{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c006\">3. After the enumeration, then, of so many and so important\r\nnames of orders and offices, underlying which it is certain\r\nthat there are personal existences, let us inquire whether God,\r\nthe creator and founder of all things, created certain of them\r\nholy and happy, so that they could admit no element at all of\r\nan opposite kind, and certain others so that they were made\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_47\">47</span>capable both of virtue and vice; or whether we are to suppose\r\nthat He created some so as to be altogether incapable of\r\nvirtue, and others again altogether incapable of wickedness,\r\nbut with the power of abiding only in a state of happiness,\r\nand others again such as to be capable of either condition.\r\nIn order, now, that our first inquiry may begin with the\r\nnames themselves, let us consider whether the holy angels,\r\nfrom the period of their first existence, have always been holy,\r\nand are holy still, and will be holy, and have never either\r\nadmitted or had the power to admit any occasion of sin.\r\nThen in the next place, let us consider whether those who are\r\ncalled holy principalities began from the moment of their\r\ncreation by God to exercise power over some who were made\r\nsubject to them, and whether these latter were created of\r\nsuch a nature, and formed for the very purpose of being subject\r\nand subordinate. In like manner, also, whether those\r\nwhich are called powers were created of such a nature and\r\nfor the express purpose of exercising power, or whether their\r\narriving at that power and dignity is a reward and desert of\r\ntheir virtue. Moreover, also, whether those which are called\r\nthrones or seats gained that stability of happiness at the same\r\ntime with their coming forth into being,<a id=\"r112\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f112\"><sup>[112]</sup></a> so as to have that\r\npossession from the will of the Creator alone; or whether\r\nthose which are called dominions had their dominion conferred\r\non them, not as a reward for their proficiency, but as\r\nthe peculiar privilege of their creation,<a id=\"r113\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f113\"><sup>[113]</sup></a> so that it is something\r\nwhich is in a certain degree inseparable from them,\r\nand natural. Now, if we adopt the view that the holy\r\nangels, and the holy powers, and the blessed seats, and\r\nthe glorious virtues, and the magnificent dominions, are to\r\nbe regarded as possessing those powers and dignities and\r\nglories in virtue of their nature,<a id=\"r114\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f114\"><sup>[114]</sup></a> it will doubtless appear\r\nto follow that those beings which have been mentioned as\r\nholding offices of an opposite kind must be regarded in the\r\nsame manner; so that those principalities with whom we have\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_48\">48</span>to struggle are to be viewed, not as having received that spirit\r\nof opposition and resistance to all good at a later period, or as\r\nfalling away from good through the freedom of the will, but\r\nas having had it in themselves as the essence of their being\r\nfrom the beginning of their existence. In like manner also\r\nwill it be the case with the powers and virtues, in none of\r\nwhich was wickedness subsequent or posterior to their first\r\nexistence. Those also whom the apostle termed rulers and\r\nprinces of the darkness of this world, are said, with respect to\r\ntheir rule and occupation of darkness, to fall not from perversity\r\nof intention, but from the necessity of their creation.\r\nLogical reasoning will compel us to take the same view with\r\nregard to wicked and malignant spirits and unclean demons.\r\nBut if to entertain this view regarding malignant and opposing\r\npowers seem to be absurd, as it is certainly absurd that\r\nthe cause of their wickedness should be removed from the\r\npurpose of their own will, and ascribed of necessity to their\r\nCreator, why should we not also be obliged to make a\r\nsimilar confession regarding the good and holy powers, that,\r\nviz., the good which is in them is not theirs by essential being,\r\nwhich we have manifestly shown to be the case with Christ\r\nand the Holy Spirit alone, as undoubtedly with the Father\r\nalso? For it was proved that there was nothing compound in\r\nthe nature of the Trinity, so that these qualities might seem\r\nto belong to it as accidental consequences. From which it\r\nfollows, that in the case of every creature it is a result of his\r\nown works and movements, that those powers which appear\r\neither to hold sway over others or to exercise power or dominion,\r\nhave been preferred to and placed over those whom\r\nthey are said to govern or exercise power over, and not in\r\nconsequence of a peculiar privilege inherent in their constitutions,\r\nbut on account of merit.</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK I.","CHAPTER V. ON RATIONAL NATURES."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-102"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"553de3fb360210cc95f974494a2e3253666eb422c152f020f73df46ad67e7601","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f113","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":"f113","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f113\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r113\">113</a>. </span><span lang=\"la\">Conditionis prærogativa.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f113","text_sha256":"8a4a7907592f4b02753bd585b423665cc444c91e6eb51530810e99c674537bff","verified":false,"work_id":null}