Eranistes (The Beggar), or Polymorphus 3.38–3.39

cross for us. For he offered the sheep; whatever happens to the body is reckoned to him.” Of the same, from the same discourse. “He came to save our nature, not to destroy his own. If I wish to say that a camel flies, you are at once astonished, because it does not suit its nature; and you do well. And if I wish to say that human beings live in the sea, [you are astonished, for] … nature. Just as, then, when I say strange things about these natures, you are astonished, so if I say that that power which is before the ages, incorporeal in nature, impassible in dignity, which is with the Father, beside the Father, at the right hand, in glory — if I say that that incorporeal nature suffers, do you not hold your ears? If you do not hold your ears on hearing these things, I will hold my heart. Can we do anything to an angel, such as strike it with a sword, or split it at all? Why do I say an angel? Can we do so to a soul? A soul does not receive a nail; the soul is not cut, is not burned. And if you say to me, ‘Why?’ I tell you, ‘Because it was created so.’ Are his works impassible, and is he himself passible? I do not reject the dispensation; I welcome the outrages [he endured]. Christ died for us and was crucified. So it is written, so the nature received it; I neither erase the words nor blaspheme the nature. But [if] these things are not true, let truer things be said. The one who teaches is a benefactor, not harsh; not an enemy, unless the one taught is ungrateful. If you have something good to say, the ears are open with gratitude. If someone is contentious, let him pursue contention at his leisure. Were the Jews able to crucify the Son of God, to put the power itself to death? Can the living one die? The death of such a power is its extinction. Our body remains when we die. If we put that power to death, we bring it to non-existence. I do not know whether you were able to take this in. If the body dies, the soul is separated and remains. But if a soul dies, since it is incorporeal, it no longer exists at all. A soul that dies does not exist at all; for the death of immortal things is into non-existence. Consider the other case; for I do not even dare to say it. We say these things as we understand them; we do not lay down laws, if anyone is contentious. But one thing I know: each will reap the fruit of what he thinks; and each departs with these to God, and puts forward what he said and thought about him. For do not suppose that God knows by books, or is burdened with memories: ‘What did you say, and who heard it?’ All things are plain. The judge sits; Paul, the one from here, is brought forward: ‘You called me a man; you have no life with me. Since you did not know me, I do not know you.’ Another comes forward: ‘You called me one of the things that exist; you did not know my dignity; I do not know you.’ Another comes forward: ‘You said that I did not … of immortality.’ Another came forward: ‘You said that I was not born of the Virgin, so as to save the body of the Virgin: you will not be saved.’ Each carries away his thoughts about the faith.” [Orthodoxos:] You have seen also the other band of your teachers, from whom you were thought to have learned that the Godhead of the Only-begotten suffered, abhorring this blasphemy, and proclaiming the impassibility of the Godhead, and breaking the phalanx of those who dare to attach the passion to it.

Eranistes: I have seen them, and I marvelled at his contests, and I admire the man for his arguments and thoughts. Orthodoxos: Then, my good friend, imitate the bees: flying in mind around the meadows of the divine Scripture and the lovely flowers of the all-praised Fathers, weave for us in yourself the honeycombs of the faith. And if anywhere you find a plant that is neither fit to eat nor sweet, such as this Apollinarius and Eusebius, but has something useful for making honey, there is nothing unreasonable in taking what is useful and leaving what is harmful. For the bees too leave what is deadly and gather what is proper to them. These things, my friend, we put before you according to the law of brotherly love. You will do well to accept the exhortation. But if you disobey, we shall say that apostolic word: “We are clean.” For we have warned you, as the prophet says, as we were commanded.