Origen's "CROOKED ANIMAL" ... The GaMLA

Origen Against Celsus clarifies the question of CAMEL vs ROPE.



Photo by flickr.com



Origen lived between AD 185 to 230 or 254...  again, long before the development of the Peshitta.  He lived and taught in Alexandria, but spent the last quarter of his life in Palestine and Caesarea !  Origen was a brilliant apologist for CHRISTIANITY. 

In this brief selection, Origen is arguing against the accusation by Celsus that YESHUA+ HA MASHIYACH+ lifted Matthew 19:24 from Plato's writings.

Please note:  the word CAMEL was NOT THE FOCUS of the argument; it was merely expounded upon to prove Origen's point in his defense of The LORD'S words and intent. 

This work is found in Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4, Origen Against Celsus, Book 6, Chapter 16, page 580, hard copy, second printing, June 1995,   American Edition, Hendrickson Publishers INC., Peabody, Massachusetts. 

The blog posting is from Master Christian Library, version 8, pages 1148-1149, [ same reference as in the ANF volume listed above ],  2000 AGES software, Rio, WI, www.ageslibrary.com.  

Origen Against Celsus... Book 6.... Chapter 16... in its entirety ( color,  caps, brackets, sizing, and highlight added by SJH )

"In the next place, with regard to the declaration of JESUS against rich men, when HE+ said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,"

Celsus alleges that this saying manifestly proceeded from Plato, and that JESUS perverted the words of the philosopher, which were, that "it was impossible to be distinguished for goodness, and at the same time for riches."

Now who is there that is capable of giving even moderate attention to affairs — not merely among the believers on JESUS, but among the rest of mankind — that would not laugh at Celsus, on hearing that JESUS, Who+ was born and brought up among the Jews, and was supposed to be the son of Joseph the carpenter,

and Who+ had not studied literature — not merely that of the Greeks, but not even that of the Hebrews — as the truth-loving Scriptures testify regarding HIM+, had read Plato,

and [ JESUS ] being pleased with the opinion he [ Plato ] expressed regarding rich men, to the effect that "it was impossible to be distinguished for goodness and riches at the same time," had perverted this,

and changed it into, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God!"

Now, if Celsus had not perused the Gospels in a spirit of hatred and dislike, but had been imbued with a love of truth, he would have turned his attention to the point why a camel — that one of animals which, as regards its physical structure, is crooked — was chosen as an object of comparison with a rich man, and what signification the "narrow eye of a needle" had for him who saw that "strait and narrow was the way that leadeth unto life;

and to this point also, that this animal. according to the law, is described as "unclean," having one element of acceptability, viz. that it ruminates, but one of condemnation, viz., that it does not divide the hoof.

He would have inquired, moreover, how often the camel was adduced as an object of comparison in the sacred Scriptures, and in reference to what objects, that he might thus ascertain the meaning of the LOGOS+ concerning

is to be wholly condemned.

For even a common individual would not thus indiscriminately have praised the poor, many of whom lead most wicked lives. But on this point we have said enough."