Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
Then, _thirdly_, the apostles related that the Holy Spirit was
associated in honour and dignity with the Father and the Son. But in His
case it is not clearly distinguished whether He is to be regarded as
born or innate,[10] or also as a Son of God or not: for these are points
which have to be inquired into out of sacred Scripture according to the
best of our ability, and which demand careful investigation. And that
this Spirit inspired each one of the saints, whether prophets or
apostles; and that there was not one Spirit in the men of the old
dispensation, and another in those who were inspired at the advent of
Christ, is most clearly taught throughout the churches.
5. After these points, also, the apostolic teaching is that the soul,
having a substance[11] and life of its own, shall, after its departure
from the world, be rewarded according to its deserts, being destined to
obtain either an inheritance of eternal life and blessedness, if its
actions shall have procured this for it, or to be delivered up to
eternal fire and punishments, if the guilt of its crimes shall have
brought it down to this: and also, that there is to be a time of
resurrection from the dead, when this body, which now “is sown in
corruption, shall rise in incorruption,” and that which “is sown in
dishonour will rise in glory.”[12] This also is clearly defined in the
teaching of the church, that every rational soul is possessed of
free-will and volition; that it has a struggle to maintain with the
devil and his angels, and opposing influences,[13] because they strive
to burden it with sins; but if we live rightly and wisely, we should
endeavour to shake ourselves free of a burden of that kind. From which
it follows, also, that we understand ourselves not to be subject to
necessity, so as to be compelled by all means, even against our will, to
do either good or evil. For if we are our own masters, some influences
perhaps may impel us to sin, and others help us to salvation; we are not
forced, however, by any necessity either to act rightly or wrongly,
which those persons think is the case who say that the courses and
movements of the stars are the cause of human actions, not only of those
which take place beyond the influence of the freedom of the will, but
also of those which are placed within our own power. But with respect to
the soul, whether it is derived from the seed by a process of
traducianism, so that the reason or substance of it may be considered as
placed in the seminal particles of the body themselves, or whether it
has any other beginning; and this beginning itself, whether it be by
birth or not, or whether bestowed upon the body from without or no, is
not distinguished with sufficient clearness in the teaching of the
church.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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