Origen, ON THE PRINCIPLES (PERI ARCHON - DE PRINCIPIIS), Second Part, Complete

Translated by Frederick Crombie.

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This Part: 128 Pages

Page 105

But with regard to the consummation of the world, Jacob is the first who gives any information, in addressing his children in the words: "Gather yourselves together unto me, ye sons of Jacob, that I may tell you what shall be in the last days," or "after the last days." [2646] If, then, there be "last days," or a period "succeeding the last days," the days which had a beginning must necessarily come to an end. David, too, declares: "The heavens shall perish, but Thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old as doth a garment: as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end." [2647] Our Lord and Saviour, indeed, in the words, "He who made them at the beginning, made them male and female," [2648] Himself bears witness that the world was created; and again, when He says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away," [2649] He points out that they are perishable, and must come to an end. The apostle, moreover, in declaring that "the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God," [2650] manifestly announces the end of the world; as he does also when he again says, "The fashion of this world passeth away." [2651] Now, by the expression which he employs, "that the creature was made subject to vanity," he shows that there was a beginning to this world: for if the creature were made subject to vanity on account of some hope, it was certainly made subject from a cause; and seeing it was from a cause, it must necessarily have had a beginning: for, without some beginning, the creature could not be subject to vanity, nor could that (creature) hope to be freed from the bondage of corruption, which had not begun to serve. But any one who chooses to search at his leisure, will find numerous other passages in holy Scripture in which the world is both said to have a beginning and to hope for an end.

[2646] Gen. xlix. 1. The Vulgate has, "In diebus novissimis;" the Sept. 'Ep' eschaton ton hemeron: the Masoretic text, T+J+R+iX+#aB+u.

[2647] Ps. cii. 26, 27.

[2648] Matt. xix. 4.

[2649] Matt. xxiv. 35.

[2650] Rom. viii. 20, 21.

[2651] 1 Cor. vii. 31.

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