Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
10. And what need is there to speak of the prophecies, which we all know
to be filled with enigmas and dark sayings? And if we come to the
Gospels, the exact understanding of these also, as being the mind of
Christ, requires the grace that was given to him who said, “But we have
the mind of Christ, that we might know the things freely given to us by
God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom
teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth.”[884] And who, on reading the
revelations made to John, would not be amazed at the unspeakable
mysteries therein concealed, and which are evident [even] to him who
does not comprehend what is written? And to what person, skilful in
investigating words, would the epistles of the apostles seem to be clear
and easy of understanding, since even in them there are countless
numbers of most profound ideas, which, [issuing forth] as by an
aperture, admit of no rapid comprehension?[885] And therefore, since
these things are so, and since innumerable individuals fall into
mistakes, it is not safe in reading [the Scriptures] to declare that one
easily understands what needs the key of knowledge, which the Saviour
declares is with the lawyers. And let those answer who will not allow
that the truth was with these before the advent of Christ, how the key
of knowledge is said by our Lord Jesus Christ to be with those who, as
they allege, had not the books which contain the secrets[886] of
knowledge, and perfect mysteries.[887] For His words run thus: “Woe unto
you, ye lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye have
not entered in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye
hindered.”[888]
FROM THE LATIN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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