Chapter XXVII.
After the matter of the diagram, he brings forward certain monstrous statements, in the form of question and answer, [4422] regarding what is called by ecclesiastical writers the "seal," statements which did not arise from imperfect information; such as that "he who impresses the seal is called father, and he who is sealed is called young man and son;" and who answers, "I have been anointed with white ointment from the tree of life,"--things which we never heard to have occurred even among the heretics. In the next place, he determines even the number mentioned by those who deliver over the seal, as that "of seven angels, who attach themselves to both sides of the soul of the dying body; the one party being named angels of light, the others archontics;'" [4423] and he asserts that the "ruler of those named archontics' is termed the accursed' god." Then, laying hold of the expression, he assails, not without reason, those who venture to use such language; and on that account we entertain a similar feeling of indignation with those who censure such individuals, if indeed there exist any who call the God of the Jews--who sends rain and thunder, and who is the Creator of this world, and the God of Moses, and of the cosmogony which he records--an "accursed" divinity. Celsus, however, appears to have had in view in employing these expressions, not a rational [4424] object, but one of a most irrational kind, arising out of his hatred towards us, which is so unlike a philosopher. For his aim was, that those who are unacquainted with our customs should, on perusing his treatise, at once assail us as if we called the noble Creator of this world an "accursed divinity." He appears to me, indeed, to have acted like those Jews who, when Christianity began to be first preached, scattered abroad false reports of the Gospel, such as that "Christians offered up an infant in sacrifice, and partook of its flesh;" and again, "that the professors of Christianity, wishing to do the works of darkness,' used to extinguish the lights (in their meetings), and each one to have sexual intercourse with any woman whom he chanced to meet." These calumnies have long exercised, although unreasonably, an influence over the minds of very many, leading those who are aliens to the Gospel to believe that Christians are men of such a character; and even at the present day they mislead some, and prevent them from entering even into the simple intercourse of conversation with those who are Christians.
[4422] allokota kai amoibaias phonas.
[4423] archontikon.
[4424] ouk eugnomon alla...panu agnomonestaton.
Chapter XXVIII.
With some such object as this in view does Celsus seem to have been actuated, when he alleged that Christians term the Creator an "accursed divinity;" in order that he who believes these charges of his against us, should, if possible, arise and exterminate the Christians as the most impious of mankind. Confusing, moreover, things that are distinct, [4425] he states also the reason why the God of the Mosaic cosmogony is termed "accursed," asserting that "such is his character, and worthy of execration in the opinion of those who so regard him, inasmuch as he pronounced a curse upon the serpent, who introduced the first human beings to the knowledge of good and evil." Now he ought to have known that those who have espoused the cause of the serpent, because he gave good advice to the first human beings, and who go far beyond the Titans and Giants of fable, and are on this account called Ophites, are so far from being Christians, that they bring accusations against Jesus to as great a degree as Celsus himself; and they do not admit any one into their assembly [4426] until he has uttered maledictions against Jesus. See, then, how irrational is the procedure of Celsus, who, in his discourse against the Christians, represents as such those who will not even listen to the name of Jesus, or omit even that He was a wise man, or a person of virtuous [4427] character! What, then, could evince greater folly or madness, not only on the part of those who wish to derive their name from the serpent as the author of good, [4428] but also on the part of Celsus, who thinks that the accusations with which the Ophites [4429] are charged, are chargeable also against the Christians! Long ago, indeed, that Greek philosopher who preferred a state of poverty, [4430] and who exhibited the pattern of a happy life, showing that he was not excluded from happiness although he was possessed of nothing, [4431] termed himself a Cynic; while these impious wretches, as not being human beings, whose enemy the serpent is, but as being serpents, pride themselves upon being called Ophites from the serpent, which is an animal most hostile to and greatly dreaded by man, and boast of one Euphrates [4432] as the introducer of these unhallowed opinions.
[4425] phuron de ta pragmata.
[4426] sunedrion.
[4427] metrios ta ethe.
[4428] archegou ton kalon.
[4429] 'Ophianoi: cf. Irenæus, vol. i. pp. 354-358.
[4430] ten euteleian agapesas.
[4431] apo tes pantelous aktemosunes.
[4432] "Euphraten hujus hæresis auctorem solus Origenes tradit."--Spencer; cf. note in Spencer's edition.