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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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Like Plato <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stoics, Philo regarded matter as<br />

devoid <strong>of</strong> all quality, <strong>and</strong> even form. Matter in<br />

itself was dead—^more than that, it was evil. This<br />

matter, which was already existing, God formed<br />

(not made), like an architect who uses his<br />

materials according to a pre-existing plan—which<br />

in this case was <strong>the</strong> archetypal world.<br />

This was creation, or ra<strong>the</strong>r formation, brought<br />

about not by God Himself, but by <strong>the</strong> Potencies,<br />

especially by <strong>the</strong> Logos, Who was <strong>the</strong> connecting<br />

bond <strong>of</strong> all. As for Otod^ His only direct work<br />

was <strong>the</strong> soul, <strong>and</strong> that only <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> good, not <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

evil. Man's immaterial part had a tw<strong>of</strong>old aspect:<br />

earthwards, as Sensuousness (aXaOfiats) ; <strong>and</strong><br />

heavenwards, as Reason (yovi). <strong>The</strong> sensuous part<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soul was connected with <strong>the</strong> body. It had no<br />

heavenly past, <strong>and</strong> would have no future. But '<br />

Reason' (yovi)^ was that breath <strong>of</strong> true life which<br />

God had brea<strong>the</strong>d into man (irvsv/jLo) whereby<br />

<strong>the</strong> earthy became <strong>the</strong> higher, living spirit, with its<br />

various faculties. Before time began <strong>the</strong> soul was<br />

without body, an archetype, <strong>the</strong> ' heavenly man,'

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