{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c006\">Celsus, then, does not speak as a good reasoner,<a id=\"r372\"></a><a class=\"c008 pginternal\" href=\"#f372\"><sup>[372]</sup></a> when he\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_123\">123</span>compares the mortal flesh of Jesus to gold, and silver, and stone,\r\nasserting that the former is more liable to corruption than the\r\nlatter. For, to speak correctly, that which is incorruptible is\r\nnot more free from corruption than another thing which is\r\nincorruptible, nor that which is corruptible more liable to corruption\r\nthan another corruptible thing. But, admitting that\r\nthere are degrees of corruptibility, we can say in answer, that\r\nif it is possible for the matter which underlies all qualities to\r\nexchange some of them, how should it be impossible for the\r\nflesh of Jesus also to exchange qualities, and to become such as\r\nit was proper for a body to be which had its abode in the ether\r\nand the regions above it, and possessing no longer the infirmities\r\nbelonging to the flesh, and those properties which Celsus\r\nterms “impurities,” and in so terming them, speaks unlike a\r\nphilosopher? For that which is properly impure, is so because\r\nof its wickedness. Now the nature of body is not impure; for\r\nin so far as it is bodily nature, it does not possess vice, which is\r\nthe generative principle of impurity. But, as he had a suspicion\r\nof the answer which we would return, he says with respect\r\nto the change of the body of Jesus, “Well, after he has laid\r\naside these qualities, he will be a God:” [and if so], why not\r\nrather Æsculapius, and Dionysus, and Hercules? To which\r\nwe reply, “What great deed has Æsculapius, or Dionysus, or\r\nHercules wrought?” And what individuals will they be able\r\nto point out as having been improved in character, and made\r\nbetter by their words and lives, so that they may make good\r\ntheir claim to be gods? For let us peruse the many narratives\r\nregarding them, and see whether they were free from licentiousness,\r\nor injustice, or folly, or cowardice. And if nothing\r\nof that kind be found in them, the argument of Celsus might\r\nhave force, which places the forenamed individuals upon an\r\nequality with Jesus. But if it is certain that, although some\r\nthings are reported of them as reputable, they are recorded,\r\nnevertheless, to have done innumerable things which are contrary\r\nto right reason, how could you any longer say, with any\r\nshow of reason, that these men, on putting aside their mortal\r\nbody, became gods rather than Jesus?</p>","headings":["The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 of 2","BOOK III.","Chapter XLII."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70693-paragraph-175"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"ff24d448458a5a5a879a9a27415d4cf667f1ecdb5d81ed4ea53096045a99f7b8","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie","W. H. Cairns"],"edition_year":1872,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70693-f372","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 1872 English edition; listed translators died 1889 and 1872. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f372","source_ebook":70693,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f372\">\n<p class=\"c007\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r372\">372</a>. </span><span lang=\"grc\">διαλεκτικὸς.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"76ed9a9fd752c1d5095189e38fe3dcbbea0fd23d6be719db17360e4da14552fa","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70693/pg70693-images.html#f372","text_sha256":"922ddd63076f3bd7e8e38ce83dd069dcdba752f59f97c6d6fb4642fc2b759fab","verified":false,"work_id":null}