Against Celsus 5.55

But, to grant him more generously what he did not see in what is written in Genesis, that "the sons of God, seeing the daughters of men that they were beautiful, took for themselves wives from all whom they chose," we will nonetheless persuade those able to hear the prophetic intent on this subject too that one of those before us referred these words to the doctrine of souls that came to desire life in a human body, which, he said, is figuratively called "daughters of men." However things stand concerning the sons of God who desired the daughters of men, the account contributes nothing to Celsus's claim that Jesus was not the only one who came to human beings as an angel, having clearly become the Saviour and benefactor of all who turn from the flood of vice. Then, mixing and confusing whatever he heard in whatever way, and what is written wherever it may be, whether considered divine among Christians or not, he says that the sixty or seventy who came down together are punished, being cast in chains under the earth. And he brings in, as from Enoch, without naming him: "whence also the hot springs are their tears," a thing neither said nor heard in the churches of God. For no one was so foolish as to give bodily form to tears like those of human beings in the angels who came down from heaven. And if we may jest in reply to what Celsus earnestly urges against us, it must be said that no one would have said that hot springs, most of which are fresh, are the tears of angels, since the nature of tears is salty; unless perhaps Celsus's angels weep fresh tears.