Book 4
BOOK 4 On the Solecisms and Simple Expression of Scripture' (Three pages from the beginning) E WHO DISTINGUISHES for himself between the expression , the concepts, and the realities to which the concepts refer, will not take offense at the incorrect use of expressions wheQhe searches and finds that the realities of which the phrases are used are sound. This is especially so when the saints confess that their word and message are "not in the persuasiveness of words of wisdom,2 but in the demonstration of the Spirit' and power."3 (Then after speaking of the awkwardness of the Gospel style, he proceeds.) (2) But because the apostles are aware of those things in which they give offense and the things about which they have not occupied themselves, they say that they are rude "in speech, but not in knowledge."4 For we must suppose that that was said not only by Paul but also by the rest of the apostles. 1. This fragment is preserved in the Philocalia, 4. For the most recent critical text of this and the next fragment, along with a French translation and commentary see M. Had and N. De Lange, Origene: Philocalie, I-20, SC 302.269-305 (1983). 2. En peithois sophias logon. Blanc says that Origen's version is found in a part of the manuscript tradition of 1 Cor 2.4. I, however, can find no manuscript attestation for the text as Origen has it, unless we accept the variant reading Preuschen lists from D (Blanc'S text does not even record this variant ). D has peithoi for peithois. This would then agree with the biblical MS. 440, which has pethoi sophias logon. This reading is preferable to what Preuschen has printed as the text, for the text as it stands, with the dative plural adjective peithois, needs logOn to be in the dative plural rather than the genitive plural. 3. Cf. 1 Cor 2.4. 4. 2 Cor 11.6. 158 COMMENTARY ON JOHN, BOOK 4 159 We have also taken the following text in this way: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of US,"5 since "treasure" is used elsewhere of the treasure of knowledge and secret wisdom ,6 and "earthen vessels" of the text of the Scriptures which is simple and easily despised by Greeks, in which the excellency of God's power truly appears. For the mysteries of the truth, and the power of what is said which is not hindered by simple expression, were able to reach the ends of the earth,7 and to subject not only the foolish things of the world to Christ's word, but sometimes also its wise.s For we see our calling, not that there is no one wise according to the flesh, but "that there are not many wise according to the flesh."9 But also Paul is a "debtor" when he proclaims the gospel, to deliver the word not only to "barbarians," but also "to Greeks"; and not only "to the foolish" who readily agree, but also "to the wise."lo For God made him competent to be a "minister of the new testament,"ll employing the "demonstration of the Spirit and power,"12 that the assent of those who believe "might not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."13 (3) For perhaps if Scripture possessed the beauty and ornament of expression that those works admired by the Greeks possess, someone might suppose that it is not the truth that has grasped men, but that the apparent logical order seen in it, and the beauty of expression have charmed the hearers, and, having deceived them, have taken possession of them. 5· 2 Cor 4·7· 7. Cf. Ps 18·5· g. I Cor 1.26. II. Cf. 2 Cor 3.6. 13. 1 Cor 2.5. 6. Cf. Col 2.3. 8. Cf. I Cor 1.26-27. 10. Cf. Rom 1.14. 12. 1 Cor 2.4. ...
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