"For whatever be the knowledge which we are able to obtain
of God, either by perception or reflection, we must of necessity believe
that He is by many degrees far better than what we perceive Him to be."
"For if the mystery concealed of old is made manifest
to the Apostles through the prophetic writings, and if the prophets, being
wise men, understood what proceeded from their own mouths, then the prophets
knew what was made manifest to the Apostles."
"Having refuted, then, as well as we could, every notion
which might suggest that we were to think of God as in any degree corporeal,
we go on to say that, according to strict truth, God is incomprehensible,
and incapable of being measured."
"If all things were made through Him, clearly so must
the splendid revelations have been which were made to the fathers and prophets,
and became to them the symbols of the sacred mysteries of religion."
"Now our whole activity is devoted to God, and our whole
life, since we are bent on progress in divine things."
"Now the true soldiers of Christ must always be prepared
to do battle for the truth, and must never, so far as lies with them, allow
false convictions to creep in."
"The physical voice we use in prayer need not be great
nor startling; even should we not lift up any great cry or shout, God will
yet hear us."
"The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach
of all."
"Then, in the next place, we must know that every being
which is endowed with reason, and transgresses its statutes and limitations,
is undoubtedly involved in sin by swerving from rectitude and justice."
"This also is a part of the Church's teaching, that the
world was made and took its beginning at a certain time, and is to be destroyed
on account of its wickedness."
"This also is a part of the teaching of the Church, that
there are certain angels of God, and certain good influences, which are
His servants in accomplishing the salvation of men."
"This opinion, however, is held by most, that the devil
was an angel, and that, having become an apostate, he induced as many of
the angels as possible to fall away with himself, and these up to the present
time are called his angels."
"To him who, though by no means near the end, is yet advancing,
He is the way; to him who has put off all that is dead He is the life."
"We are obliged, therefore, to say that whoever speaks
that which is foreign to religion is using many words, while he who speaks
the words of truth, even should he go over the whole field and omit nothing,
is always speaking the one word."
"We must believe what is good and true about the prophets,
that they were sages, that they did understand what proceeded from their
mouths, and that they bore prudence on their lips."
"When a house is being built which is to be made as strong
as possible, the building takes place in fine weather and in calm, so that
nothing may hinder the structure from acquiring the needed solidity."
"When Jesus then is with the multitudes, He is not in His house, for the multitudes are outside of the house, and it is an act which springs from His love of men to leave the house and to go away to those who are not able to come to Him."
Written by Author : Origen
