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Chapter IX.—Theories in
Regard to the Origin of the Devil.
“But, as you said, if the evil one is
created either he has been begotten as an animal, or he has been sent
forth substantially by Him,1424
1424 The text here is
evidently corrupt in many places. If the reading “by
him” is to be retained, we must suppose, with Wieseler, that
“by God” is omitted in the previous clause. Probably
it should be, “by himself.” | or he has been
compounded externally, or his will has arisen through composition; or
it happened that he came into existence from things non-existent,
without composition and the will of God; or he has been made by God
from that which in no manner and nowhere exists; or the matter, being
lifeless or living, from which he has arisen was outside of God; or he
fashioned himself, or he was made by God, or he is a relative thing, or
he ever existed: for we cannot say that he does not exist, since
we have agreed in thinking that he does exist.” And Simon
said: “Well have you distinguished all the methods of
accounting for his existence in a summary manner. Now it is my
part to examine these various ideas, and to show that the Creator is
blameable. But it is your business to prove, as you promised,
that he is free from all blame. But I wonder if you will be
able. For, first, if the devil has been begotten from God as an
animal, the vice which is his is accordingly the same as that of him
who sends him forth.” And Peter said: “Not at
all. For we see many men who are good the fathers of wicked
children, and others who are wicked the fathers of good children, and
others again who are wicked producing both good and
wicked1425
1425 “And
bad” is not in the mss., but is required
by the context. | children, and
others who are good having both wicked and good children. For
instance, the first man who was created produced the unrighteous Cain
and the righteous Abel.” To this Simon said:
“You are acting foolishly, in using human examples when
discoursing about God.” And Peter said: “Speak
you, then, to us about God without using human examples, and yet so
that what you say can be understood; but you are not able to do
so.
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