MrMacSon wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 1:52 am
GakuseiDon wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 1:28 am
No, he isn't outlining the Word as anything ...
There are none so blind as those who don't want to see
when we see the Word appearing unto us, we shall indeed be troubled before we clearly understand that it is the Saviour who has come to us, supposing that we are still beholding an 'apparition' ... He Himself straightway will speak to us saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" [Matthew 14:27]
Well, not the first time that I'd be wrong! But I think I'm right. This is all analogy. Origen isn't saying anything about the metaphysical nature of the Word. Here is what Origen writes, leading up to that passage. The story about the disciples in the boat on the stormy sea is an analogy about how the Christians in Origen's time ("we") should handle temptations:
The simpler disciple, then, may be satisfied with the bare narrative [in gMatthew]; but let us remember, if ever we fall into distressful temptations, that Jesus has constrained us to enter into their boat, wishing us to go before Him unto the other side; for it is not possible for us to reach the other side, unless we have endured the temptations of waves and contrary wind.
Then when we see many difficulties besetting us, and with moderate struggle we have swum through them to some extent, let us consider that our boat is in the midst of the sea, distressed at that time by the waves which wish us to make shipwreck concerning faith or some one of the virtues; but when we see the spirit of the evil one striving against us, let us conceive that then the wind is contrary to us.
When then in such suffering we have spent three watches of the night – that is, of the darkness which is in the temptations – striving nobly with all our might and watching ourselves so as not to make shipwreck concerning the faith or some one of the virtues, – the first watch against the father of darkness and wickedness, the second watch against his son “who opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or thing that is worshipped,” (1Th_2:4) and the third watch against the spirit27 that is opposed to the Holy Spirit, then we believe that when the fourth watch impendeth, when “the night is far spent, and the day is at hand,” (Rom_13:12) the Son of God will come to us, that He may prepare the sea for us, walking upon it. And when we see the Word appearing unto us...
"Our" boat is metaphorical, the sea is metaphorical, the wind and waves, the shipwreck, the walking on water: all are metaphorical, and are explanations about what "we" should do "if ever we fall into distressful temptations", which is call on Jesus. The 'apparition' is the fear that it isn't really Jesus that is coming.