as a dog and yet is not indignant at being called unworthy of the bread of children and with all forbearance repeats the saying of that Canaanitish woman, "Yea, Lord, for even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' [5524] table," will obtain the very gentle answer of Jesus saying to him, "Great is thy faith,"--when he has received so great faith--and saying, "Be it done unto thee even as thou wilt," [5525] so that he himself may be healed, and if he has produced any fruit which stands in need of healing, that this, too, may be cured.
[5523] 2 Sam. xvi. 9.
[5524] Matt. xv. 27.
[5525] Matt. xv. 28.
Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/matthew-commentary.asp?pg=84
