Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
It is certain that there is no living thing which can be altogether
inactive and immoveable, but delights in motion of every kind, and in
perpetual activity and volition; and this nature, I think it evident, is
in all living things. Much more, then, must a rational animal, _i.e._
the nature of man, be in perpetual movement and activity. If, indeed, he
is forgetful of himself, and ignorant of what becomes him, all his
efforts are directed to serve the uses of the body, and in all his
movements he is occupied with his own pleasures and bodily lusts; but if
he be one who studies to care or provide for the general good, then,
either by consulting for the benefit of the state or by obeying the
magistrates, he exerts himself for that, whatever it is, which may seem
certainly to promote the public advantage. And if now any one be of such
a nature as to understand that there is something better than those
things which seem to be corporeal, and so bestow his labour upon wisdom
and science, then he will undoubtedly direct all his attention towards
pursuits of that kind, that he may, by inquiring into the truth,
ascertain the causes and reason of things. As therefore, in this life,
one man deems it the highest good to enjoy bodily pleasures, another to
consult for the benefit of the community, a third to devote attention to
study and learning; so let us inquire whether in that life which is the
true one (which is said to be hidden with Christ in God, _i.e._ in that
eternal life), there will be for us some such order and condition of
existence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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