Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| Relation of the Baptist to Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration Considered.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Book
XIII.
1. Relation of the Baptist to
Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration Considered.
“The disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say
the scribes that Elijah must first come?”5823
The disciples indeed who went up with
Jesus remembered the traditions of the scribes concerning Elijah, that
before the advent of Christ, Elijah would come and prepare for Him the
souls of those who were going to receive Him. But the vision in
the mountain, at which Elijah appeared, did not seem to be in harmony
with the things which were said, since to them it seemed that Elijah
had not come before Jesus but after Him; wherefore, they say these
things, thinking that the scribes lied. But to this the Saviour
answers, not setting aside the traditions concerning Elijah, but saying
that there was another advent of Elijah before that of Christ of which
the scribes were ignorant; and, in regard to this, being ignorant of
him, they “had done unto him whatsoever they
listed,”5824
as if they had been
accomplices in his having been cast into prison by Herod and slain by
him; then He says that according as they had done towards Elijah so
would He suffer at their hands.5825
And
these things indeed as about Elijah the disciples asked and the Saviour
answered, but when they heard they understood that the words,
“Elijah has already come,” and that following which was
spoken by the Saviour, had reference to John the Baptist.5826
And let these things be said by way of
illustration of the passage before us. But now according to our
ability let us make investigation also into the things that are stored
up in it. In this place it does not appear to me that by Elijah
the soul is spoken of, lest I should fall into the dogma of
transmigration, which is foreign to the church of God, and not handed
down by the Apostles, nor anywhere set forth in the Scriptures; for it
is also in opposition to the saying that “things seen are
temporal,”5827
and that
“this age shall have a consummation,” and also to the
fulfilment of the saying, “Heaven and earth shall pass
away,”5828
and “the
fashion of this world passeth away,”5829
and “the heavens shall perish,”5830
and what follows. For if, by hypothesis, in the constitution of
things which has existed from the beginning unto the end of the world,
the same soul can be twice in the body, for what cause should it be in
it? For if because of sin it should be twice in the body, why
should it not be thrice, and repeatedly in it, since punishments, in
respect of this life, and of the sins committed in it, shall be
rendered to it only by the method of transmigration? But if this
be granted as a consequence, perhaps there will never be a time when a
soul shall not undergo transmigration: for always because of its
former sins will it dwell in the body; and so there will be no place
for the corruption of the world, at which “the heaven and the
earth shall pass away.”5831
And if it be
granted, on this hypothesis, that one who is absolutely sinless shall
not come into the body by birth, after what length of time do you
suppose that a soul shall be found absolutely pure and needing no
transmigration? But nevertheless, also, if any one soul is always
thus being removed from the definite number of souls and returns no
longer to the body, sometime after infinite ages, as it were, birth
shall cease; the world being reduced to some one or two or a few more,
after the perfecting of whom the world shall perish, the supply of
souls coming into the body having failed. But this is not
agreeable to the Scripture; for it knows of a multitude of sinners at
the time of the destruction of the world. This is manifest from
consideration of the saying, “How-beit when the Son of man cometh
shall He find faith on the earth?”5832
So we find it thus said in Matthew,
“As were the days of Noah so shall also be the coming of the Son
of man; for as they were in the days of the flood,” etc.5833
But to those who are then in existence
there shall be the exaction of a penalty for their sins, but not by way
of transmigration; for, if they are caught while still sinning, either
they will be punished after this by a different form of
punishment,—and according to this either there will be two
general forms of punishment, the one by way of transmigration, and the
other outside of a body of this
kind, and let them declare the causes and differences of
these,—or they will not be punished, as if those who were left at
the consummation of things had forthwith cast away their sins; or,
which is better, there is one form of punishment for those who have
sinned in the body, namely, that they should suffer, outside of it,
that is, outside the constitution of this life, what is according to
the desert of their sins. But to one who has insight into the
nature of things it is clear that each of these things is fitted to
overturn the doctrine of transmigration. But if, of necessity,
the Greeks who introduce the doctrine of transmigration, laying down
things in harmony with it, do not acknowledge that the world is coming
to corruption, it is fitting that when they have looked the Scriptures
straight in the face which plainly declare that the world will perish,
they should either disbelieve them, or invent a series of arguments in
regard to the interpretation of the things concerning the consummation;
which even if they wish they will not be able to do. And this
besides we will say to those who may have had the hardihood to aver
that the world will not perish, that, if the world does not perish but
is to exist for infinite periods of time, there will be no God knowing
all things before they come into being. But if, perhaps, He knows
in part, either He will know each thing before it comes into being, or
certain things, and after these again other things; for things infinite
in nature cannot possibly be grasped by that knowledge whose nature it
is to limit things known. From this it follows that there cannot
be prophecies about all things whatsoever, since all things are
infinite.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
