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| Chapter XXIX.—Refutation of the views of the heretics as to the future destiny of the soul and body.
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Chapter XXIX.—Refutation of the views
of the heretics as to the future destiny of the soul and body.
1. destiny of, refuted" title="402" id="ix.iii.xxx-p1.1"/>Let
us return, however, to the remaining points of their system. For when
they declare3238
that, at the consummation of all things, their mother
shall re-enter the Pleroma, and receive the Saviour as her consort; that
they themselves, as being spiritual, when they have got rid of their
animal souls, and become intellectual spirits, will be the consorts of
the spiritual angels; but that the Demiurge, since they call him animal,
will pass into the place of the Mother; that the souls of the righteous
shall psychically repose in the intermediate place;—when they
declare that like will be gathered to like, spiritual things to
spiritual, while material things continue among those that are material,
they do in fact contradict themselves, inasmuch as they no longer
maintain that souls pass, on account of their nature, into the
intermediate place to those substances which are similar to themselves,
but [that they do so] on account of the deeds done [in the body], since
they affirm that those of the righteous do pass [into that abode], but
those of the impious continue in the fire. For if it is on account of
their nature that all souls attain to the place of enjoyment,3239
| 3239 “Refrigerium,”
place of refreshment. | and all belong to the
intermediate place simply because they are souls, as being thus of the
same nature with it, then it follows that faith is altogether
superfluous, as was also the descent3240
| 3240 Billius, with great apparent reason, proposes to read
“descensio” for the unintelligible “discessio” of
the Latin text. | of the Saviour [to this world]. If, on the
other hand, it is on account of their righteousness [that they attain to
such a place of rest], then it is no longer because they are souls
but because they are righteous. But if souls would have3241
| 3241 Grabe and Massuet read,
“Si autem animæ perire inciperent, nisi justæ fuissent,”
for “Si autem animæ quæ perituræ essent inciperent nisi justæ
fuissent,”—words which defy all translation. |
perished unless they had been righteous, then righteousness must have
power to save the bodies also [which these souls inhabited]; for why
should it not save them, since they, too, participated in righteousness?
For if nature and substance are the means of salvation, then all souls
shall be saved; but if righteousness and faith, why should these not save
those bodies which, equally with the souls, will enter3242
| 3242 The text is here uncertain and confused;
but, as Harvey remarks, “the argument is this, That if souls are
saved qua intellectual substance, then all are saved alike; but if
by reason of any moral qualities, then the bodies that have executed the
moral purposes of the soul, must also be considered to be heirs of
salvation.” | into
immortality? For
righteousness will appear, in matters of this kind, either impotent or
unjust, if indeed it saves some substances through participating in it,
but not others.
2. For it is manifest that those acts which are deemed
righteous are performed in bodies. Either, therefore, all souls will of
necessity pass into the intermediate place, and there will never be a
judgment; or bodies, too, which have participated in righteousness, will
attain to the place of enjoyment, along with the souls which have in like
manner participated, if indeed righteousness is powerful enough to bring
thither those substances which have participated in it. And then the
doctrine concerning the resurrection of bodies which we believe, will
emerge true and certain [from their system]; since, [as we hold,] God,
when He resuscitates our mortal bodies which preserved righteousness,
will render them incorruptible and immortal. For God is superior to
nature, and has in Himself the disposition [to show kindness], because He
is good; and the ability to do so, because He is mighty; and the faculty
of fully carrying out His purpose, because He is rich and perfect.
3. But these men are in all points inconsistent with
themselves, when they decide that all souls do not enter into the
intermediate place, but those of the righteous only. For they maintain
that, according to nature and substance, three sorts [of being] were
produced by the Mother: the first, which proceeded from perplexity, and
weariness, and fear—that is material substance; the second from
impetuosity3243
| 3243 “De
impetu:” it is generally supposed that these words correspond to
ἐκ τῆς ἐπιστροφῆς (comp.
i. 5, 1), but Harvey thinks ἐξ ὁρμῆς preferable (i.
4, 1). | —that is animal substance; but that which she
brought forth after the vision of those angels who wait upon Christ, is
spiritual substance. If, then, that substance3244
| 3244 The syntax of this sentence is in utter
confusion, but the meaning is doubtless that given above. |
which she brought forth will by all means enter into the Pleroma because
it is spiritual, while that which is material will remain below because
it is material, and shall be totally consumed by the fire which burns
within it, why should not the whole animal substance go into the
intermediate place, into which also they send the Demiurge? But what is
it which shall enter within their Pleroma? For they maintain that souls
shall continue in the intermediate place, while bodies, because they
possess material substance, when they have been resolved into matter,
shall be consumed by that fire which exists in it; but their body being
thus destroyed, and their soul remaining in the intermediate place, no
part of man will any longer be left to enter in within the Pleroma. For
the intellect of man—his mind, thought, mental intention, and
such like—is nothing else than his soul; but the emotions and
operations of the soul itself have no substance apart from the soul. What
part of them, then, will still remain to enter into the Pleroma? For they
themselves, in as far as they are souls, remain in the intermediate
place; while, in as far as they are body, they will be consumed with the
rest of matter.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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