Outer and inner human; bridal words are inner
There is an outer human and an inner. The members of the outer are plain; the members of the inner are also described in the Scriptures — eyes of the heart, inner ears, hands of the soul. The Song of Songs does not speak of outer carnal love, but of the inner love by which the soul loves the Word. Unless someone knows himself or herself as inner, that person does not know what to seek in this book; otherwise the bridal words become a scandal.
Latin
Est exterior homo et interior. Exterioris membra manifesta sunt; interioris quoque membra describuntur in Scripturis: oculos cordis, aures interiores, manus animae. Canticum Canticorum non de exteriore carnali amore loquitur, sed de interiore, quo anima Verbum amat. Nisi quis se noverit interiorem, nescit quid in hoc libro quaerat; alioquin verba nuptialia scandalum faciunt.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on the Song of Songs, Prologus (Rufinus’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–20.
English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Rufinus’s Latin of the Commentary Prologus. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Prologus §§1–20 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Commentary Prologus §§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.