{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c006\">Let the ancient sages, then, make known their sayings to\r\nthose who are capable of understanding them. Suppose that\r\nPlato, for example, the son of Ariston, in one of his Epistles,\r\nis discoursing about the “chief good,” and that he says, “The\r\nchief good can by no means be described in words, but is produced\r\nby long habit, and bursts forth suddenly as a light in the\r\nsoul, as from a fire which had leapt forth.” We, then, on hearing\r\nthese words, admit that they are well said, for it is God\r\nwho revealed to men these as well as all other noble expressions.\r\nAnd for this reason it is that we maintain that those who have\r\nentertained correct ideas regarding God, but who have not\r\noffered to Him a worship in harmony with the truth, are liable\r\nto the punishments which fall on sinners. For respecting such\r\nPaul says in express words: “The wrath of God is revealed\r\nfrom heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of\r\nmen, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that\r\nwhich may be known of God is manifest in them; for God\r\nhath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him\r\nfrom the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood\r\nby the things that are made, even His eternal power and\r\nGodhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when\r\nthey knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were\r\nthankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their\r\nfoolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise,\r\nthey became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_339\">339</span>God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds,\r\nand four-footed beasts, and creeping things.”<a id=\"r1044\"></a><a class=\"c008 pginternal\" href=\"#f1044\"><sup>[1044]</sup></a> The truth, then,\r\nis verily held [in unrighteousness], as our Scriptures testify,\r\nby those who are of opinion that “the chief good cannot be\r\ndescribed in words,” but who assert that, “after long custom\r\nand familiar usage,<a id=\"r1045\"></a><a class=\"c008 pginternal\" href=\"#f1045\"><sup>[1045]</sup></a> a light becomes suddenly kindled in the\r\nsoul, as if by a fire springing forth, and that it now supports\r\nitself alone.”</p>","headings":["The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 of 2","BOOK VI.","Chapter III."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70693-paragraph-396"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"c2e7a59a6347de3a75339615d5fd87a4f5edfd192d0637e415470bd632d224a9","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie","W. H. Cairns"],"edition_year":1872,"explicit_reference_candidates":[{"book":"ROM","chapter":1,"kind":"unreviewed","source_notation":"Rom. i. 18-23","verse":18,"verse_end":23}],"headings":[],"id":"pg70693-f1044","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":"f1044","source_ebook":70693,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f1044\">\n<p class=\"c007\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r1044\">1044</a>. </span><abbr class=\"spell\">Cf.</abbr> <abbr title=\"Romans\">Rom.</abbr> <abbr title=\"one\">i.</abbr> 18-23.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"76ed9a9fd752c1d5095189e38fe3dcbbea0fd23d6be719db17360e4da14552fa","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70693/pg70693-images.html#f1044","text_sha256":"01a47f00bcf222ba37c1ca30d56ca54370fd83b35472ecbdd298928e8ec7fb4f","verified":false,"work_id":null}