and Jews who quarrel with one another!” We shall not, however, imitate his example, nor say similar things regarding those philosophers who profess to know the nature of all things, and who discuss with each other the manner in which all things were created, and how the heaven and earth originated, and all things in them; and how the souls [of men], being either unbegotten, and not created by God, are yet governed by Him, and pass from one body to another;[598] or being formed at the same time with the body, exist for ever or pass away. For instead of treating with respect and accepting the intention of those who have devoted themselves to the investigation of the truth, one might mockingly and revilingly say that such men were “worms,” who did not measure themselves by their corner of their dung-heap in human life, and who accordingly gave forth their opinions on matters of such importance as if they understood them, and who strenuously assert that they have obtained a view of those things which cannot be seen without a higher inspiration and a diviner power. “For no man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him: even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”[599] We are not, however, mad, nor do we compare such human wisdom (I use the word “wisdom” in the common acceptation), which busies itself not about the affairs of the multitude, but in the investigation of truth, to the wrigglings of worms or any other such creatures; but in the spirit of truth, we testify of certain Greek philosophers that they knew God, seeing “He manifested Himself to them,”[600] although “they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations; and professing themselves to be wise, they became foolish, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.”[601] Footnote 591: Cf. Gen. i. 26. Footnote 592: Cf. Gen. i. 27. Footnote 593: Cf. 1 Cor. xv. 41, 42. Footnote 594: Cf. Dan. xii. 3. Footnote 595: Cf. Matt. xx. 28. Footnote 596: Cf. Eurip. _Phœniss._ 512. Footnote 597: βωμολόχος. Footnote 598: καὶ ἀμείβουσι σώματα. Footnote 599: Cf. 1 Cor. ii. 11. Footnote 600: Cf. Rom. i. 19. Footnote 601: Rom. i. 21-23. Chapter XXXI.