{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">1. Now, respecting the end of the world and the consummation\r\nof all things, we have stated in the preceding pages,\r\nto the best of our ability, so far as the authority of Holy\r\nScripture enabled us, what we deem sufficient for purposes\r\nof instruction; and we shall here only add a few admonitory\r\nremarks, since the order of investigation has brought us back\r\nto the subject. The highest good, then, after the attainment\r\nof which the whole of rational nature is seeking, which is\r\nalso called the end of all blessings,<a id=\"r745\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f745\"><sup>[745]</sup></a> is defined by many philosophers\r\nas follows: The highest good, they say, is to become\r\nas like to God as possible. But this definition I regard not\r\nso much as a discovery of theirs, as a view derived from\r\nholy Scripture. For this is pointed out by Moses, before\r\nall other philosophers, when he describes the first creation of\r\nman in these words: “And God said, Let us make man in\r\nour own image, and after our likeness;”<a id=\"r746\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f746\"><sup>[746]</sup></a> and then he adds\r\nthe words: “So God created man in His own image: in the\r\nimage of God created He him; male and female created He\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_263\">263</span>them, and He blessed them.”<a id=\"r747\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f747\"><sup>[747]</sup></a> Now the expression, “In the\r\nimage<a id=\"r748\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f748\"><sup>[748]</sup></a> of God created He him,” without any mention of the\r\nword “likeness,”<a id=\"r749\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f749\"><sup>[749]</sup></a> conveys no other meaning than this, that\r\nman received the dignity of God’s image at his first creation;\r\nbut that the perfection of his likeness has been reserved for\r\nthe consummation,—namely, that he might acquire it for\r\nhimself by the exercise of his own diligence in the imitation\r\nof God, the possibility of attaining to perfection being\r\ngranted him at the beginning through the dignity of the\r\ndivine image, and the perfect realization of the divine likeness\r\nbeing reached in the end by the fulfilment of the [necessary]\r\nworks. Now, that such is the case, the Apostle John\r\npoints out more clearly and unmistakeably, when he makes\r\nthis declaration: “Little children, we do not yet know what\r\nwe shall be; but if a revelation be made to us from the\r\nSaviour, ye will say, without any doubt, we shall be like\r\nHim.”<a id=\"r750\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f750\"><sup>[750]</sup></a> By which expression he points out with the utmost\r\ncertainty, that not only was the end of all things to be hoped\r\nfor, which he says was still unknown to him, but also the\r\nlikeness to God, which will be conferred in proportion to\r\nthe completeness of our deserts. The Lord Himself, in the\r\nGospel, not only declares that these same results are future,\r\nbut that they are to be brought about by His own intercession,\r\nHe Himself deigning to obtain them from the Father\r\nfor His disciples, saying, “Father, I will that where I am,\r\nthese also may be with me; and as Thou and I are one, they\r\nalso may be one in us.”<a id=\"r751\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f751\"><sup>[751]</sup></a> In which the divine likeness itself\r\nalready appears to advance, if we may so express ourselves,\r\nand from being merely similar, to become the same,<a id=\"r752\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f752\"><sup>[752]</sup></a> because\r\nundoubtedly in the consummation or end God is “all and in\r\nall.” And with reference to this, it is made a question by some<a id=\"r753\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f753\"><sup>[753]</sup></a>\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_264\">264</span>whether the nature of bodily matter, although cleansed and\r\npurified, and rendered altogether spiritual, does not seem\r\neither to offer an obstruction towards attaining the dignity\r\nof the [divine] likeness, or to the property of unity,<a id=\"r754\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f754\"><sup>[754]</sup></a> because\r\nneither can a corporeal nature appear capable of any resemblance\r\nto a divine nature, which is certainly incorporeal; nor\r\ncan it be truly and deservedly designated one with it, especially\r\nsince we are taught by the truths of our religion that\r\nthat which alone is one, viz. the Son with the Father, must\r\nbe referred to a peculiarity of the [divine] nature.</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK III.","CHAPTER VI. ON THE END OF THE WORLD."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-274"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"4661744bce5e68034a7a891a0701ed60c25b8fe875a3121b22c6a444d16dd9f6","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f752","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Existing 1869 English translation; translator died 1889. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f752","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f752\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r752\">752</a>. </span><span lang=\"la\">Ex simili unum fieri.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f752","text_sha256":"7e384dc0e15cac5c10abfd4d15b0987a7b22946010a73898bd5bec119587846b","verified":false,"work_id":null}