Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV And again: "But this I speak by permission, not by commandment."[181] Tertullian To His Wife Book II them to remain permanently in that state, when he says, "But I desire all to persevere in (imitation of) my example: "[5] Origen Commentary on John Book X at he may gain those under the law, and to them that are without law as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that he may gain those without law, and if to the weak he becomes weak that he may gain the weak, it is clear that these statements must be examined each by itself, that he becomes a Jew, and that sometimes he is under the law and at another time without law, and that sometimes he is weak. Where, for example, he says something by way of permission[16]