Origen against Celsus translated from the original into English by James Bellamy ...

CHAP. XIII.

BUT since Celsus has laid this down as one of the Maxims of the Christians, that the Wisdom of this World is very dangerous and mis∣chievous; but Folly is a most admi∣rable and useful Thing: I answer, he don't fairly represent the Words of the Apostle Paul, which run after the following Manner, If any Man among you seems to be wise in this World, let * 1.1 him become a Fool that he may be wise, for the Wisdom of this World is Foolish∣ness with God.

He don't simply say, that Wisdom is Foolishness with God, but prudently confines his Discourse to the Wisdom of this World, and don't simply say, If any Man among you seems to be wise, let him immediately become a Fool; but If any Man among you seems to be wise in this World, let him become a Fool, that he may be wise.

By the Wisdom of this World, I un∣derstand that vain Philosophy, in a com∣parative Sence, which the Scripture

do's so justly, so frequently, and so se∣verely condemn. And so Folly is a most admirable and useful Thing, not strictly consider'd, but in this limited Sence, when a Person becomes a Fool in the Esteem of this vain and dege∣nerate World.

'Tis just the same Thing, as if any one shou'd say, that the Platonicks, who believe the Immortality of the Soul, and the Doctrine of its Transmigration, have embrac'd ridiculous Opinions; that is, they are such in the Judgment of the Stoicks, who endeavour to over∣throw it, and of the Peripateticks, who insult over Plato, as if he were a Mad∣man; and of the Epicureans, who re∣proach them that believe a God, and an over-ruling Providence, as being the unhappy Authors of all the wild Superstition, that was ever brought into the World.

And if there were Occasion, I cou'd make it appear, that tho' 'tis much better for them, who have Opportu∣nity, and Capacity, to build their Faith on rational and convincing Arguments, than to take Things on Trust; yet our Blessed Saviour wou'd have Persons of mean Capacities, and under some peculiar Circumstances, to believe with∣out a severe Examination, since other∣wise we can't suppose, that the Gospel

wou'd be of any Advantage to 'em. So much is intimated by St. Paul in the following Words, After that in the * 1.2 Wisdom of God, the World by Wisdom knew not God, it pleas'd God by the Foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe.

Hence it is plain, that in the Wisdom of God the World ought to have known him, and because they so grosly fail'd herein, it pleas'd God to save them who believe in the fore-mention'd Way, viz. By the Preaching of a Doctrine, which was Foolishness in the Judg∣ments of many thousands, ev'n of ju∣dicious and learned Persons. St. Paul himself was not ignorant of this, when he us'd these Words, We preach Christ * 1.3 crucify'd, to the Jews a Stumbling-Block, and to the Greeks Foolishness; but to them who believe, both Jews and Greeks, the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Cor. iii. V. ••8.
• * 1.2

  1 Cor. i. V. 21.
• * 1.3

  1 Cor. i. V. 25.