Against Heracleon’s reading of the royal official
So much for Heracleon’s remarks, which are spoken more boldly than truly. There is no necessity that the royal official be the demiurge, nor his servants that one’s angels.
Better to hold to the history and to sound elevations than to invent myths about demiurge and matter after Heracleon’s reading.
Greek
Καὶ ταῦτα μὲν τὰ Ἡρακλέωνος, ἅπερ τολμηρότερον ἢ ἀληθέστερον εἴρηται. οὐ γὰρ ἀνάγκη τὸν βασιλικὸν δημιουργὸν εἶναι, οὐδὲ τοὺς δούλους ἀγγέλους ἐκείνου.
Κρεῖττον δὲ ἔχεσθαι τῆς ἱστορίας καὶ τῶν ὑγιῶν ἀναγωγῶν ἢ μυθοποιεῖν περὶ δημιουργοῦ καὶ ὑλικοῦ κατὰ τὴν Ἡρακλέωνος ἐκδοχήν.
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.