The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2) — John Shaqi
The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)Origen
Religion
The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Origen
Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
and despising those who were beyond the pale of Judaism, stood in need
of a vision to lead him to communicate to Cornelius (who was not an
Israelite according to the flesh), and to those who were with him, the
word of faith. Moreover, in the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul states
that Peter, still from fear of the Jews, ceased upon the arrival of
James to eat with the Gentiles, and “separated himself from them,
fearing them that were of the circumcision;”[38] and the rest of the
Jews, and Barnabas also, followed the same course. And certainly it was
quite consistent that those should not abstain from the observance of
Jewish usages who were sent to minister to the circumcision, when they
who “seemed to be pillars” gave the right hand of fellowship to Paul and
Barnabas, in order that, while devoting themselves to the circumcision,
the latter might preach to the Gentiles. And why do I mention that they
who preached to the circumcision withdrew and separated themselves from
the heathen, when even Paul himself “became as a Jew to the Jews, that
he might gain the Jews?” Wherefore also in the Acts of the Apostles it
is related that he even brought an offering to the altar, that he might
satisfy the Jews that he was no apostate from their law.[39] Now, if
Celsus had been acquainted with all these circumstances, he would not
have represented the Jew holding such language as this to the converts
from Judaism: “What induced you, my fellow-citizens, to abandon the law
of your fathers, and to allow your minds to be led captive by him with
whom we have just conversed, and thus be most ridiculously deluded, so
as to become deserters from us to another name, and to the practices of
another life?”
Footnote 35:
πιθανώτατος.
Footnote 36:
אֶבְיוֹן.
Footnote 37:
Cf. Acts x. 9-15.
Footnote 38:
Cf. Gal. ii. 12.
Footnote 39:
Cf. Acts xxi. 26.
Chapter II.
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