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Against Celsus

Origen, ANF 4

Book 1, Preface
Book 1, The first point which Celsus brings forward, in his desire to throw discredit…
Book 1, Celsus next proceeds to say, that the system of doctrine, viz., Judaism, upon…
Book 1, After this, Celsus proceeding to speak of the Christians teaching and practising…
Book 1, Let us notice also how he thinks to cast discredit upon our system of morals,…
Book 1, Treating of the regulations respecting idolatry as being peculiar to…
Book 1, After this, through the influence of some motive which is unknown to me, Celsus…
Book 1, Moreover, since he frequently calls the Christian doctrine a secret system (of…
Book 1, It is with a certain eloquence, indeed, that he appears to advocate the cause of…
Book 1, He next proceeds to recommend, that in adopting opinions we should follow reason…
Book 1, In the next place, since our opponents keep repeating those statements about…
Book 1, Since, then, as reason teaches, we must repose faith in some one of those who…
Book 1, In the next place, when Celsus says in express words, “If they would answer me,…
Book 1, But since Celsus has declared it to be a saying of many Christians, that “the…
Book 1, Celsus, being of opinion that there is to be found among many nations a general …
Book 1, I must express my surprise that Celsus should class the Odrysians, and…
Book 1, In what follows, Celsus, assailing the Mosaic history, finds fault with those who…
Book 1, And challenging a comparison of book with book, I would say, “Come now, good sir,…
Book 1, After these statements, Celsus, from a secret desire to cast discredit upon the…
Book 1, And yet, against his will, Celsus is entangled into testifying that the world is …
Book 1, The following is the view of Celsus and the Epicureans: “Moses having,” he says,…
Book 1, After this, Celsus, without condemning circumcision as practised by the Jews,…
Book 1, After this, Celsus next asserts that “Those herdsmen and shepherds who followed…
Book 1, After this he continues: “These herdsmen and shepherds concluded that there was…
Book 1, And perhaps there is a danger as great as that which degrades the name of “God,”…
Book 1, But let us see the manner in which this Celsus, who professes to know everything,…
Book 1, Any one who examines the subject will see that Jesus attempted and successfully …
Book 1, And since, in imitation of a rhetorician training a pupil, he introduces a Jew,…
Book 1, For birth is an aid towards an individual’s becoming famous, and distinguished,…
Book 1, Now, would not any one who investigated with ordinary care the nature of these…
Book 1, And besides this, one may well wonder how it happened that the disciples-if, as…
Book 1, But let us now return to where the Jew is introduced, speaking of the mother of…
Book 1, Now if a particular soul, for certain mysterious reasons, is not deserving of…
Book 1, But it was, as the prophets also predicted, from a virgin that there was to be…
Book 1, But that we may not seem, because of a Hebrew word, to endeavour to persuade…
Book 1, And now, since we have touched upon the subject of the prophets, what we are…
Book 1, I think, then, that it has been pretty well established not only that our Saviour…
Book 1, But, moreover, taking the history, contained in the Gospel according to Matthew,…
Book 1, I do not think it necessary to grapple with an argument advanced not in a serious…
Book 1, After these assertions, he takes from the Gospel of Matthew, and perhaps also…
Book 1, But, that we may not have the appearance of intentionally passing by his charges…
Book 1, Before we begin our reply, we have to remark that the endeavour to show, with…
Book 1, We shall therefore say, in the first place, that if he who disbelieves the…
Book 1, And with these arguments I answer the Jew, not disbelieving, I who am a…
Book 1, And I remember on one occasion, at a disputation held with certain Jews who were…
Book 1, For the law and the prophets are full of marvels similar to those recorded of…
Book 1, I would like to say to Celsus, who represents the Jew as accepting somehow John…
Book 1, Although the Jew, then, may offer no defence for himself in the instances of…
Book 1, After this he wilfully sets aside, I know not why, the strongest evidence in…
Book 1, In the next place, as if the only event predicted were this, that He was to be…
Book 1, Now the Scripture speaks, respecting the place of the Saviour’s birth-that the…
Book 1, Strife and prejudice are powerful instruments in leading men to disregard even…
Book 1, And if we should ask for a second prophecy, which may appear to us to have a…
Book 1, And since Celsus, although professing to know all about the Gospel, reproaches…
Book 1, Now I remember that, on one occasion, at a disputation held with certain Jews,…
Book 1, Now it escaped the notice of Celsus, and of the Jew whom he has introduced, and…
Book 1, The Jew, moreover, in the treatise, addresses the Saviour thus: “If you say that…
Book 1, After these matters this Jew of Celsus, instead of the Magi mentioned in the…
Book 1, It has been observed that, on the occurrence of great events, and of mighty…
Book 1, To the Greeks, then, I have to say that the Magi, being on familiar terms with…
Book 1, That Herod conspired against the Child (although the Jew of Celsus does not…
Book 1, And after such statements, showing his ignorance even of the number of the…
Book 1, And since Celsus has termed the apostles of Jesus men of infamous notoriety,…
Book 1, But if we were to reproach those who have been converted with their former lives,…
Book 1, And since Jesus, in teaching His disciples not to be guilty of rashness, gave…
Book 1, And in addition to the above, this Jew of Celsus afterwards addresses Jesus:…
Book 1, After the above, this Jew of Celsus, as if he were a Greek who loved learning,…
Book 1, But after this, Celsus, having a suspicion that the great works performed by…
Book 1, After this, Celsus, confusing together the Christian doctrine and the opinions of…
Book 1, He asserts, moreover, that “the body of a god is not nourished with such food (as…
Book 1, Continuing to pour abuse upon Jesus as one who, on account of his impiety and…
Book 2, The first book of our answer to the treatise of Celsus, entitled A True…
Book 2, Now, since we are upon the subject of Peter, and of the teachers of Christianity…
Book 2, Our present object, however, is to expose the ignorance of Celsus, who makes this…
Book 2, The Jew, then, continues his address to converts from his own nation thus:…
Book 2, After these matters, although Celsus becomes tautological in his statements about…
Book 2, But let it be granted that Jesus observed all the Jewish usages, including even…
Book 2, Moreover, let them show where there is to be found even the appearance of…
Book 2, He says, further, that “many other persons would appear such as Jesus was, to…
Book 2, The Jew continues his discourse thus: “How should we deem him to be a God, who…
Book 2, But what promise did Jesus make which He did not perform? Let Celsus produce any…
Book 2, In the next place, that He was betrayed by those whom He called His disciples, is…
Book 2, And the following appear to me to be childish assertions, viz., that “no good…
Book 2, This Jew of Celsus continues, after the above, in the following fashion:…
Book 2, Celsus, however, accepting or granting that Jesus foreknew what would befall Him,…
Book 2, Celsus continues: “The disciples of Jesus, having no undoubted fact on which to…
Book 2, Exceedingly weak is his assertion, that “the disciples of Jesus wrote such…
Book 2, Extremely foolish also is his remark, “What god, or spirit, or prudent man would…
Book 2, After this the Jew makes another silly remark, saying, “How is it that, if Jesus…
Book 2, Superficial also is his objection, that “it is always the case when a man against…
Book 2, Let us see how he continues after this: “These events,” he says, “he predicted as…
Book 2, Observe also the superficiality and manifest falsity of such a statement of…
Book 2, He adds to this, as if he had brought together an argument with conclusive…
Book 2, He continues in this strain: “If he had determined upon these things, and…
Book 2, After this, wishing to prove that the occurrences which befell Him were painful…
Book 2, We have mentioned in the preceding pages that there are some of the declarations…
Book 2, This Jew of Celsus still accuses the disciples of Jesus of having invented these …
Book 2, After this he says, that certain of the Christian believers, like persons who in…
Book 2, And since this Jew of Celsus makes it a subject of reproach that Christians…
Book 2, In the preceding pages we have already spoken of this point, viz., the prediction…
Book 2, This objection also is cast in our teeth by Celsus: “From such signs and …
Book 2, He next charges the Christians with being “guilty of sophistical reasoning, in…
Book 2, We have already shown that Jesus can be regarded neither as an arrogant man, nor…
Book 2, “But,” continues Celsus, “what great deeds did Jesus perform as being a God? Did…
Book 2, This Jew of Celsus, ridiculing Jesus, as he imagines, is described as being…
Book 2, But in answer to this objection, “If not before, yet why now, at least, does he…
Book 2, Celsus next says: “What is the nature of the ichor in the body of the crucified…
Book 2, After this, he who extracts from the Gospel narrative those statements on which…
Book 2, The few next remarks: “You, O sincere believers, find fault with us, because we…
Book 2, And how can the following assertion of this Jew of Celsus appear anything else…
Book 2, It is, moreover, in a very unphilosophical spirit that Celsus imagines our Lord’s…
Book 2, In the person of the Jew, Celsus continues to find fault with Jesus, alleging…
Book 2, But further, since Celsus will have it that “Jesus was not irreproachable,” let…
Book 2, Celsus next addresses to us the following remark: “You will not, I suppose, say…
Book 2, Celsus in the next place says, with indescribable silliness: “If, after inventing…
Book 2, But observe the superficial nature of his argument respecting the former…
Book 2, But how can this Jew of Celsus escape the charge of falsehood, when he says that…
Book 2, He represents, moreover, a statement of his own as if it were an answer to one of…
Book 2, Celsus, moreover, unable to resist the miracles which Jesus is recorded to have …
Book 2, Jesus, accordingly, in turning away the minds of His disciples, not merely from…
Book 2, Celsus, indeed, evinced a slight knowledge of Scripture when he made Jesus say,…
Book 2, But since it is a Jew who makes these assertions in the treatise of Celsus, we…
Book 2, All the arguments, indeed, which this Jew of Celsus advances against those who…
Book 2, After this, forsooth, the Jew of Celsus, to keep up the character assigned to the…
Book 2, The Jew continues his address to those of his countrymen who are converts, as…
Book 2, But since the Jew says that these histories of the alleged descent of heroes to…
Book 2, But observe whether this Jew of Celsus does not talk very blindly, in saying that…
Book 2, Further, after these Greek stories which the Jew adduced respecting those who…
Book 2, He imagines also that both the earthquake and the darkness were an invention; but…
Book 2, In the next place, as if this were possible, viz., that the image of a man who…
Book 2, Jesus accordingly, as Celsus imagines, exhibited after His death only the…
Book 2, Now it followed from all the predictions which were uttered regarding Him-amongst…
Book 2, After these points, Celsus proceeds to bring against the Gospel narrative a…
Book 2, Although Jesus was only a single individual, He was nevertheless more things than…
Book 2, And why do I say “to all? “For even with His own apostles and disciples He was…
Book 2, And be not surprised if all the multitudes who have believed on Jesus do not…
Book 2, To the best of our ability, therefore, as in a treatise of this nature, we have…
Book 2, But let us observe how this Jew of Celsus asserts that, “if this at least would…
Book 2, But we wish to show that His instantaneous bodily disappearance from the cross…
Book 2, But how is it that this Jew of Celsus could say that Jesus concealed Himself? For…
Book 2, Jesus taught us who it was that sent Him, in the words, “None knoweth the Father…
Book 2, After the above statements, he continues: “If he wished to remain hid, why was…
Book 2, The Jew proceeds, after this, to state as a consequence what does not follow from…
Book 2, In addition to all this, the Jew further says: “All these statements are taken…
Book 2, I think what has been stated is enough to convince any one that the unbelief of…
Book 2, Celsus, in adopting the character of a Jew, could not discover any objections to…
Book 2, After this the Jew remarks, manifestly in accordance with the Jewish belief: “We …
Book 2, The Jew continues: “Did Jesus come into the world for this purpose, that we…
Book 3, In the first book of our answer to the work of Celsus, who had boastfully…
Book 3, But let Celsus, and those who assent to his charges, tell us whether it is at all…
Book 3, In the next place, miracles were performed in all countries, or at least in many…
Book 3, Immediately after these points, Celsus, imagining that the Jews are Egyptians by…
Book 3, Celsus, therefore, not investigating in a spirit of impartiality the facts, which…
Book 3, In like manner, as the statement is false “that the Hebrews, being (originally) …
Book 3, In the following way, also, we may conclude that they who came out of Egypt with…
Book 3, But since he is manifestly guilty of falsehood in the statements which follow,…
Book 3, But observe what he alleges as a proof of his statement: “Christians at first…
Book 3, He says, in addition, that “all the Christians were of one mind,” not observing,…
Book 3, In the next place, since he reproaches us with the existence of heresies in…
Book 3, Now, if these arguments hold good, why should we not defend, in the same way, the…
Book 3, After this he continues: “Their union is the more wonderful, the more it can be…
Book 3, But again, that it is not the fear of external enemies which strengthens our…
Book 3, “But what the legends are of every kind which we gather together, or the terrors…
Book 3, He wishes, indeed, to compare the articles of our faith to those of the…
Book 3, In the next place, referring to the statements of the Egyptians, who talk loftily…
Book 3, He says, indeed, that “we ridicule the Egyptians, although they present many by…
Book 3, And we say to those who hold similar opinions to those of Celsus: “Paul then, we…
Book 3, And I have not yet spoken of the observance of all that is written in the…
Book 3, But this low jester Celsus, omitting no species of mockery and ridicule which can…
Book 3, But we, in proving the facts related of our Jesus from the prophetic Scriptures,…
Book 3, And again, when it is said of Aesculapius that a great multitude both of Greeks…
Book 3, Now, in order to grant that there did exist a healing spirit named Aesculapius,…
Book 3, Let us see what Celsus says next, when he adduces from history marvellous…
Book 3, Now, in answer to this account of Aristeas, we have to say, that if Celsus had…
Book 3, For with what purpose in view did Providence accomplish the marvels related of…
Book 3, According to Celsus, then, Apollo wished the Metapontines to treat Aristeas as a…
Book 3, For the Church of God, e.g., which is at Athens, is a meek and stable body, as…
Book 3, Now if these things be so, why should it not be consistent with reason to hold…
Book 3, But as Celsus next mentions the case of the Clazomenian, subjoining to the story…
Book 3, Celsus, however, shows that he has read a good many Grecian histories, when he…
Book 3, I am, however, of opinion that these individuals are the only instances with…
Book 3, But I should like, in answer to him who for some unknown reason advances such…
Book 3, But as he next introduces the case of the favourite of Adrian (I refer to the…
Book 3, The Egyptians, then, having been taught to worship Antinous, will, if you compare…
Book 3, The belief, then, in Antinous, or any other such person, whether among the…
Book 3, We must notice the remarks which Celsus next makes, when he says to us, that…
Book 3, But observe whether the principles of our faith, harmonizing with the general…
Book 3, But since he has charged us, I know not how often already, “with regarding this…
Book 3, Celsus, then, does not speak as a good reasoner, when he compares the mortal…
Book 3, He next says of us, that “we ridicule those who worship Jupiter, because his tomb…
Book 3, After these points Celsus quotes some objections against the doctrine of Jesus,…
Book 3, But that the object of Christianity is that we should become wise, can be proved…
Book 3, And if you come to the books written after the time of Jesus, you will find that…
Book 3, But it is probable that what is written by Paul in the first Epistle to the…
Book 3, And perhaps also from the words, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not…
Book 3, This statement also is untrue, that it is “only foolish and low individuals, and…
Book 3, But let us see what those statements of his are which follow next in these words:…
Book 3, And if they are not to be blamed for so doing, let us see whether Christians do…
Book 3, Observe now with regard to the following statement of Celsus, “We see also those…
Book 3, For the word is used by our Paul in writing to the Corinthians, who were Greeks,…
Book 3, We acknowledge, however, although Celsus will not have it so, that we do desire…
Book 3, But as Celsus delights to heap up calumnies against us, and, in addition to those…
Book 3, Observe now how by such statements he depreciates those amongst us who are…
Book 3, But who are the teachers whom we call triflers and fools, whose defence is…
Book 3, But those who, in the opinion of Celsus, resemble the workers in wool in private…
Book 3, Immediately after this, Celsus, perceiving that he has slandered us with too…
Book 3, And as we teach, moreover, that “wisdom will not enter into the soul of a base…
Book 3, Not to participation in mysteries, then, and to fellowship in the wisdom hidden…
Book 3, In the next place, throwing a slur upon the exhortations spoken and written to…
Book 3, After this, not understanding how it has been said that “every one who exalted…
Book 3, But since he says, in addition to this, “What is this preference of sinners over…
Book 3, He imagines, however, that we utter these exhortations for the conversion of…
Book 3, Now here Celsus appears to me to have committed a great error, in refusing to…
Book 3, It is probable, however, that he meant to convey some such meaning as this, that…
Book 3, That philosophical discourses, however, distinguished by orderly arrangement and…
Book 3, Celsus continues in his usual manner, asserting that “to change a nature entirely…
Book 3, In the next place, he objects to the statement, as if it were maintained by us,…
Book 3, He next assumes what is not granted by the more rational class of believers, but…
Book 3, In the next place, speaking as in the person of a teacher of our doctrine, he…
Book 3, After this he again slanders the ambassador of Christianity, and gives out…
Book 3, He accuses the Christian teacher, moreover of” seeking after the unintelligent.”…
Book 3, But as he afterwards says that “the teacher of Christianity acts like a person…
Book 3, And he produces a second illustration to our disadvantage, saying that “our…
Book 3, He next likens our teacher to one suffering from ophthalmia, and his disciples to…
Book 3, After having brought against us charges of so serious a kind, he wishes to make…
Book 3, But if in these matters any one were to imagine that it is superstition rather…
Book 3, Seeing, however, that Celsus alleges that “Christians are won over by us through…
Book 3, And do not suppose that it is not in keeping with the Christian religion for me…
Book 4, Having, in the three preceding books, fully stated what occurred to us by way of…
Book 4, “But that certain Christians and (all) Jews should maintain, the former that…
Book 4, And he continues: “What is the meaning of such a descent upon the part of God?…
Book 4, The argument which Celsus employs against us and the Jews will be turned against…
Book 4, The illustrious Celsus, taking occasion I know not from what, next raises an…
Book 4, But if you will have us to meet the most ridiculous among the charges of Celsus,…
Book 4, I do not know how it is, that after the foolish remarks which he has made upon…
Book 4, And it is not matter of surprise that in certain generations there have existed…
Book 4, In the next place, Celsus, as is his custom having neither proved nor established…
Book 4, After this, being desirous to show that it is nothing either wonderful or new…
Book 4, Whether, then, there are cycles of time, and floods, or conflagrations which…
Book 4, But as it is in mockery that Celsus says we speak of “God coming down like a…
Book 4, But let us look at what Celsus next with great ostentation announces in the…
Book 4, And with respect to His having descended among men, He was “previously in the…
Book 4, For there are different appearances, as it were, of the Word, according as He…
Book 4, But will not those narratives, especially when they are understood in their…
Book 4, But Celsus, lingering over matters which he does not understand, leads us to be…
Book 4, Others, then, may concede to Celsus that God does not undergo a change, but leads…
Book 4, In the next place, as he represents the Jews accounting in a way peculiar to…
Book 4, But I do not understand how he can imagine the overturning of the tower (of…
Book 4, But, according to Celsus, “the Christians, making certain additional statements…
Book 4, In the next place, ridiculing after his usual style the race of Jews and…
Book 4, In reply to these, we ask of those who accept such aspersions as are scattered…
Book 4, But if you depreciate the littleness of man, not on account of his body, but of…
Book 4, But if it is on account of those opinions of the Christians and Jews-which…
Book 4, And I have not yet spoken of the other evils which prevail amongst men, from…
Book 4, But since he has represented those whom he regards as worms, viz., the…
Book 4, But Celsus perhaps has misunderstood certain of those whom he has termed “worms,”…
Book 4, It appears to me that Celsus has also misunderstood this statement, “Let Us make…
Book 4, After this, wishing to prove that there is no difference between Jews and…
Book 4, But since nothing belonging to human nature is permanent, this polity also must…
Book 4, Immediately after this, Celsus, assailing the contents of the first book of…
Book 4, For we inquire of all those who employ such invocations of God, saying: Tell us,…
Book 4, And let any one who peruses the treatise of Celsus observe whether it does not…
Book 4, Celsus in the next place, producing from history other than that of the divine…
Book 4, He charges us, moreover, with introducing “a man formed by the hands of God,”…
Book 4, In the next place, as it is his object to slander our Scriptures, he ridicules…
Book 4, But as Celsus makes a jest also of the serpent, as counteracting the injunctions…
Book 4, But as he asserts that “the Mosaic narrative most impiously represents God as in…
Book 4, After this he continues as follows: “They speak, in the next place, of a deluge,…
Book 4, In order to show that he had read the book of Genesis, Celsus rejects the story…
Book 4, “Altogether absurd, and out of season,” he continues, “is the (account of the)…
Book 4, And erring widely from the meaning of Scripture, he says that “God gave wells…
Book 4, And whereas Celsus ought to have recognised the love of truth displayed by the…
Book 4, Celsus, moreover, sneers at the “hatred” of Esau (to which, I suppose, he refers)…
Book 4, Celsus next, for form’s sake, and with great want of precision, speaks of “the…
Book 4, In the next place, as if he had devoted himself solely to the manifestation of…
Book 4, If Celsus had read the Scriptures in an impartial spirit, he would not have said…
Book 4, Moreover, if the law of Moses had contained nothing which was to be understood as…
Book 4, Celsus appears to me to have heard that there are treatises in existence which…
Book 4, After this, selecting from all the treatises which contain allegorical…
Book 4, I do not know, indeed, how he could conjoin things that do not admit of union,…
Book 4, But as in the words which I quoted from Celsus, which are a paraphrase from the…
Book 4, But I maintain that, if he had the patience (to use his own expression) to listen…
Book 4, Moreover, since Celsus asserts that “the soul is the work of God, but that the…
Book 4, See, then, whether we ought to yield to one who, holding such opinions,…
Book 4, But we have something more to say to Celsus, when he declares that “the soul is…
Book 4, For it would, indeed, be absurd that certain stones and buildings should be…
Book 4, He next proceeds to say, that “a common nature pervades all the previously…
Book 4, He maintains, moreover, that “no product of matter is immortal.” Now, in answer…
Book 4, After these matters, then, he thinks that he can make us acquainted in a few…
Book 4, I do not understand how Celsus, while admitting the existence of Providence, at…
Book 4, And now, after these arguments, and others of a similar kind, how can Celsus…
Book 4, After this Celsus continues: “It is not easy, indeed, for one who is not a…
Book 4, Celsus in the next place, as if he were able to tell certain secrets regarding…
Book 4, I do not understand how Celsus should deem it of advantage, in writing a treatise…
Book 4, Celsus, however, says that it is only “the course of mortal things which,…
Book 4, He continues to say that “neither have visible things been given to man (by God),…
Book 4, Celsus has made a statement regarding evils of the following nature, viz., that…
Book 4, But as, in what follows, Celsus, not understanding that the language of Scripture…
Book 4, We speak, indeed, of the “wrath” of God. We do not, however, assert that it…
Book 4, And as a sequel to his non-understanding of the statements regarding the “wrath”…
Book 4, He next, in many words, blames us for asserting that God made all things for the…
Book 4, For, in the first place, he is of opinion that “thunders, and lightnings, and…
Book 4, After this, Celsus, desirous of maintaining that Providence created the products…
Book 4, In the next place, forgetting that his object is to accuse both Jews and…
Book 4, He next proceeds further to object against himself what is said on behalf of man,…
Book 4, In the next place, in answer to the human race, who perceive their own…
Book 4, Those holy Scriptures, moreover, which bear the name of Moses, introduce the…
Book 4, Our noble opponent, however, not observing how many philosophers there are who…
Book 4, Perhaps also the so-called wars among the bees convey instruction as to the…
Book 4, After Celsus has finished speaking of the bees, in order to depreciate (as far as…
Book 4, And since he asserts that, “when ants die, the survivors set apart a special…
Book 4, He is not ashamed, moreover, to say, in addition to these statements (that the…
Book 4, Immediately after this, as if doing his utmost to reduce the human race to a…
Book 4, Let it be granted, however, that there are other prophylactics against poisons…
Book 4, And wishing to show at greater length that even the thoughts of God entertained…
Book 4, Celsus, however, seeing he wished to prove by the foregoing statements that the …
Book 4, But we have a few remarks to make, out of a larger number, in answer to these…
Book 4, But besides, if birds of augury converse with one another, as Celsus maintains…
Book 4, In my opinion, however, it is certain wicked demons, and, so to speak, of the…
Book 4, For which reason, whatever else there may be in the writings of Moses which…
Book 4, But if the soul of birds is to be esteemed divine because future events are…
Book 4, The true God, however, neither employs irrational animals, nor any individuals…
Book 4, We ought to take note, however, that the power of foreknowing the future is by no…
Book 4, How impious, indeed, is the assertion of this man, who charges us with impiety,…
Book 4, I do not know, moreover, how Celsus could hear of the elephants’ (fidelity to)…
Book 4, In addition to all that he has already said, Celsus subjoins the following: “All…
Book 5, It is not, my reverend Ambrosius, because we seek after many words-a thing which…
Book 5, We have now, then, to refute that statement of his which runs as follows: “O Jews…
Book 5, But observe how, in his desire to subvert our opinions, he who never acknowledged…
Book 5, But since he says, in the next place, as if the Jews or Christians had answered…
Book 5, For to invoke angels without having obtained a knowledge of their nature greater…
Book 5, He next proceeds to make the following statement about the Jews:—“The first point…
Book 5, Having, moreover, assumed that the Jews consider the heaven to be God, he adds…
Book 5, As we allege, however, that he has fallen into confusion in consequence of false…
Book 5, And still continuing a little confused, and not taking care to see what was…
Book 5, And if it be necessary for us to offer a defence of our refusal to recognise as…
Book 5, But even this rational light itself ought not to be worshipped by him who beholds…
Book 5, God accordingly, in His kindness, condescends to mankind, not in any local sense,…
Book 5, Celsus, moreover, assumes that sun, and moon, and stars are regarded by us as of…
Book 5, The following, then, are his words: “It is folly on their part to suppose that…
Book 5, Observe, now, here at the very beginning, how, in ridiculing the doctrine of a …
Book 5, From what has been said, it will be manifest to intelligent hearers how we have…
Book 5, Then, in the next place, having either himself misunderstood the sacred…
Book 5, But since he has ridiculed at great length the doctrine of the resurrection of…
Book 5, God, then, gives to each thing its own body as He pleases: as in the case of…
Book 5, But since our views regarding the resurrection have, as far as time would permit,…
Book 5, The disciples of Pythagoras, too, and of Plato, although they appear to hold the …
Book 5, Let no one, however, suspect that, in speaking as we do, we belong to those who…
Book 5, We, therefore, do not maintain that the body which has undergone corruption…
Book 5, Moreover, as we have already said that for God to desire anything unbecoming…
Book 5, Let us next notice the statements of Celsus, which follow the preceding, and…
Book 5, “We must,” he says, “observe the laws, not only because it has occurred to the…
Book 5, Any one, indeed, who chooses, may relate how the various quarters of the earth,…
Book 5, It is probable, however, that to such remarks as the above, the answer returned…
Book 5, It appears to me, indeed, that Celsus has misunderstood some of the deeper…
Book 5, All the people upon the earth are to be regarded as having used one divine…
Book 5, Now, in the next place, if any one has the capacity, let him understand that in…
Book 5, And by this means let those who have the capacity of comprehending truths so…
Book 5, The remarks which we have made not only answer the statements of Celsus regarding…
Book 5, But, that we may not pass without notice what Celsus has said between these and…
Book 5, The argument of Celsus appears to point by these illustrations to this…
Book 5, But what sort of being is this Ammon of Herodotus, whose words Celsus has quoted,…
Book 5, As there are, then, generally two laws presented to us, the one being the law of…
Book 5, I wish, however, to show how Celsus asserts without any good reason, that each…
Book 5, We must therefore inquire what may be fittingly eaten or not by the rational and…
Book 5, But since, after Celsus had spoken to the above effect of the different kinds of…
Book 5, Let us notice the charges which are next advanced by Celsus, in which there is …
Book 5, It is evident that, by the preceding remarks, Celsus charges the Jews with…
Book 5, But what need is there to point out how agreeable to sound reason, and unattended…
Book 5, But as Celsus would compare the venerable customs of the Jews with the laws of…
Book 5, As Celsus, however, is of opinion that it matters nothing whether the highest…
Book 5, It was for these and similar mysterious reasons, with which Moses and the…
Book 5, Now the reason why circumcision is practised among the Jews is not the same as…
Book 5, Although the Jews, then, pride themselves on circumcision, they will separate it…
Book 5, But neither do the Jews pride themselves upon abstaining from swine’s flesh, as…
Book 5, Celsus, still expressing his opinion regarding the Jews, says: “It is not…
Book 5, But seeing that we have answered to the best of our ability the charges brought…
Book 5, But the statement of Celsus which we wish to examine at present is the following:…
Book 5, The preceding remarks might suffice as an answer to the charges of Celsus, so far…
Book 5, In the next place, he proceeds to answer himself as he thinks fit in the…
Book 5, But, that we may grant to him in a spirit of candour what he has not discovered…
Book 5, Proceeding immediately after to mix up and compare with one another things that…
Book 5, Now, that miraculous appearances have sometimes been witnessed by human beings,…
Book 5, But Celsus challenges the account also that an angel rolled away the stone from…
Book 5, Celsus then continues: “The Jews accordingly, and these (clearly meaning the…
Book 5, If, however, it be necessary to express ourselves with precision in our answer to…
Book 5, After the above remarks he proceeds as follows: “Let no one suppose that I am…
Book 5, In the next place, that he may have the appearance of knowing still more than he…
Book 5, Celsus appears to me to have misunderstood the statement of the apostle, which…
Book 5, But since he asserts that “you may hear all those who differ so widely saying,…
Book 6, In beginning this our sixth book, we desire, my reverend Ambrosius, to answer in…
Book 6, I have made these remarks in reply to the charges which Celsus and others bring…
Book 6, Let the ancient sages, then, make known their sayings to those who are capable of…
Book 6, Notwithstanding, those who have written in this manner regarding the “chief good”…
Book 6, But that a light is suddenly kindled in the soul, as by a fire leaping forth, is…
Book 6, Seeing, however, that Celsus quotes from an epistle of Plato another statement to…
Book 6, There might also be found in the writings of Moses and of the prophets, who are…
Book 6, In the next place, after other Platonic declarations, which demonstrate that “the…
Book 6, Celsus quotes another saying of Plato to the following effect: “It has occurred…
Book 6, He next continues: “You see how Plato, although maintaining that (the chief good)…
Book 6, After this Celsus continues: “If these (meaning the Christians) bring forward…
Book 6, Accordingly, let us pass on to another charge made by Celsus, who is not even…
Book 6, According to the foregoing, then, the one kind of wisdom is human, and the other…
Book 6, In designating others by the epithets of “uninstructed, and servile, and…
Book 6, Celsus, in the next place, as one who has heard the subject of humility greatly…
Book 6, In the next place, with regard to the declaration of Jesus against rich men, when…
Book 6, Since Celsus, moreover, from a desire to depreciate the accounts which our…
Book 6, I thought it right to quote these few instances from a much larger number of…
Book 6, Celsus in the next place alleges, that “certain Christians, having misunderstood…
Book 6, Now, to those who are capable of understanding him, the apostle manifestly…
Book 6, The Scriptures which are current in the Churches of God do not speak of “seven”…
Book 6, After this, Celsus, desiring to exhibit his learning in his treatise against us,…
Book 6, If one wished to obtain means for a pro-founder contemplation of the entrance of…
Book 6, After the instance borrowed from the Mithraic mysteries, Celsus declares that he…
Book 6, In this diagram were described ten circles, distinct from each other, but united…
Book 6, It is in the precincts of Jerusalem, then, that punishments will be inflicted…
Book 6, After the matter of the diagram, he brings forward certain monstrous statements,…
Book 6, With some such object as this in view does Celsus seem to have been actuated,…
Book 6, In the next place, as if it were the Christians whom he was calumniating, he…
Book 6, He next returns to the subject of the Seven ruling Demons, whose names are not…
Book 6, Moreover, if any one would wish to become acquainted with the artifices of those …
Book 6, The supposed great learning of Celsus, which is composed, however, rather of…
Book 6, Celsus next relates other fables, to the effect that “certain persons return to…
Book 6, After finishing the foregoing, and those analogous matters which we ourselves…
Book 6, It is our practice, indeed, to make use of the words of the prophets, who…
Book 6, We would say, moreover, that death ceases in the world when the sin of the world…
Book 6, Celsus, moreover, thinks that we have invented this “tree of life” to give an…
Book 6, Our noble (friend), moreover, not satisfied with the objections which he has…
Book 6, In the next place, speaking of those who employ the arts of magic and sorcery,…
Book 6, After these things, Celsus appears to me to act like those who, in their intense…
Book 6, In the next place, as if he had forgotten that it was his object to write against…
Book 6, After these matters, Celsus brings the following charges against us from another…
Book 6, Mark now, whether he who charges us with having committed errors of the most…
Book 6, For it is impossible that the good which is the result of accident, or of…
Book 6, But since Celsus rejects the statements concerning Antichrist, as it is termed,…
Book 6, It is thus that the apostle expresses himself: “We beseech you, brethren, by the…
Book 6, Celsus, after what has been said, goes on as follows: “I can tell how the very…
Book 6, In the next place, when the philosophers of the Porch, who assert that the virtue…
Book 6, Let us notice now what follows, where, expressing in a single word his opinion…
Book 6, In the next place, Celsus, after heaping together, simply as mere assertions, the…
Book 6, On the present occasion, however, it is not our object to enter into an…
Book 6, Celsus proceeds as follows: “With regard to the origin of the world and its…
Book 6, In the next place, mixing up together various heresies, and not observing that…
Book 6, Let us see, then, briefly what holy Scripture has to say regarding good and evil,…
Book 6, Passages, indeed, might be found where corporeal and external (benefits) are…
Book 6, If we speak, however, of what are called “corporeal” and “external” evils,—which…
Book 6, With respect to the question, “How is he incapable of persuading and admonishing…
Book 6, There is next to be answered the following query: “And how is it that he repents…
Book 6, Celsus, in the next place, suspecting, or perhaps seeing clearly enough, the…
Book 6, But after this investigation of his assertions, as if his object were to swell…
Book 6, Again, not understanding the meaning of the words, “And God ended on the sixth…
Book 6, Celsus, again, having perhaps misunderstood the words, “For the mouth of the Lord…
Book 6, Celsus, not observing the difference between “after the image of God” and “God’s…
Book 6, Celsus, again, brings together a number of statements, which he gives as…
Book 6, Celsus proceeds to say of God that “of Him are all things,” abandoning (in so…
Book 6, Let us look also at his next statement, in which he introduces, as it were, a…
Book 6, The remark, indeed, was true which Celsus made, that any one, on hearing his…
Book 6, Accordingly, if Celsus were to ask us how we think we know God, and how we shall…
Book 6, Celsus, however, asserts that the answer which we give is based upon a probable …
Book 6, If Celsus, indeed, had understood our teaching regarding the Spirit of God, and…
Book 6, Celsus accordingly, as not understanding the doctrine relating to the Spirit of…
Book 6, It is therefore in vain that Celsus asserts, as one who knows not the nature of…
Book 6, He proceeds to repeat himself, and after saying a great deal which he had said…
Book 6, After this he returns to the subject of Marcion’s opinions (having already spoken…
Book 6, To the preceding remarks he adds the following: “Since a divine Spirit inhabited…
Book 6, Let it be supposed, however, that he had not read the prophecy, or that he had…
Book 6, But again, how did he who said, “Since a divine Spirit inhabited the body (of…
Book 6, Celsus next makes certain observations of the following nature: “Again, if God,…
Book 6, And therefore there was no need that there should everywhere exist many bodies,…
Book 6, After this, it seemed proper to Celsus to term the Chaldeans a most…
Book 6, I do not understand, however, how he should say of God, that although “knowing…
Book 7, In the six former books we have endeavoured, reverend brother Ambrosius,…
Book 7, Celsus now sets himself to combat the views of those who say that the Jewish…
Book 7, Celsus goes on to say of us: “They set no value on the oracles of the Pythian…
Book 7, Accordingly, we can show from an examination of the sacred Scriptures, that the…
Book 7, Moreover, if it is believed not only among Christians and Jews, but also by many…
Book 7, But no; the Pythian, so much admired among the Greeks, judged no wise man, nay,…
Book 7, In regard to the prophets among the Jews, some of them were wise men before they…
Book 7, I do not know what led Celsus, when saying, “But what things were spoken or not…
Book 7, But as Celsus promises to give an account of the manner in which prophecies are…
Book 7, But if he were dealing honestly in his accusations, he ought to have given the…
Book 7, I am convinced, indeed, that much better arguments could be adduced than any I…
Book 7, He thinks, besides, that those who support the cause of Christ by a reference to…
Book 7, And there is no truth in the statement of Celsus, that “God does the most…
Book 7, In the next place, wishing to shake the faith of those who believe in Jesus on…
Book 7, After assuming that some things were foretold which are impossible in themselves,…
Book 7, But besides, the prophecies which he introduces into his argument are very…
Book 7, In one point alone is Celsus correct in his statements on this subject. It is…
Book 7, Celsus adds: “Will they not besides make this reflection? If the prophets of the…
Book 7, Now if these words in the law, “Thou shalt have dominion over many nations, and…
Book 7, Celsus adds, that it was foretold to the Jews, that if they did not obey the law,…
Book 7, When, then, the letter of the law promises riches to the just, Celsus may follow…
Book 7, If I must now explain how the just man “slays his enemies,” and prevails…
Book 7, From what has been said, it is clear then that Jesus, “the man of Nazareth,” did…
Book 7, The pursuit of human glory, we maintain, is forbidden not only by the teaching of…
Book 7, Celsus then extracts from the Gospel the precept, “To him who strikes thee once,…
Book 7, However, if we must refer briefly to the difference between the constitution…
Book 7, After this Celsus relates at length opinions which he ascribes to us, but which…
Book 7, After thus misrepresenting our views of the nature of God, Celsus goes on to ask…
Book 7, If, then, the whole earth has been cursed in the deeds of Adam and of those who…
Book 7, It seems to me also that the fancy of Plato, that those stones which we call…
Book 7, Referring to the passage in the Phaedon of Plato, Celsus says: “It is not easy…
Book 7, Celsus next assails the doctrine of the resurrection, which is a high and…
Book 7, As Celsus supposes that we uphold the doctrine of the resurrection in order that…
Book 7, And we do not ask the question, “How shall we go to God? “as though we thought…
Book 7, Seeking God, then, in this way, we have no need to visit the oracles of…
Book 7, After these remarks of Celsus, which we have endeavoured to answer as we could,…
Book 7, Now if this is a true account of what constitutes the right and the wrong use of …
Book 7, Since we hold that the great God is in essence simple, invisible, and…
Book 7, Now let us hear what it is that he invites us to learn, that we may ascertain…
Book 7, Next to the remarks of Celsus on which we have already commented, come others…
Book 7, But let us consider who those persons are whose guidance Celsus would have us to…
Book 7, Celsus next refers us to Plato as to a more effective teacher of theological…
Book 7, Observe that when Plato says, that “after having found out the Creator and Father…
Book 7, Celsus supposes that we may arrive at a knowledge of God either by combining or …
Book 7, But let us see further what the things are which he proposes to teach us, if…
Book 7, We are careful not to oppose fair arguments even if they proceed from those who…
Book 7, For Scripture testifies, in regard to those who have a knowledge of those things…
Book 7, But those who are despised for their ignorance, and set down as fools and abject…
Book 7, What I have now said, then, is offered not for the purpose of cavilling with any…
Book 7, Celsus has not explained how error accompanies the “becoming,” or product of…
Book 7, But what need is there to quote any more passages against Celsus, in order to…
Book 7, And let not Celsus be angry if we describe as Fame and mutilated in soul those…
Book 7, After these remarks of Celsus, which we have done our best to refute, he goes on…
Book 7, But since he sends us to Hercules, let him repeat to us any of his sayings, and…
Book 7, When, to his enumeration of those to whom he would send us, he adds, “What saying…
Book 7, Celsus then adds, for what reason I know not, that instead of calling Jesus the…
Book 7, After this, as though his object was to swell the size of his book, he advises us…
Book 7, Let us now consider what follows. “They have also,” says he, “a precept to this…
Book 7, When Celsus here or elsewhere finds himself unable to dispute the truth of what…
Book 7, Now, after understanding this illustration, we have to apply it to the qualities…
Book 7, From these remarks it is evident, that when Jesus said “coarsely,” as Celsus…
Book 7, Let us now see what follows. “Let us pass on,” says he, “to another point. They…
Book 7, To this our answer is, that if the Scythians, the nomadic tribes of Libya, the…
Book 7, As, then, this act of self-restraint, which in appearance is one and the same, is…
Book 7, In regard to the Persians, we have already said that though they do not build…
Book 7, And the charge of folly applies not only to those who offer prayers to images,…
Book 7, His next remark upon the Christians is: “They will admit that these images,…
Book 7, After all that we have already said concerning Jesus, it would be a useless…
Book 7, And it is not we alone who speak of wicked demons, but almost all who acknowledge…
Book 7, His next remark was, “Have not these inferior powers had assigned to them by God …
Book 8, Having completed seven books, I now propose to begin the eighth. And may God and…
Book 8, In a passage previously quoted Celsus asks us why we do not worship demons, and…
Book 8, Before proceeding to the next point, it may be well for us to see whether we do…
Book 8, The sacred Scriptures teach us to think, in like manner, of the Lord of lords.…
Book 8, Whilst there are thus many gods and lords, whereof some are such in reality, and…
Book 8, But when we refuse to serve any other than God through His word and wisdom, we do…
Book 8, But when Celsus speaks of heroes and demons, he starts a deeper question than he…
Book 8, For if he answers, as one who is unlearned and ignorant of philosophy, that the…
Book 8, And observe the recklessness of that expression, “For if thou worship any other…
Book 8, But that the honour which we pay to the Son of God, as well as that which we…
Book 8, He adds, “And indeed he who, when speaking of God, asserts that there is only one…
Book 8, In what follows, some may imagine that he says something plausible against us.…
Book 8, He further supposes, that “because we join along with the worship of God the…
Book 8, Again Celsus proceeds: “If you should tell them that Jesus is not the Son of God,…
Book 8, Celsus goes on to say: “That I may give a true representation of their faith, I…
Book 8, The remaining part of the extract given by Celsus seems to have been taken from…
Book 8, Celsus then proceeds to say that “we shrink from raising altars, statues, and…
Book 8, And every one who imitates Him according to his ability, does by this very…
Book 8, And if, further, temples are to be compared with temples, that we may prove to…
Book 8, There are, then, among the righteous some who are carbuncles, others sapphires,…
Book 8, Let us see what Celsus further says of God, and how he urges us to the use of…
Book 8, If it be objected to us on this subject that we ourselves are accustomed to…
Book 8, But the majority of those who are accounted believers are not of this advanced…
Book 8, Let us now see on what grounds Celsus urges us to make use of the idol offerings…
Book 8, Celsus says that “the demons belong to God, and are therefore to be believed, to…
Book 8, And we are not to believe in demons, although Celsus urges us to do so; but if we…
Book 8, And Christians have nothing to fear, even if demons should not be well-disposed…
Book 8, We shall now proceed to the next statement of Celsus, and examine it with care:…
Book 8, But it is to be observed that the Jews, who claim for themselves a correct…
Book 8, For that which is offered to idols is sacrificed to demons, and a man of God must…
Book 8, Celsus afterwards states what is adduced by Jews and Christians alike in defence…
Book 8, The Psalmist bears witness that divine justice employs certain evil angels to…
Book 8, From this it is evident that we have already met the next statement of Celsus,…
Book 8, Celsus would also have us to offer first-fruits to demons. But we would offer…
Book 8, Now let us consider another saying of Celsus, which is as follows: “The satrap of…
Book 8, But the angels, who are the true rulers and generals and ministers of God, do…
Book 8, In the next place, Celsus forgets that he is addressing Christians, who pray to…
Book 8, He next represents Christians as saying what he never heard from any Christian;…
Book 8, After putting such words into our mouth, and maliciously charging Christians with…
Book 8, Such is our doctrine of punishment; and the inculcation of this doctrine turns…
Book 8, He then goes on to rail against us after the manner of old wives. “You,” says he,…
Book 8, There is an inconsistency into which, strangely enough, Celsus has fallen…
Book 8, Some new thing, then, has come to pass since the time that Jesus suffered,—that,…
Book 8, But when the souls of those who die for the Christian faith depart from the body…
Book 8, Let us see what Celsus next goes on to say. It is as follows: “What need is there…
Book 8, It is related of the priestess of Apollo, that she at times allowed herself to be…
Book 8, But the Greeks Will say that these accounts are fabulous, although two whole…
Book 8, In the next place, Celsus, after referring to the enthusiasm with which men will…
Book 8, Let us see in what terms Celsus next addresses us: “Besides, is it not most…
Book 8, But since he reproaches us with too great an anxiety about the body, let him know…
Book 8, In the next place, he expresses his approval of those who “hope that eternal life…
Book 8, For we who have been persuaded by many, yea by innumerable, arguments to lead a…
Book 8, Having said so much on this subject, let us proceed to another statement of…
Book 8, When Celsus adds, “We must therefore believe that men are entrusted to certain…
Book 8, Celsus goes on to say: “They must make their choice between two alternatives. If…
Book 8, Although, therefore, Celsus would, in his own words, “drive us with all haste out…
Book 8, Celsus supposes that men “discharge the duties of life until they are loosened…
Book 8, Celsus goes on to say: “Let any one inquire of the Egyptians, and he will find…
Book 8, Probably those who embrace the views of Celsus will smile at us when we say, “At…
Book 8, Celsus, however, suspecting that the tendency of such teaching as he here gives…
Book 8, For consider with yourself which disposition of mind will be more acceptable to…
Book 8, In a former passage, Celsus had spoken at length on the subject of oracles, and…
Book 8, After having said so much of the demons, and of their fondness for blood and the…
Book 8, There is therefore One whose favour we should seek, and to whom we ought to pray…
Book 8, Moreover, we are to despise ingratiating ourselves with kings or any other men,…
Book 8, Then Celsus, following the example of those who are under the influence of…
Book 8, And to regard these myths in a figurative sense, and consider Minerva as…
Book 8, Celsus goes on to say: “We must not disobey the ancient writer, who said long…
Book 8, Celsus, then, as if not observing that he was saying anything inconsistent with…
Book 8, But if all the Romans, according to the supposition of Celsus, embrace the…
Book 8, Celsus again, as is usual with him, gets confused, and attributes to us things…
Book 8, Afterwards he says: “If it were possible,” implying at the same time that he…
Book 8, In the next place, Celsus urges us “to help the king with all our might, and to…
Book 8, And if Celsus would have us to lead armies in defence of our country, let him…
Book 8, Celsus also urges us to “take office in the government of the country, if that is…
Book 8, You have here, reverend Ambrosius, the conclusion of what we have been enabled to…
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