Commentary on the Song of Songs, Book IV · §8 · Origen of Alexandria

Vine’s flower-odor; the Father prunes; come

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In the soul there is a shooting fig and a flowering vine giving fragrance. The heavenly Father, the farmer, cleanses the branches. The vine first gladdens by flower-odor: We are the good fragrance of Christ in every place. Seeing the beginnings of virtues, God’s Word calls the soul to hasten and come.

Latin

Est in anima ficus germinans et vitis florens odorem reddens. Pater caelestis agricola palmites purgat. Vitis primo odore floris laetificat: Christi bonus odor sumus in omni loco. Videns initia virtutum, sermo Dei vocat animam ut festinet et veniat.

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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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