Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
Apostle John points out more clearly and unmistakeably, when he makes
this declaration: “Little children, we do not yet know what we shall
be; but if a revelation be made to us from the Saviour, ye will say,
without any doubt, we shall be like Him.”[750] By which expression he
points out with the utmost certainty, that not only was the end of all
things to be hoped for, which he says was still unknown to him, but
also the likeness to God, which will be conferred in proportion to the
completeness of our deserts. The Lord Himself, in the Gospel, not only
declares that these same results are future, but that they are to be
brought about by His own intercession, He Himself deigning to obtain
them from the Father for His disciples, saying, “Father, I will that
where I am, these also may be with me; and as Thou and I are one, they
also may be one in us.”[751] In which the divine likeness itself
already appears to advance, if we may so express ourselves, and from
being merely similar, to become the same,[752] because undoubtedly in
the consummation or end God is “all and in all.” And with reference to
this, it is made a question by some[753] whether the nature of bodily
matter, although cleansed and purified, and rendered altogether
spiritual, does not seem either to offer an obstruction towards
attaining the dignity of the [divine] likeness, or to the property of
unity,[754] because neither can a corporeal nature appear capable of
any resemblance to a divine nature, which is certainly incorporeal;
nor can it be truly and deservedly designated one with it, especially
since we are taught by the truths of our religion that that which
alone is one, viz. the Son with the Father, must be referred to a
peculiarity of the [divine] nature.
2. Since, then, it is promised that in the end God will be all and in
all, we are not, as is fitting, to suppose that animals, either sheep or
other cattle, come to that end, lest it should be implied that God dwelt
even in animals, whether sheep or other cattle; and so, too, with pieces
of wood or stones, lest it should be said that God is in these also. So,
again, nothing that is wicked must be supposed to attain to that end,
lest, while God is said to be in all things, He may also be said to be
in a vessel of wickedness. For if we now assert that God is everywhere
and in all things, on the ground that nothing can be empty of God, we
nevertheless do not say that He is now “all things” in those in whom He
is. And hence we must look more carefully as to what that is which
denotes the perfection of blessedness and the end of things, which is
not only said to be God in all things, but also “all in all.” Let us
then inquire what all those things are which God is to become in all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account