Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
9. Here, if any one lay before us the passage where it is said, “Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,”[39] from that very
passage, in my opinion, will our position derive additional strength;
for what else is seeing God in heart, but, according to our exposition
as above, understanding and knowing Him with the mind? For the names of
the organs of sense are frequently applied to the soul, so that it may
be said to see with the eyes of the heart, _i.e._ to perform an
intellectual act by means of the power of intelligence. So also it is
said to hear with the ears when it perceives the deeper meaning of a
statement. So also we say that it makes use of teeth, when it chews and
eats the bread of life which cometh down from heaven. In like manner,
also, it is said to employ the services of other members, which are
transferred from their bodily appellations, and applied to the powers of
the soul, according to the words of Solomon, “You will find a divine
sense.”[40] For he knew that there were within us two kinds of senses:
the one mortal, corruptible, human; the other immortal and intellectual,
which he now termed divine. By this divine sense, therefore, not of the
eyes, but of a pure heart, which is the mind, God may be seen by those
who are worthy. For you will certainly find in all the Scriptures, both
old and new, the term “heart” repeatedly used instead of “mind,” _i.e._
intellectual power. In this manner, therefore, although far below the
dignity of the subject, have we spoken of the nature of God, as those
who understand it under the limitation of the human understanding. In
the next place, let us see what is meant by the name of Christ.
Footnote 19:
Deut. iv. 24.
Footnote 20:
John iv. 24.
Footnote 21:
1 John i. 5.
Footnote 22:
Ps. xxxvi. 9.
Footnote 23:
John xiv. 23.
Footnote 24:
2 Cor. iii. 6.
Footnote 25:
2 Cor. iii. 15-17.
Footnote 26:
Disciplina.
Footnote 27:
Subsistentia.
Footnote 28:
John iv. 20.
Footnote 29:
John iv. 23, 24.
Footnote 30:
“Inæstimabilem.”
Footnote 31:
“Simplex intellectualis natura.”
Footnote 32:
“Natura illa simplex et tota mens.”
Footnote 33:
Some read “visible.”
Footnote 34:
“Substantia quædam sensibilis propria.”
Footnote 35:
Col. i. 15.
Footnote 36:
John i. 18.
Footnote 37:
“Constat inter Patrem et Filium.”
Footnote 38:
Matt. xi. 27.
Footnote 39:
Matt. v. 8.
Footnote 40:
Cf. Prov. ii. 5.
CHAPTER II.
ON CHRIST.
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