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| Chapter XLIX
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Chapter
XLIX.
This statement also is untrue, that it is
“only foolish and low individuals, and persons devoid of
perception, and slaves, and women, and children, of whom the teachers
of the divine word wish to make converts.” Such indeed does
the Gospel invite, in order to make them better; but it invites also
others who are very different from these, since Christ is the Saviour
of all men, and especially of them that believe, whether they be
intelligent or simple; and “He is the propitiation with the
Father for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of
the whole world.”3593
After this it
is superfluous for us to wish to offer a reply to such statements of
Celsus as the following: “For why is it an evil to have
been educated, and to have studied the best opinions, and to have both
the reality and appearance of wisdom? What hindrance does this
offer to the knowledge of God? Why should it not rather be an
assistance, and a means by which one might be better able to arrive at
the truth?” Truly it is no evil to have been educated, for
education is the way to virtue; but to rank those amongst the number of
the educated who hold erroneous opinions is what even the wise men
among the Greeks would not do. On the other hand, who would not
admit that to have studied the best opinions is a blessing? But
what shall we call the best, save those which are true, and which
incite men to virtue? Moreover, it is an excellent thing for a
man to be wise, but not to seem so, as Celsus says.
And it is no hindrance to the knowledge of God, but an assistance, to
have been educated, and to have studied the best opinions, and to be
wise. And it becomes us rather than Celsus to say this,
especially if it be shown that he is an Epicurean.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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