Anf-03 v.vii.iii Pg 15
Gen. xxxii.
Has it, then, been permitted to angels, which are inferior to God, after they have been changed into human bodily form,6983 6983 See below in chap. vi. and in the Anti-Marcion, iii. 9.
nevertheless to remain angels? and will you deprive God, their superior, of this faculty, as if Christ could not continue to be God, after His real assumption of the nature of man? Or else, did those angels appear as phantoms of flesh? You will not, however, have the courage to say this; for if it be so held in your belief, that the Creator’s angels are in the same condition as Christ, then Christ will belong to the same God as those angels do, who are like Christ in their condition. If you had not purposely rejected in some instances, and corrupted in others, the Scriptures which are opposed to your opinion, you would have been confuted in this matter by the Gospel of John, when it declares that the Spirit descended in the body6984 6984 Corpore.
of a dove, and sat upon the Lord.6985 6985
Anf-03 v.iv.iv.xx Pg 17
The four books of the Kings were sometimes regarded as two, “the first” of which contained 1 and 2 Samuel, “the second” 1 and 2 Kings. The reference in this place is to 2 Samuel vii. 12.
makes a promise to David for his seed, “which shall proceed,” says he, “out of thy bowels.”3386 3386 He here again makes bowels synonymous with womb.
Now, if you explain this simply of Solomon, you will send me into a fit of laughter. For David will evidently have brought forth Solomon! But is not Christ here designated the seed of David, as of that womb which was derived from David, that is, Mary’s? Now, because Christ rather than any other3387 3387 Magis.
was to build the temple of God, that is to say, a holy manhood, wherein God’s Spirit might dwell as in a better temple, Christ rather than David’s son Solomon was to be looked for as3388 3388 Habendus in.
the Son of God. Then, again, the throne for ever with the kingdom for ever is more suited to Christ than to Solomon, a mere temporal king. From Christ, too, God’s mercy did not depart, whereas on Solomon even God’s anger alighted, after his luxury and idolatry. For Satan3389 3389 *marg:
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 18
VERSE (25) - 1Sa 30:6 2Sa 17:8 Job 3:5; 27:2 *marg:
