Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume II/Sozomen/Book VIII/Chapter 11
Chapter XI.—Question agitated in Egypt, as to whether God has a Corporeal Form. Theophilus, Bishop of Alexandria, and the Books of Origen.
A question was at this period agitated in Egypt, which had been propounded a short time previously, namely, whether it is right to believe that God is anthropomorphic.[1]
Because they laid hold of the sacred words with simplicity and without any questioning, most of the monks of that part of the world were of this opinion; and supposed that God possessed eyes, a face, and hands, and other members of the bodily organization. But those who searched into the hidden meaning of the terms of Scripture held the opposite; and they maintained that those who denied the incorporeality of God were guilty of blasphemy. This later opinion was espoused by Theophilus, and preached by him in the church; and in the epistle[2]
which, according to custom, he wrote respecting the celebration of the
passover, he took occasion to state that God ought to be regarded as
incorporeal, as alien to a human form. When it was signified to the
Egyptian monks that Theophilus had broached these sentiments, they went
to Alexandria, assembled the people together in one place, excited a
tumult, and determined upon slaying the bishop as an impious man.
Theophilus, however, presented himself to the insurgents forthwith, and
said to them, “When I look upon you, it is as if I beheld the
face of God.” This address sufficiently mollified the men;
yielding their wrath, they replied, “Wherefore, then, if you
really hold orthodox doctrines, do you not denounce the books of
Origen; since those who read them are led into such opinions?”
“Such has long been my intention,” replied he, “and I
shall do as you advise; for I blame not less than you do, all those who
follow the doctrines of Origen.” By these means he deluded the
brethren, and broke up the sedition.