Origen of Alexandria, On First Principles
Since we are investigating matters of this magnitude, we do not rely on common accusations or the obvious evidence of what is seen; instead, we bring forward as evidence for the apparent proof of what is being said the testimonies from the writings we believe to be divine — both the so-called Old Covenant and the so-called New — and we attempt to strengthen our faith by means of a word. We have not yet discussed the writings as divine; come, then, and let us take up a few things about them in brief, setting before ourselves the considerations that move us concerning divine writings. First, before we use the writings themselves and the expressions within them, we must address the matter of Moses and Jesus Christ, the lawgiver of the Hebrews and the introducer of the saving doctrines according to Christianity.
Greek
1. Ἐπεὶ (δὲ) περὶ τηλικούτων ἐξετάζοντες πραγμάτων, οὐχ ἀρχούμενοι ταῖς κοιναῖς ἐνγοίαις καὶ τῇ ἐναργείᾳ τῶν βλεπομένων, προσπαραλαμβάνομεν εἰς τὴν φαινομένην ἡμῖν ἀπόδειξιν τῶν λεγομένων μαρτύρια τὰ ἐκ τῶν πεπιστευμένων ἡμῖν εἶναι ϑείων γραφῶν, τῆς τε λεγομένης παλαιᾶς διαϑήκης καὶ τῆς καλουμένης καινῆς, λόγῳ τε πειρώμεθα χρατύνειν ἡμῶν τὴν πίστιν, καὶ οὐδέπω περὶ τῶν γραφῶν ὡς ϑείων διελέχϑημεν᾽ φέρε καὶ περὶ τούτων ὀλίγα ὡς ἐν ἐπιτομῇ διαλάβωμεν, τὰ κινοῦντα ἡμᾶς Oc περὶ ϑείων γραμμάτων εἰς τοῦτο παρατιϑέμενοι. καὶ πρῶτόν γε, (πρὸ) τοῦ ar αὐτῶν τῶν γραμμάτων xoi τῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς δηλουμένων ῥητοῖς χρήσασϑαι, περὶ Μωσέως καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ νομοϑέτου τῶν Ἑβραίων καὶ τοῦ εἰσηγητοῦ τῶν χατὰ χριστιανισμὸν σωτηρίων δογμάτων, ταῦτα διαληπτέον.