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

Translated by Frederick Crombie.

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Page 6

Thereupon the heretics, reading that it is written in the law, "A fire has been kindled in Mine anger;" [2735] and that "I the Lord am a jealous (God), visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation;" [2736] and that "it repenteth Me that I anointed Saul to be king;" [2737] and, "I am the Lord, who make peace and create evil;" [2738] and again, "There is not evil in a city which the Lord hath not done;" [2739] and, "Evils came down from the Lord upon the gates of Jerusalem;" [2740] and, "An evil spirit from the Lord plagued Saul;" [2741] and reading many other passages similar to these, which are found in Scripture, they did not venture to assert that these were not the Scriptures of God, but they considered them to be the words of that creator God whom the Jews worshipped, and who, they judged, ought to be regarded as just only, and not also as good; but that the Saviour had come to announce to us a more perfect God, who, they allege; is not the creator of the world,--there being different and discordant opinions among them even on this very point, because, when they once depart from a belief in God the Creator, who is Lord of all, they have given themselves over to various inventions and fables, devising certain (fictions), and asserting that some things were visible, and made by one (God), and that certain other things were invisible, and were created by another, according to the vain and fanciful suggestions of their own minds. But not a few also of the more simple of those, who appear to be restrained within the faith of the Church, are of opinion that there is no greater God than the Creator, holding in this a correct and sound opinion; and yet they entertain regarding Him such views as would not be entertained regarding the most unjust and cruel of men.

[2735] Cf. Jer. xv. 14.

[2736] Cf. Ex. xx. 5.

[2737] Cf. 1 Sam. xv. 11.

[2738] Cf. Isa. xlv. 7.

[2739] Cf. Amos iii. 6.

[2740] Cf. Mic. i. 12.

[2741] Cf. 1 Sam. xvi. 14; xviii. 10.

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