Bodily names for God are figurative, as with eyes and hands
First: when Scripture gives God eyes, ears, hands, and feet, we read those words figuratively and refuse those who wrap a human shape around God. We should treat the other names the same way.
That is already clear from what is plain: “God is light,” says John, “and in him is no darkness at all.” How can one take him as light except tropically?
Greek
Καὶ πρῶτον λεκτέον ὅτι ὥσπερ ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ ὦτα καὶ χεῖρας καὶ πόδας εὑρίσκοντες γεγραμμένα τοῦ θεοῦ μεταλαμβάνομεν εἰς ἀλληγορίαν τὰ γεγραμμένα, καταφρονοῦντες τῶν μορφὴν ἀνθρώπων παραπλησίαν περιτιθέντων τῷ θεῷ, οὕτως καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν εἰρημένων ὀνομάτων τὸ ἀκόλουθον ἡμῖν ποιητέον.
δῆλον δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ φαινομένου · φῶς ἐστιν ὁ θεός, κατὰ τὸν Ἰωάννην, καὶ σκοτία οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτῷ οὐδεμία. πῶς δὴ φῶς αὐτὸν νοητέον, εἰ μὴ τροπικῶς;
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on John, Book 13 (later tomoi). Complete on this page: §§1–64.
English follows Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV (GCS 10, 1903). Heine FOTC was not used as wording. This page is Book 13 §§1–64 of the later books (13, 19, 20, 28, 32).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV = GCS 10 (1903) (Greek · Book 13 §§1–64)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.