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| Chapter XI
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Chapter XI.
I am convinced, indeed, that much better arguments
could be adduced than any I have been able to bring forward, to show
the falsehood of these allegations of Celsus, and to set forth the
divine inspiration of the prophecies; but we have according to our
ability, in our commentaries on Isaiah, Ezekiel, and some of the twelve
minor prophets, explained literally and in detail what he calls
“those fanatical and utterly unintelligible
passages.”4695
| 4695 [See note
supra, p. 612. S.] | And if God
give us grace in the time that He appoints for us, to advance in the
knowledge of His word, we shall continue our investigation into the
parts which remain, or into such at least as we are able to make
plain. And other persons of intelligence who wish to study
Scripture may also find out its meaning for themselves; for although
there are many places in which the meaning is not obvious, yet there
are none where, as Celsus affirms, “there is no sense at
all.” Neither is it true that “any fool or impostor
can explain the passages so as to make them suit his own
purposes.” For it belongs only to those who are wise in the
truth of Christ (and to all them it does belong) to unfold the
connection and meaning of even the obscure parts of prophecy,
“comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” and
interpreting each passage according to the usage of Scripture
writers. And Celsus is not to be believed when he says that he
has heard such men prophesy; for no prophets bearing any resemblance to
the ancient prophets have appeared in the time of Celsus. If
there had been any, those who heard and admired them would have
followed the example of the ancients, and have recorded the prophecies
in writing. And it seems quite clear that Celsus is speaking
falsely, when he says that “those prophets whom he had heard, on
being pressed by him, confessed their true motives, and acknowledged
that the ambiguous words they used really meant nothing.”
He ought to have given the names of those whom he says he had heard, if
he had any to give, so that those who were competent to judge might
decide whether his allegations were true or false.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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