Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
3. Now we term world everything which is above the heavens, or in the
heavens, or upon the earth, or in those places which are called the
lower regions, or all places whatever that anywhere exist, together with
their inhabitants. This whole, then, is called world. In which world
certain beings are said to be super-celestial, _i.e._ placed in happier
abodes, and clothed with heavenly and resplendent bodies; and among
these many distinctions are shown to exist, the apostle, _e.g._, saying,
“That one is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon,
another the glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star
in glory.”[306] Certain beings are called earthly, and among them,
_i.e._ among men, there is no small difference; for some of them are
Barbarians, others Greeks; and of the Barbarians some are savage and
fierce, and others of a milder disposition. And certain of them live
under laws that have been thoroughly approved; others, again, under laws
of a more common or severe kind;[307] while some, again, possess customs
of an inhuman and savage character, rather than laws. And certain of
them, from the hour of their birth, are reduced to humiliation and
subjection, and brought up as slaves, being placed under the dominion
either of masters, or princes, or tyrants. Others, again, are brought up
in a manner more consonant with freedom and reason: some with sound
bodies, some with bodies diseased from their early years; some defective
in vision, others in hearing and speech; some born in that condition,
others deprived of the use of their senses immediately after birth, or
at least undergoing such misfortune on reaching manhood. And why should
I repeat and enumerate all the horrors of human misery, from which some
have been free, and in which others have been involved, when each one
can weigh and consider them for himself? There are also certain
invisible powers to which earthly things have been entrusted for
administration; and amongst them no small difference must be believed to
exist, as is also found to be the case among men. The Apostle Paul
indeed intimates that there are certain lower powers,[308] and that
among them, in like manner, must undoubtedly be sought a ground of
diversity. Regarding dumb animals, and birds, and those creatures which
live in the waters, it seems superfluous to inquire; since it is certain
that these ought to be regarded not as of primary, but of subordinate
rank.
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