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

Translated by Frederick Crombie.

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This Part: 66 Pages

Page 9

11. But, as we had begun to observe, the way which seems to us the correct one for the understanding of the Scriptures, and for the investigation of their meaning, we consider to be of the following kind: for we are instructed by Scripture itself in regard to the ideas which we ought to form of it. In the Proverbs of Solomon we find some such rule as the following laid down, respecting the consideration of holy Scripture: "And do thou," he says, "describe these things to thyself in a threefold manner, in counsel and knowledge, and that thou mayest answer the words of truth to those who have proposed them to thee." [2753] Each one, then, ought to describe in his own mind, in a threefold manner, the understanding of the divine letters,--that is, in order that all the more simple individuals may be edified, so to speak, by the very body of Scripture; for such we term that common and historical sense: while, if some have commenced to make considerable progress, and are able to see something more (than that), they may be edified by the very soul of Scripture. Those, again, who are perfect, and who resemble those of whom the apostle says, "We speak wisdom among them that are perfect, but not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, who will be brought to nought; but we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, which God hath decreed before the ages unto our glory;" [2754] --all such as these may be edified by the spiritual law itself (which has a shadow of good things to come), as if by the Spirit.

[2753] Cf. Prov. xxii. 20, 21. The Masoretic text reads, K%K%E+J+R+iW+H+L+ .T+E+aR+oW+o T+W+ZJE+"M+B+u (S+J+ShiL+iSho, keri) S+W+ShL+iSho K%K%L+ J+T+uiB+T+aK+o #L+H+ .K%K%J+X+L+ShL+ T+M+# S+J+R+iM+o# B+J+ShiH+oL+ T+M+# J+R+"M+#i TjShQ+

[2754] 1 Cor. ii. 6, 7.

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