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Translated by Frederick Crombie.
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This Part: 128 Pages
Page 83
5. We are not, however, to suppose that each individual has to contend against all these (adversaries). For it is impossible for any man, although he were a saint, to carry on a contest against all of them at the same time. If that indeed were by any means to be the case, as it is certainly impossible it should be so, human nature could not possibly bear it without undergoing entire destruction. [2573] But as, for example, if fifty soldiers were to say that they were about to engage with fifty others, they would not be understood to mean that one of them had to contend against the whole fifty, but each one would rightly say that "our battle was against fifty," all against all; so also this is to be understood as the apostle's meaning, that all the athletes and soldiers of Christ have to wrestle and struggle against all the adversaries enumerated,--the struggle having, indeed, to be maintained against all, but by single individuals either with individual powers, or at least in such manner as shall be determined by God, who is the just president of the struggle. For I am of opinion that there is a certain limit to the powers of human nature, although there may be a Paul, of whom it is said, "He is a chosen vessel unto Me;" [2574] or a Peter, against whom the gates of hell do not prevail; or a Moses, the friend of God: yet not one of them could sustain, without destruction to himself, [2575] the whole simultaneous assault of these opposing powers, unless indeed the might of Him alone were to work in him, who said, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." [2576] And therefore Paul exclaims with confidence, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me;" [2577] and again, "I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." [2578] On account, then, of this power, which certainly is not of human origin operating and speaking in him, Paul could say, "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor power, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [2579]
[2573] Sine maxima subversione sui.
[2574] Acts ix. 15.
[2575] Sine aliqua pernicie sui.
[2576] John xvi. 33.
[2577] Phil. iv. 13.
[2578] 1 Cor. xv. 10.
[2579] Rom. viii. 38, 39. The word "virtus," dunamis, occurring in the text, is not found in the text. recept. Tischendorf reads Dunameis in loco (edit. 7). So also Codex Siniaticus.
Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/principiis.asp?pg=83
