Foxes as heretics; little vines and the perfect
Of Christ and the church: the foxes are perverse teachers of heresies, who by clever arguments spoil the Lord’s vineyard. Teachers of the church receive power to catch foxes, as to tread on serpents. Little vineyards — unformed souls — can be hurt; the perfect are not easily scandalized. Catch for us: for me the Bridegroom and for the Bride, or for me and my companions.
Latin
De Christo et ecclesia: vulpes perversi doctores haereticorum, qui argumentorum calliditate vineam Domini exterminant. Doctores ecclesiae potestatem capiendi vulpes accipiunt, sicut calcandi serpentes. Pusillae vineae — animae rudes — laedi possunt; perfectae non facile scandalizantur. Capite nobis: mihi sponso et sponsae, vel mihi et sodalibus.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on the Song of Songs, Liber III (Rufinus’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–20.
English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Rufinus’s Latin of Commentary Liber III. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Liber III §§1–20 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Commentary Liber III §§1–20)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.