The Cosmic Conflict in the Early Church A-level Amphitheater May 7, 2011

The Cosmic Conflict The Cosmic Conflict in the Early Churchin the Early Church

A-level AmphitheaterA-level Amphitheater

May 7, 2011May 7, 2011

Elaine PagelsElaine Pagels

Origen (185-254 AD)Origen (185-254 AD)

PhiloPhilo

HexaplaHexapla

Cosmic Conflict:Cosmic Conflict:SourcesSources

Celsus, Celsus, On the True Doctrine: A On the True Doctrine: A Discourse against ChristiansDiscourse against Christians, ca. , ca. 175 AD. 175 AD.

Origen, Origen, Contra CelsumContra Celsum, ca. 244 AD. , ca. 244 AD.

Enumeration and Enumeration and Critique of Christian BeliefsCritique of Christian Beliefs

Descriptive taskDescriptive task: What, in the eyes of : What, in the eyes of non-Christians, do Christians believenon-Christians, do Christians believe??

Critical and deconstructive taskCritical and deconstructive task: What : What does an educated non-Christian think does an educated non-Christian think about Christian beliefs?about Christian beliefs?

Constructive taskConstructive task: How does the : How does the educated non-Christian respond? educated non-Christian respond?

A Being Opposed to GodA Being Opposed to God

Their utter stupidity [the Christians] can be Their utter stupidity [the Christians] can be illustrated in any number of ways, but illustrated in any number of ways, but especially with their misreading of the divine especially with their misreading of the divine enigmas and their insistence that there enigmas and their insistence that there exists a being opposed to God, whom they exists a being opposed to God, whom they know by the name of devil (in Hebrew, know by the name of devil (in Hebrew, Satanas, for they refer to one and the same Satanas, for they refer to one and the same being by various names).being by various names). Celsus on the True Doctrine: A Discourse against Celsus on the True Doctrine: A Discourse against the Christians the Christians (trans. R. Joseph Hoffmann; New (trans. R. Joseph Hoffmann; New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987), York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987), 98-9998-99..

Weak GodWeak God

““But they show how utterly concocted But they show how utterly concocted these ideas are when they go on to say these ideas are when they go on to say that the highest god in heaven, desiring that the highest god in heaven, desiring to do such and such – say, confer some to do such and such – say, confer some great gift on man – cannot fulfill his great gift on man – cannot fulfill his purpose because he is opposed and purpose because he is opposed and thwarted by a god who is his opposite. thwarted by a god who is his opposite.

Does this mean that the Son of God can Does this mean that the Son of God can be beaten by a devil?”be beaten by a devil?” Celsus on the True Celsus on the True DoctrineDoctrine, 99., 99.

Demeaning GodDemeaning God

It is blasphemy to say that when the It is blasphemy to say that when the greatest God indeed wishes to confer greatest God indeed wishes to confer some benefit upon men, He has a some benefit upon men, He has a power which is opposed to Him, and so power which is opposed to Him, and so is unable to do it.is unable to do it.

Contra CelsumContra Celsum 6.42. 6.42.

Un-God-like Un-God-like

But the Christian notion that the Son of But the Christian notion that the Son of God accepted the punishments inflicted God accepted the punishments inflicted upon him by a devil is merely ludicrous, upon him by a devil is merely ludicrous, especially if we are to think that this is to especially if we are to think that this is to teach us to endure punishments quietly. teach us to endure punishments quietly. In my view the Son of God had a right to In my view the Son of God had a right to punish the devil; he certainly had no punish the devil; he certainly had no reason to threaten with punishment the reason to threaten with punishment the men he came to save, the very ones who men he came to save, the very ones who had suffered so much from the devil’s had suffered so much from the devil’s abuse.abuse.

Celsus on the True DoctrineCelsus on the True Doctrine, 100. , 100.

Contrary to God’s NatureContrary to God’s Nature It is mere impiousness, therefore, to suggest that It is mere impiousness, therefore, to suggest that

the things that were done to Jesus were done to the things that were done to Jesus were done to God. Certain things are simply as a matter of logic God. Certain things are simply as a matter of logic impossible to God, namely those things which impossible to God, namely those things which violate the consistency of his nature: God cannot violate the consistency of his nature: God cannot do less than what it befits God to do, what it is do less than what it befits God to do, what it is God’s nature to do. Even if the prophets had God’s nature to do. Even if the prophets had foretold such things about the Son of God, it would foretold such things about the Son of God, it would have been necessary to say, according to the have been necessary to say, according to the axiom I have cited, that the prophets were wrong, axiom I have cited, that the prophets were wrong, rather than to believe that God has suffered and rather than to believe that God has suffered and died.died. Celsus on the True DoctrineCelsus on the True Doctrine, 100., 100.

Origen’s Answer to CelsusOrigen’s Answer to Celsus

Celsus has not misstated the Christian Celsus has not misstated the Christian belief. belief.

The Christian understanding of evil has The Christian understanding of evil has a triangular shape. a triangular shape.

The third point in the triangle is The third point in the triangle is important. important.

The Early Church believed in the The Early Church believed in the cosmic conflict. cosmic conflict.

A Third Order of BeingA Third Order of Being

The name Devil, and Satan, and Wicked The name Devil, and Satan, and Wicked one, is mentioned in many places of one, is mentioned in many places of scripture, and he who bears it is also scripture, and he who bears it is also described as being the enemy of God.described as being the enemy of God.

First PrinciplesFirst Principles, 1.5.2., 1.5.2.

Narratival StructureNarratival Structure

He who was Lucifer and who arose in He who was Lucifer and who arose in heaven, he who was without sin from heaven, he who was without sin from the day of his birth and who was the day of his birth and who was among the cherubim, was able to fall among the cherubim, was able to fall with respect to the kindness of the Son with respect to the kindness of the Son of God before he could be bound by of God before he could be bound by chains of love. chains of love.

ComRomComRom 5.10.16. 5.10.16.

Cosmic ConflictCosmic Conflict

He who was Lucifer and who arose in He who was Lucifer and who arose in heaven, he who was without sin from heaven, he who was without sin from the day of his birth and who was the day of his birth and who was among the cherubim, was able to fall among the cherubim, was able to fall with respect to the kindness of the Son with respect to the kindness of the Son of God before he could be bound by of God before he could be bound by chains of love. chains of love.


SourcesSources

I have not yet mentioned also the example I have not yet mentioned also the example from Ezekiel where he speaks, as it were, from Ezekiel where he speaks, as it were, of Pharaoh, or of Nebuchadnezzar, or of of Pharaoh, or of Nebuchadnezzar, or of the prince of Tyre [28:12-20], or the the prince of Tyre [28:12-20], or the passage from Isaiah [14:12-19], where a passage from Isaiah [14:12-19], where a dirge is sung for the king of Babylon. dirge is sung for the king of Babylon. From these scriptures one would learn not From these scriptures one would learn not a little about evil, of the character of its a little about evil, of the character of its origin and beginning, and how that evil origin and beginning, and how that evil came to exist…. came to exist…. Contra Celsum Contra Celsum 6.436.43

SourcesSources

But if anyone with the time to examine the holy But if anyone with the time to examine the holy scriptures were to collect texts from all the scriptures were to collect texts from all the sources and were to give a coherent account of sources and were to give a coherent account of evil, both how it first came to exist and how it is evil, both how it first came to exist and how it is being destroyed, he would see that the being destroyed, he would see that the meaning of Moses and the prophets with regard meaning of Moses and the prophets with regard to Satan has not even been dreamt of by to Satan has not even been dreamt of by Celsus or by any of the people who are Celsus or by any of the people who are dragged down by this wicked daemon and are dragged down by this wicked daemon and are drawn away in their soul from God and the right drawn away in their soul from God and the right conception of Him and from His Word”conception of Him and from His Word” ((Contra Contra Celsum Celsum 6.44).6.44).

What Is God Like?What Is God Like?But if anyone with the time to examine the holy But if anyone with the time to examine the holy scriptures were to collect texts from all the scriptures were to collect texts from all the sources and were to give a coherent account of sources and were to give a coherent account of evil, both how it first came to exist and how it is evil, both how it first came to exist and how it is being destroyed, he would see that the being destroyed, he would see that the meaning of Moses and the prophets with regard meaning of Moses and the prophets with regard to Satan has not even been dreamt of by to Satan has not even been dreamt of by Celsus or by any of the people who are Celsus or by any of the people who are dragged down by this wicked daemon and dragged down by this wicked daemon and are are drawn away in their soul from God and the drawn away in their soul from God and the right conception of Himright conception of Him and from His Word.” and from His Word.” ((Contra Celsum Contra Celsum 6.44).6.44).

Misrepresentation of God Misrepresentation of God

The pagan myths “The pagan myths “are not like the tales are not like the tales which tell of a devil who is a daemon, which tell of a devil who is a daemon, or (and here they are nearer the truth) or (and here they are nearer the truth) which speak of a man who is a sorcerer which speak of a man who is a sorcerer and proclaims opposing opinions.and proclaims opposing opinions.” ”

Contra Celsum 6.42Contra Celsum 6.42

Ideology of Freedom Ideology of Freedom

For freedom of will shall always remain For freedom of will shall always remain in rational natures. It was possible in rational natures. It was possible even for him who was Lucifer, owing to even for him who was Lucifer, owing to the splendor of his glory, and who rose the splendor of his glory, and who rose in the morning because of the light of in the morning because of the light of knowledge, to be changed from his knowledge, to be changed from his own glory and become darkness own glory and become darkness because of the evil which he received. because of the evil which he received.


Salvation as Healing Salvation as Healing

We certainly do not deny that free will We certainly do not deny that free will always will remain in rational natures, always will remain in rational natures, but we affirm that the power of the but we affirm that the power of the cross of Christ and of his death which cross of Christ and of his death which he undertook at the end of the ages is he undertook at the end of the ages is so great that it suffices for the healing so great that it suffices for the healing and restoration not only of the present and restoration not only of the present and the future but also of past ages. and the future but also of past ages.


Cosmic ScopeCosmic Scope

It suffices not only for our human It suffices not only for our human order, but also for the heavenly powers order, but also for the heavenly powers and orders. For according to the and orders. For according to the Apostle Paul’s own pronouncement: Apostle Paul’s own pronouncement: Christ has made peace ‘through the Christ has made peace ‘through the blood of his cross’ not only with ‘the blood of his cross’ not only with ‘the things on earth’ but also with ‘the things on earth’ but also with ‘the things in heaven.’things in heaven.’ ComRomComRom 5.10.16. 5.10.16.

Revelatory Strategy Revelatory Strategy

It was necessary for God, who knows It was necessary for God, who knows how to use for a needful end even the how to use for a needful end even the consequences of evil, to put those who consequences of evil, to put those who became evil in this way in a particular became evil in this way in a particular part of the universe, and to make a part of the universe, and to make a school of virtue to be set up for those school of virtue to be set up for those who wished to strive lawfully in order who wished to strive lawfully in order to obtain it. to obtain it. Contra Celsum Contra Celsum 6.446.44

Self-DestructionSelf-Destruction

Scripture indicates that Scripture indicates that ““every sinner every sinner kindles for himself the flame of his own kindles for himself the flame of his own fire, and is not plunged into a fire which fire, and is not plunged into a fire which has been previously kindled by has been previously kindled by someone else or which existed before someone else or which existed before him.”him.” Origen on Origen on First PrinciplesFirst Principles 2.20.4. 2.20.4.

Celsus ‘Answer’Celsus ‘Answer’ His construct is philosophical. His construct is philosophical. Evil resides in matter, not in choice. Evil resides in matter, not in choice. Evil has always existed in the same Evil has always existed in the same

amount. amount. History is cyclic. History is cyclic. His outlook is deterministic. His outlook is deterministic.

What Happened What Happened to Cosmic Conflict Theology?to Cosmic Conflict Theology?

100 245 312 430

GOD

HUMAN SERPENT BEINGS


GOD

HUMAN BEINGS


SovereigntySovereignty

From this it follows irrefutably that every-From this it follows irrefutably that every-thing we do, everything that happens, even thing we do, everything that happens, even if it seems to us to happen mutably and if it seems to us to happen mutably and contingently,contingently, happens in fact nonetheless happens in fact nonetheless necessarilynecessarily and immutably, if you have and immutably, if you have regard to the will of God. For the will of God regard to the will of God. For the will of God is effectual and cannot be hindered, since it is effectual and cannot be hindered, since it is the power of the divine nature itself; is the power of the divine nature itself; moreover it is wise, so that it cannot be moreover it is wise, so that it cannot be deceived. deceived. - - Luther, Luther, The Bondage of the Will,The Bondage of the Will, 37. 37.

InscrutabilityInscrutability

This is the highest degree of faith, to believe him This is the highest degree of faith, to believe him [God] merciful when he saves so few and damns [God] merciful when he saves so few and damns so many, and to believe him righteous when by so many, and to believe him righteous when by his own will he makes us necessarily damnable, his own will he makes us necessarily damnable, so that he seems, according to Erasmus, to so that he seems, according to Erasmus, to delight in the torments of the wretched and to be delight in the torments of the wretched and to be worthy of hatred rather than of love. If, then, I worthy of hatred rather than of love. If, then, I could by any means comprehend how this God could by any means comprehend how this God can be merciful and just who displays so much can be merciful and just who displays so much wrath and iniquity, there would be no need of wrath and iniquity, there would be no need of faith.faith. - - Luther, Luther, The Bondage of the WillThe Bondage of the Will,, 62.62.

What Happened?What Happened?

““theodicy gave way to triumphalism”theodicy gave way to triumphalism”

human freedom gave way to divine human freedom gave way to divine sovereigntysovereignty

liberty gave way to coercionliberty gave way to coercion

theodicy gave way to soteriologytheodicy gave way to soteriology

CONTRACTIONCONTRACTION

COSMIC CONFLICTTHEODICY

TRINITYSOTERIOLOGYCHRISTOLOGY

What Happened?What Happened?

““theodicy gave way to triumphalism”theodicy gave way to triumphalism” human freedom gave way to divine human freedom gave way to divine

sovereigntysovereignty liberty gave way to coercionliberty gave way to coercion pacifism gave way to militarismpacifism gave way to militarism theodicy gave way to soteriologytheodicy gave way to soteriology

Origen’s ClaimOrigen’s Claim

““No one will be able to know the origin of No one will be able to know the origin of evils who has not grasped the truth about evils who has not grasped the truth about the so-called devil and his angels, and the so-called devil and his angels, and who he was before he became a devil, who he was before he became a devil, and how he became a devil, and what and how he became a devil, and what caused his so-called angels to rebel with caused his so-called angels to rebel with him.” him.” Contra CelsumContra Celsum 4.65. 4.65.

Documents

The Cosmic Conflict in the Early Church A-level Amphitheater May 7, 2011