A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

219(h) Origen, Contra Celsum, VII, 17. (MSG, 11:1445.)If we consider Jesus in relation to the divinity that was in Him,the things which He did in this capacity are holy and do notoffend our idea of God; and if we consider Him as a man,distinguished beyond all others by an intimate communion withthe very Word, with Absolute Wisdom, He suffered as one whowas wise and perfect whatever it behooved Him to suffer, whodid all for the good of the human race, yea, even for the goodof all intelligent beings. And there is nothing absurd in the factthat a man died, and that his death was not only an example ofdeath endured for the sake of piety, but also the first blow in theconflict which is to overthrow the power of the evil spirit of thedevil, who had obtained dominion over the whole world. Forthere are signs of the destruction of his empire; namely, thosewho through the coming of Christ are everywhere escaping fromthe power of demons, and who after their deliverance from thisbondage in which they were held consecrate themselves to God,and according to their ability devote themselves day by day toadvancement in a life of piety.(i) Origen, Homil. in Matt., XVI, 8. (MSG, 13:1398.)He did this in service of our salvation so far that He gave Hissoul a ransom for many who believed on Him. If all had believedon Him, He would have given His soul as a ransom for all. Towhom did He give His soul as a ransom for many? Certainly notto God. Then was it not to the Evil One? For that one reignedover us until the soul of Jesus was given as a ransom for us.This he had especially demanded, deceived by the imaginationthat he could rule over it, and he was not mindful of the factthat he could not endure the torment connected with holding itfast. Therefore death, which appeared to reign over Him, did [198]not reign over Him, since He was “free among the dead” andstronger than the power of death. He is, indeed, so far superior to