Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stephan huller · 01-12-2013, 12:07 AM

Quote:

And when it is said, "The man that doeth them shall live in them," it declares both the correction of the Hebrews themselves, and the training and advancement of us who are nigh: it declares at once their life and ours. "For those who were dead in sins are quickened together with Christ," (οἱ γὰρ νεκροὶ τοῖς παραπτώμασι συζωοποιοῦνται Χριστῷ) by our covenant. For Scripture, by the frequent reiteration of the expression, "I am the Lord your God," shames in such a way as most powerfully to dissuade, by teaching us to follow God who gave the commandments, and gently admonishes us to seek God and endeavour to know Him as far as possible; which is the highest speculation, that which scans the greatest mysteries, the real knowledge, that which becomes irrefragable by reason. This alone is the knowledge of wisdom, from which rectitude of conduct is never disjoined [Clement Stromata 2.10]

Maybe it has something to do with 2 Corinthians chapter 3? But if I was sure I wouldn't have posted this?

stephan huller · 01-12-2013, 12:42 AM

I just realized it is Ephesians 2:5.

Quote:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (καί εἰμί ἡμᾶς νεκρός ὁ παράπτωμα συζωοποιέω ὁ Χριστός χάρις εἰμί σώζω)—it is by grace you have been saved

stephan huller · 01-12-2013, 12:52 AM

The 'great mystery' seems to be connected with a non-canonical gospel:

Those who attack God’s creation under the pious name of self-control quote the words spoken to Salome, which we have mentioned previously. I fancy the passage comes from the Gospel according to the Egyptians. They maintain that the Savior personally said, "I am come to destroy the works of the female." "Female" refers to sexual desire, and its works are birth and decay. So what are they to say? Has this world order been undone? They could never say so. The universe remains in the same condition. But the Lord did not speak falsely. In reality he brought to nothing the works of desire – the love of money, or winning, or glory, craziness over women, a passion for boys, gluttony, profligacy and the like. The birth of these means decay in the soul, if we become "dead in sins" (νεκρός ὁ παράπτωμα). This is what is meant by "female" lack of self-control. Birth and decay in creation are bound to take place in accordance with the divine principle until the time of total dissolution and the restoration of the elect, an event through which the beings which are mixed up with the material world are also assigned to their true condition. [ibid 3.63.4]

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01-12-2013, 12:52 AM	#3
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	The 'great mystery' seems to be connected with a non-canonical gospel: Those who attack God’s creation under the pious name of self-control quote the words spoken to Salome, which we have mentioned previously. I fancy the passage comes from the Gospel according to the Egyptians. They maintain that the Savior personally said, "I am come to destroy the works of the female." "Female" refers to sexual desire, and its works are birth and decay. So what are they to say? Has this world order been undone? They could never say so. The universe remains in the same condition. But the Lord did not speak falsely. In reality he brought to nothing the works of desire – the love of money, or winning, or glory, craziness over women, a passion for boys, gluttony, profligacy and the like. The birth of these means decay in the soul, if we become "dead in sins" (νεκρός ὁ παράπτωμα). This is what is meant by "female" lack of self-control. Birth and decay in creation are bound to take place in accordance with the divine principle until the time of total dissolution and the restoration of the elect, an event through which the beings which are mixed up with the material world are also assigned to their true condition. [ibid 3.63.4]

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