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| Chapter XX.—Testimony of Plato. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter XX.—Testimony of Plato.
But Plato,
though he accepted, as is likely, the doctrine of Moses and the other
prophets regarding one only God, which he learned while in Egypt, yet
fearing, on account of what had befallen Socrates, lest he also should
raise up some Anytus or Meletus against himself, who should accuse him
before the Athenians, and say, “Plato is doing harm, and making
himself mischievously busy, not acknowledging the gods recognised by the
state;” in fear of the hemlock-juice, contrives an elaborate and
ambiguous discourse concerning the gods, furnishing by his treatise gods
to those who wish them, and none for those who are differently disposed,
as may readily be seen from his own statements. For when he has laid down
that everything that is made is mortal, he afterwards says that the gods
were made. If, then, he would have God and matter to be the origin of all
things, manifestly it is inevitably necessary to say that the gods were
made of matter; but if of matter, out of which he said that evil also had
its origin, he leaves right-thinking persons to consider what kind of
beings the gods should be thought who are produced out of matter. For,
for this very reason did he say that matter was eternal,2546
that he might not seem to say that God is the creator of evil. And
regarding the gods who were made by God, there is no doubt he said this:
“Gods of gods, of whom I am the creator.” And he manifestly
held the correct opinion concerning the really existing God. For having
heard in Egypt that God had said to Moses, when He was about to send him
to the Hebrews, “I am that I am,”2547
2547 ὁ ὢν, “He who is;
the Being.” | he understood that God had not mentioned to
him His own proper name.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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