Jump to content

Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Origen/Origen Against Celsus/Book II/Chapter LXII

From Wikisource
Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IV, Origen, Origen Against Celsus, Book II
by Origen, translated by Frederick Crombie
Chapter LXII
156333Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IV, Origen, Origen Against Celsus, Book II — Chapter LXIIFrederick CrombieOrigen

Chapter LXII.

Now it followed from all the predictions which were uttered regarding Him—amongst which was this prediction of the resurrection—and, from all that was done by Him, and from all the events which befell Him, that this event should be marvellous above all others.  For it had been said beforehand by the prophet in the person of Jesus:  “My flesh shall rest in hope, and Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, and wilt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.”[1]  And truly, after His resurrection, He existed in a body intermediate, as it were, between the grossness of that which He had before His sufferings, and the appearance of a soul uncovered by such a body.  And hence it was, that when His disciples were together, and Thomas with them, there “came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger,”[2] etc.  And in the Gospel of Luke also, while Simon and Cleopas were conversing with each other respecting all that had happened to them, Jesus “drew near, and went with them.  And their eyes were holden, that they should not know Him.  And He said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk?”  And when their eyes were opened, and they knew Him, then the Scripture says, in express words, “And He vanished out of their sight.”[3]  And although Celsus may wish to place what is told of Jesus, and of those who saw Him after His resurrection, on the same level with imaginary appearances of a different kind, and those who have invented such, yet to those who institute a candid and intelligent examination, the events will appear only the more miraculous.

  1. Ps. xvi. 9, 10.
  2. John xx. 26, 27.
  3. Luke xxiv. 15, 31.