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

Translated by Frederick Crombie.

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This Part: 66 Pages

Page 56

29. Now, if any one were to say that, through those who are partakers of the "Word" of God, or of His "Wisdom," or His "Truth," or His "Life," the Word and Wisdom itself appeared to be contained in a place, we should have to say to him in answer, that there is no doubt that Christ, in respect of being the "Word" or "Wisdom," or all other things, was in Paul, and that he therefore said, "Do you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me?" [2967] and again, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." [2968] Seeing, then, He was in Paul, who will doubt that He was in a similar manner in Peter and in John, and in each one of the saints; and not only in those who are upon the earth, but in those also who are in heaven? For it is absurd to say that Christ was in Peter and in Paul, but not in Michael the archangel, nor in Gabriel. And from this it is distinctly shown that the divinity of the Son of God was not shut up in some place; otherwise it would have been in it only, and not in another. But since, in conformity with the majesty of its incorporeal nature, it is confined to no place; so, again, it cannot be understood to be wanting in any. But this is understood to be the sole difference, that although He is in different individuals as we have said--as Peter, or Paul, or Michael, or Gabriel--He is not in a similar way in all beings whatever. For He is more fully and clearly, and, so to speak, more openly in archangels than in other holy men. [2969] And this is evident from the statement, that when all who are saints have arrived at the summit of perfection, they are said to be made like, or equal to, the angels, agreeably to the declaration in the Gospels. [2970] Whence it is clear that Christ is in each individual in as great a degree as the amount of his deserts allows. [2971]

[2967] Cf. 2 Cor. xiii. 3.

[2968] Gal. ii. 20.

[2969] Quam in aliis sanctis viris. "Aliis" is found in the mss., but is wanting in many editions.

[2970] Cf. Matt. xxii. 30 and Luke xx. 36.

[2971] Unde constat in singulis quibusque tantum effici Christum, quantum ratio indulserit meritorum.

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