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.In thesecircumstances, to speak of the Christian doctrine as a secret system, isaltogether absurd.But that there should be certain doctrines, not made known tothe multitude, which are [revealed] after the exoteric ones have been taught, isnot a peculiarity of Christianity alone, but also of philosophic systems, in whichcertain truths are exoteric and others esoteric.Some of the hearers ofPythagoras [Page 77] were content with his ipse dixit; while others were taught insecret those doctrines which were not deemed fit to be communicated to profaneand insufficiently prepared ears.Moreover, all the Mysteries that are celebrated everywhere throughout Greece and barbarous countries, although held in secret,have no discredit thrown upon them, so that it is in vain he endeavours tocalumniate the secret doctrines of Christianity, seeing that he does not correctlyunderstand its nature".[Vol.X.Origen against Celsus, bk.I, ch.vii.]It is impossible to deny that, in this important passage, Origen distinctly placesthe Christian Mysteries in the same category as those of the Pagan world, andclaims that what is not regarded as a discredit to other religions should not form asubject of attack when found in Christianity.Still writing against Celsus, he declares that the secret teachings of Jesus werepreserved in the Church, and refers specifically to the explanations that He gaveto His disciples of His parables, in answering Celsus' comparison of "the innerMysteries of the Church of God" with the Egyptian worship of Animals." I havenot yet spoken of the observance of all that is written in [Page 78] the Gospels,each one of which contains much doctrine difficult to be understood, not merelyby the multitude, but even by certain of the more intelligent, including a veryprofound explanation of the parables which Jesus delivered to ' those without,'while reserving the exhibition of their full meaning for those who had passedbeyond the stage of exoteric teaching, and who came to Him privately in thehouse.And when he comes to understand it, he will admire the reason why someare said to be' without,' and others ' in the house.' [Vol.X.Origen against Celsus,bk.I, ch.vii.]And he refers guardedly to the "mountain" which Jesus ascended, from which hecame down again to help "those who were unable to follow Him whither Hisdisciples went".The allusion is to "the Mountain of Initiation", a well-knownmystical phrase, as Moses also made the Tabernacle after the pattern "showedthee in the mount".[Ex.xx.v, 40, xxvi, 30, and compare with Heb., viii, 5, and ix,25.] Origen refers to it again later, saying that Jesus showed himself to be verydifferent in his real appearance when on the "Mountain", from what those sawwho could not " follow Him so high."[Origen against Celsus, bk.IV, ch.xvi.] [Page79]So also, in his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Chap, xv, dealing with theepisode of the Syro-Phoenician woman, Origen remarks: "And perhaps, also, ofthe words of Jesus there are some loaves which it is possible to give to the morerational, as to children, only; and others as it were crumbs from the great houseand table of the well-born, which may be used by some souls like dogs".Celsus complaining that sinners were brought into the Church, Origen answersthat the Church had medicine for those that were sick, but also the study and theknowledge of divine things for those who were in health.Sinners were taught notto sin, and only when it was seen that progress had been made, and men were"purified by the Word", "then, and not before, do we invite them to participation inour Mysteries.For we speak wisdom among them that are perfect".[Origenagainst Celsus, bk.Ill, ch.lix.] Sinners came to be healed: "For there are in the divinity of the Word some helps towards the cure of those who are sick.Others, again, which to the pure in soul and body exhibit the ' revelation of theMystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifestby the Scriptures of the [Page 80] prophets,' and ' by the appearing of our LordJesus Christ,' which 'appearing' is manifested to each one of those who areperfect, and which enlightens the reason in the true knowledge of things".[Origenagainst Celsus, bk.Ill, ch.Ixi.] Such appearances of divine Beings took place,we have seen, in the Pagan Mysteries, and those of the Church had equallyglorious visitants [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.In thesecircumstances, to speak of the Christian doctrine as a secret system, isaltogether absurd.But that there should be certain doctrines, not made known tothe multitude, which are [revealed] after the exoteric ones have been taught, isnot a peculiarity of Christianity alone, but also of philosophic systems, in whichcertain truths are exoteric and others esoteric.Some of the hearers ofPythagoras [Page 77] were content with his ipse dixit; while others were taught insecret those doctrines which were not deemed fit to be communicated to profaneand insufficiently prepared ears.Moreover, all the Mysteries that are celebrated everywhere throughout Greece and barbarous countries, although held in secret,have no discredit thrown upon them, so that it is in vain he endeavours tocalumniate the secret doctrines of Christianity, seeing that he does not correctlyunderstand its nature".[Vol.X.Origen against Celsus, bk.I, ch.vii.]It is impossible to deny that, in this important passage, Origen distinctly placesthe Christian Mysteries in the same category as those of the Pagan world, andclaims that what is not regarded as a discredit to other religions should not form asubject of attack when found in Christianity.Still writing against Celsus, he declares that the secret teachings of Jesus werepreserved in the Church, and refers specifically to the explanations that He gaveto His disciples of His parables, in answering Celsus' comparison of "the innerMysteries of the Church of God" with the Egyptian worship of Animals." I havenot yet spoken of the observance of all that is written in [Page 78] the Gospels,each one of which contains much doctrine difficult to be understood, not merelyby the multitude, but even by certain of the more intelligent, including a veryprofound explanation of the parables which Jesus delivered to ' those without,'while reserving the exhibition of their full meaning for those who had passedbeyond the stage of exoteric teaching, and who came to Him privately in thehouse.And when he comes to understand it, he will admire the reason why someare said to be' without,' and others ' in the house.' [Vol.X.Origen against Celsus,bk.I, ch.vii.]And he refers guardedly to the "mountain" which Jesus ascended, from which hecame down again to help "those who were unable to follow Him whither Hisdisciples went".The allusion is to "the Mountain of Initiation", a well-knownmystical phrase, as Moses also made the Tabernacle after the pattern "showedthee in the mount".[Ex.xx.v, 40, xxvi, 30, and compare with Heb., viii, 5, and ix,25.] Origen refers to it again later, saying that Jesus showed himself to be verydifferent in his real appearance when on the "Mountain", from what those sawwho could not " follow Him so high."[Origen against Celsus, bk.IV, ch.xvi.] [Page79]So also, in his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Chap, xv, dealing with theepisode of the Syro-Phoenician woman, Origen remarks: "And perhaps, also, ofthe words of Jesus there are some loaves which it is possible to give to the morerational, as to children, only; and others as it were crumbs from the great houseand table of the well-born, which may be used by some souls like dogs".Celsus complaining that sinners were brought into the Church, Origen answersthat the Church had medicine for those that were sick, but also the study and theknowledge of divine things for those who were in health.Sinners were taught notto sin, and only when it was seen that progress had been made, and men were"purified by the Word", "then, and not before, do we invite them to participation inour Mysteries.For we speak wisdom among them that are perfect".[Origenagainst Celsus, bk.Ill, ch.lix.] Sinners came to be healed: "For there are in the divinity of the Word some helps towards the cure of those who are sick.Others, again, which to the pure in soul and body exhibit the ' revelation of theMystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifestby the Scriptures of the [Page 80] prophets,' and ' by the appearing of our LordJesus Christ,' which 'appearing' is manifested to each one of those who areperfect, and which enlightens the reason in the true knowledge of things".[Origenagainst Celsus, bk.Ill, ch.Ixi.] Such appearances of divine Beings took place,we have seen, in the Pagan Mysteries, and those of the Church had equallyglorious visitants [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]