Slave of sin versus son who remains forever
They answered, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never been enslaved to anyone.” He answered, “Everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin; the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.”
It is not enough to be of Abraham’s seed according to flesh unless one does Abraham’s works.
Greek
Ἀπεκρίθησαν· Σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ ἐσμεν καὶ οὐδενὶ δεδουλεύκαμεν πώποτε. ἀπεκρίθη· Πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν δοῦλός ἐστιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας· ὁ δὲ δοῦλος οὐ μένει ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ὁ υἱὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
Οὐκ ἀρκεῖ τὸ εἶναι ἐκ σπέρματος Ἀβραὰμ σαρκικῶς, εἰ μὴ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ ποιῇ τις.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on John, Book 19 (later tomoi). Complete on this page: §§1–23.
English follows Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV (GCS 10, 1903). Heine FOTC was not used as wording. This page is Book 19 §§1–23 of the later books (13, 19, 20, 28, 32).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV = GCS 10 (1903) (Greek · Book 19 §§1–23)
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.