Opening Against Celsus — Origen in Plato Scroll… Continue →
Origen · Frederick Crombie
Translated by Frederick Crombie (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 4, 1885). The numbers in the margin give book and chapter. When false witnesses testified against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, He remained silent; and when unfounded charges were brought against Him, He returned no answer, believing that His whole life and conduct among the Jews were a better refutation than any answer to the false testimony, or than any formal defence against the accusations. And I know not, my pious Ambrosius, why you wished me to write a reply to the false charges brought by Celsus against the Christians, and to his accusations directed against the faith of the Churches in his treatise; as if the facts themselves did not furnish a manifest refutation, and the doctrine a better answer than any writing, seeing it both disposes of the false statements, and does not leave to the accusations any credibility …
Editions (plain text / reader):