Commentary on the Song of Songs, Book IV · §7 · Origen of Alexandria

Fig shoots — beginnings, not yet Spirit’s fruit

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The fig tree has put forth its shoots: not yet the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, but already their shoots. The human spirit is figuratively a fig tree. In the church each believer is a different tree; in one soul the diverse virtues are trees.

Latin

Ficus produxit germina sua: nondum fructus Spiritus — caritas, gaudium, pax — sed iam germina horum. Spiritus hominis figuraliter ficulnea. In ecclesia singuli credentes diversae arbores; in una anima diversae virtutes arbores sunt.

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About this text

Origen on Song of Songs 2:10-15: the Bridegroom calls the soul out as winter passes, and the little foxes that spoil the vines stand for sins and heretics.

English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Rufinus’s Latin of Commentary Liber IV. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Commentary Liber IV §§1 – 20)

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