{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/009/0090487.htm","path":"chr/ecf/009/0090487.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/009/0090487.htm","text":"14. How Jesus Finished His Words.\n\u201cAnd it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words.\u201d 6143 He who gives a detailed and complete account of each of the questions before him so that nothing is left out, finishes his own words. But he will give a declaration on this point with more confidence who devotes himself with great diligence to the entire reading of the Old and New Testament; for if the expression, \u201che finished these words,\u201d may be applied to no other, neither to Moses, nor to any of the prophets, but only to Jesus, then one would dare to say that Jesus alone finished His words, He who came to put an end to things, and to fulfil what was defective in the law, by saying, \u201cIt was said to them of old time,\u201d 6144 etc., and, again, \u201cThat the things spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled.\u201d 6145 But if it is written somewhere also in them, then you may compare and contrast the discourses finished by them with those finished by the Saviour, that you may find the difference between them. And yet at this point, also, investigation might be made whether in the case of the things spoken by way of oracle the expression, \u201che finished,\u201d is applied either to the things spoken by Moses, or any of the prophets, or of both together; for careful observation would suggest very weighty thoughts to those who know how \u201cto compare spiritual things with spiritual,\u201d and on this account \u201cspeak not in words which man\u2019s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth.\u201d 6146 But perhaps some other one, attending with over-curious spirit to the word \u201cfinished,\u201d which is assigned to things of a more mystical order, just as we say that some one delivered to those who were under his control mysteries and rites of \u201cperfecting\u201d 6147 not in a praiseworthy fashion, and another delivered the mysteries of God to those who are worthy, and rites of \u201cperfecting\u201d proportionate to such mysteries, might say that having initiated them, he made a rite of \u201cperfecting,\u201d by which \u201cperfecting\u201d the words were shown to be powerful, so that the gospel of Jesus was preached in the whole world, and by virtue of the divine \u201cperfecting\u201d gained the mastery of every soul which the Father draws to the Son, according to what is said by the Saviour, \u201cNo one comes to Me except the Father which has sent Me draw him.\u201d 6148 Wherefore also \u201cthe word\u201d of those who by the grace of God are ambassadors of the gospel, \u201cand their preaching, is not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit of power,\u201d 6149 to those for whom the words of the doctrine of Jesus were finished. You will therefore observe how often it is said, \u201cHe finished,\u201d and of what things it is said, and you will take as an illustration that which is said in regard to the beatitudes, and the whole of p. 505 the discourse to which is subjoined, \u201cAnd it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words, all the multitudes were astonished at His teaching.\u201d 6150 But now the saying, \u201cJesus finished these words,\u201d is referred also immediately to the very mystical parable according to which the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a king, but also beyond this parable to the sections which were written before it.\n\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2. Origen\u2019s play on the words \u1f10\u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd and \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c4\u03ae cannot be fully reproduced in English. The word \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c4\u03ae, in reference to the mysteries, meant the rite, or participation in the rite, by which one became perfect; and in later Christian usage it was applied to the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord\u2019s Supper. See Suicer.\n504:6148 504:6149\n1 Cor. ii. 4. \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2. The omission of the \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 is strange; for in the Contra Celsum (i. 2) Origen characterises the argument from prophecy as \u201cthe demonstration of the Spirit\u201d and the argument from miracles as \u201cthe demonstration of power.\u201d\n505:6150","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol IX: Origen's Commentary on the G...","type":"page"}