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| Chapter LX.—Plato’s doctrine of the cross.
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Chapter LX.—Plato’s doctrine of the
cross.
And the
physiological discussion1889
| 1889
Literally, “that which is treated physiologically.”
| concerning the Son of God in the Timæus of Plato, where
he says, “He placed him crosswise1890
| 1890 He impressed him as a χιασμα, i.e., in the
form of the letter χ upon the universe.
Plato is speaking of the soul of the universe. [Timæus, Opp., vol. ix.
p. 314. And see note of Langus (p. 37) on p. 113 of Grabe. Here crops out
the Platonic philosopher speaking after the fashion of his
contemporaries, perhaps to conciliate his sovereign. See Professor
Jowett’s Introduction to the Timæus, which will aid the
students.] | in the universe,” he borrowed in like manner
from Moses; for in the writings of Moses it is related how at that time,
when the Israelites went out of Egypt and were in the wilderness, they
fell in with poisonous beasts, both vipers and asps, and every kind of
serpent, which slew the people; and that Moses, by the inspiration and
influence of God, took brass, and made it into the figure of a cross, and
set it in the holy tabernacle, and said to the people, “If ye look
to this figure, and believe, ye shall be saved thereby.”1891
And when this was done, it is recorded that the
serpents died, and it is handed down that the people thus escaped death.
Which things Plato reading, and not accurately understanding, and not
apprehending that it was the figure of the cross, but taking it to be a
placing crosswise, he said that the power next to the first God was
placed crosswise in the universe. And as to his speaking of a third, he
did this because he read, as we said above, that which was spoken by
Moses, “that the Spirit of God moved over the waters.” For he
gives the second place to the Logos which is with God, who he said was
placed crosswise in the universe; and the third place to the Spirit who
was said to be borne upon the water, saying, “And the third around
the third.”1892
| 1892
Τὰ δὲ τρίτα περὶ τὸν τρίτον. |
And hear how the Spirit of prophecy signified through Moses that there
should be a conflagration. He spoke thus: “Everlasting fire shall
descend, and shall devour to the pit beneath.”1893
It is not, then, that we hold the same opinions as others, but
that all speak in imitation of ours. Among us these things can be heard
and learned from persons who do not even know the forms of the letters,
who are uneducated and barbarous in speech, though wise and believing in
mind; some, indeed, even maimed and deprived of eyesight; so that you may
understand that these things are not the effect of human wisdom, but are
uttered by the power of God.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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