{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">11. But, as we had begun to observe, the way which\r\nseems to us the correct one for the understanding of the\r\nScriptures, and for the investigation of their meaning, we\r\nconsider to be of the following kind: for we are instructed\r\nby Scripture itself in regard to the ideas which we ought to\r\nform of it. In the Proverbs of Solomon we find some such\r\nrule as the following laid down, respecting the consideration\r\nof holy Scripture: “And do thou,” he says, “describe these\r\nthings to thyself in a threefold manner, in counsel and\r\nknowledge, and that thou mayest answer the words of truth\r\nto those who have proposed them to thee.”<a id=\"r889\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f889\"><sup>[889]</sup></a> Each one,\r\nthen, ought to describe in his own mind, in a threefold\r\nmanner, the understanding of the divine letters,—that is,\r\nin order that all the more simple individuals may be edified,\r\nso to speak, by the very body of Scripture; for such we\r\nterm that common and historical sense: while, if some have\r\ncommenced to make considerable progress, and are able to\r\nsee something more [than that], <i>they</i> may be edified by the\r\nvery soul of Scripture. Those, again, who are perfect, and\r\nwho resemble those of whom the apostle says, “We speak\r\nwisdom among them that are perfect, but not the wisdom\r\nof this world, nor of the princes of this world, who will be\r\nbrought to nought; but we speak the wisdom of God, hidden\r\nin a mystery, which God hath decreed before the ages unto\r\nour glory;”<a id=\"r890\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f890\"><sup>[890]</sup></a>—all such as these may be edified by the\r\nspiritual law itself (which has a shadow of good things to\r\ncome), as if by the Spirit. For as man is said to consist of\r\nbody, and soul, and spirit, so also does sacred Scripture,\r\nwhich has been granted by the divine bounty<a id=\"r891\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f891\"><sup>[891]</sup></a> for the salvation\r\nof man; which we see pointed out, moreover, in the\r\nlittle book of <i>The Shepherd</i>, which seems to be despised by\r\nsome, where Hermas is commanded to write two little books,\r\nand afterwards to announce to the presbyters of the church\r\nwhat he learned from the Spirit. For these are the words\r\nthat are written: “And you will write,” he says, “two\r\nbooks; and you will give the one to Clement, and the other to\r\nGrapte.<a id=\"r892\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f892\"><sup>[892]</sup></a> And let Grapte admonish the widows and orphans,\r\nand let Clement send through all the cities which are abroad,\r\nwhile you will announce to the presbyters of the church.”\r\nGrapte, accordingly, who is commanded to admonish the\r\norphans and widows, is the pure understanding of the letter\r\nitself; by which those youthful minds are admonished, who\r\nhave not yet deserved to have God as their Father, and are\r\non that account styled orphans. They, again, are the widows,\r\nwho have withdrawn themselves from the unjust man, to\r\nwhom they had been united contrary to law; but who have\r\nremained widows, because they have not yet advanced to the\r\nstage of being joined to a heavenly Bridegroom. Clement,\r\nmoreover, is ordered to send into those cities which are\r\nabroad what is written to those individuals who already are\r\nwithdrawing from the letter,—as if the meaning were to\r\nthose souls who, being built up by this means, have begun to\r\nrise above the cares of the body and the desires of the flesh;\r\nwhile he himself, who had learned from the Holy Spirit, is\r\ncommanded to announce, not by letter nor by book, but by\r\nthe living voice, to the presbyters of the church of Christ,\r\n<i>i.e.</i> to those who possess a mature faculty of wisdom, capable\r\nof receiving spiritual teaching.</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK IV.","FROM THE LATIN."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-308"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"a1f962a21c71b48dc88bc34656e20bdf10451f291171719a3efea8b6d5e66595","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f891","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":"f891","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f891\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r891\">891</a>. </span><span lang=\"la\">Largitione.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f891","text_sha256":"21901d3041d0bbd085ff4cea3df4277a0907febab9ab3e9423fb3505445059cb","verified":false,"work_id":null}