8. And yet, that no
thoughtless person may raise a false accusation against us, as though
we believed God whom we worship to be male,—for this reason, that
is, that when we speak of Him we use a masculine word,—let him
understand that it is not sex which is expressed, but His name, and its
meaning according to custom, and the way in which we are in the habit
of using words.3944
| 3944
Lit., “with familiarity of speech.” |
For
the
Deity is not male, but His name is of the masculine
gender:
but in your ceremonies you cannot say the same; for in your prayers you
have been wont to say
whether thou art god or goddess,
3945
| 3945 A
formula used when they sought to propitiate the author of some event
which could not be traced to a particular deity; referring also to the
cases in which there were different opinions as to the sex of a
deity. |
and this
uncertain description shows, even by their opposition, that you
attribute sex to the gods. We cannot, then, be
prevailed on to
believe that the
divine is embodied; for bodies must needs be
distinguished by difference of sex, if they are male and
female.
For who, however mean his capacity,
3946
| 3946
Lit., “even of mean understanding.” |
does not know that the sexes of
different
gender have been ordained and formed by the Creator of the
creatures of earth, only that, by intercourse and union of bodies, that
which is fleeting and transient may endure being ever renewed and
maintained?
3947
| 3947
Lit., “by the renewing of perpetual succession.” |
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