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Chapter
XLVII.
Now the reason why circumcision is practised among
the Jews is not the same as that which explains its existence among the
Egyptians and Colchians, and therefore it is not to be considered the
same circumcision. And as he who sacrifices does not sacrifice to
the same god, although he appears to perform the rite of sacrifice in a
similar manner, and he who offers up prayer does not pray to the same
divinity, although he asks the same things in his supplication; so, in
the same way, if one performs the rite of circumcision, it by no means
follows that it is not a different act from the circumcision performed
upon another. For the purpose, and the law, and the wish of him
who performs the rite, place the act in a different category. But
that the whole subject may be still better understood, we have to
remark that the term for “righteousness”4230 is the same among all the Greeks; but
righteousness is shown to be one thing according to the view of
Epicurus; and another according to the Stoics, who deny the threefold
division of the soul; and a different thing again according to the
followers of Plato, who hold that righteousness is the proper business
of the parts of the soul.4231
4231 ἰδιοπραγίαν
τῶν μερῶν τῆς
ψυχῆς. | And so also
the “courage”4232 of Epicures is one
thing, who would undergo some labours in order to escape from a greater
number; and a different thing that of the philosopher of the Porch, who
would choose all virtue for its own sake; and a different thing still
that of Plato, who maintains that virtue itself is the act of the
irascible part of the soul, and who assigns to it a place about the
breast.4233
4233 τοῦ θυμικοῦ
μέρους τῆς
ψυχῆς
φάσκοντος
αὐτὸ εἰναι
ἀρετὴν, καὶ
ἀποτάσσοντος
αὐτῇ τόπον
τὸν περὶ τὸν
θώρακα. | And so
circumcision will be a different thing according to the varying
opinions of those who undergo it. But on such a subject it is
unnecessary to speak on this occasion in a treatise like the present;
for whoever desires to see what led us to the subject, can read what we
have said upon it in the Epistle of Paul to the
Romans.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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