THE CHURCHin thePATRISTIC ERA(CH 583)
Instructor: Fr. Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.
PATRISTIC PRIMARY TEXTS
(COURSE DOCUMENTS)
Plato: (Republic, selections)
The Parable of the Caves------2
The Myth of Er------8
Philo(selections)
The Therapeutae(Vit. Contempl.)----20
The Essenes(Every Good Man is Free)---23
Clement ofRome(selections)----26
The Letter of Barnabas (selections)--35
Cicero “The Dream of Scipio” (selections)-46
Ignatius ofAntioch(selections) ---51
The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve)(sel.)--67
Justin Martyr (selections)-----78
The Martyrdom of Polycarp (selections) 88
The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity (selections)-----98
Tertullian (selections)------111
Cyprian ofCarthage(selections)-- 119
Pliny and Trajan,On the Punishment of Christians------132
Irenaeus ofLyons(selections)--- 133
The Inscription of Abericius--- 143
Hippolytus (Apostolic Tradition)--- 145
Plotinus (selections)------152
Clement ofAlexandria(selections)- 156
Origen (selections)------164
Athanasius (selections)------178
Gregory Nazianzen (selections)--- 195
Basil & Gregory of Nyssa (selections) -- 210
Evagrius and Cassian (selections) --- 210
Syriac Father (Ephrem, Isaac of Ninevah, selections)------212
Benedict of Nursia (Rule, selections)- 220
Dionysius theAereopagite, The Mystical Theology------221
Gregory theGreat (Dialogues,homiliesselections)- - 236
- 1 -
Plato: The Republic
Book 7 – The Parable of the Caves
Tr. Benjamin Jowett (New York: P. F. Collier & Son, 1901). TLG 59.030Respublica cit Stephanus ser. Platonis opera, vol. 4, ed. J. Burnet (Clarendon Press, Oxford 1902, rpr. 1968) cit. Stephanus 514a-541b.
Socrates - GlauconAND now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: --Behold! human beings living in a underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. / Meta\ tau=ta dh/, ei)=pon, a)pei/kason toiou/t% pa/qei th\n h(mete/ran fu/sin paidei/aj te pe/ri kai\ a)paideusi/aj. i)de\ ga\r a)nqrw/pouj oi(=on e)n katagei/% oi)kh/sei sphlaiw/dei, a)napeptame/nhn pro\j to\ fw=j th\n ei)/sodon e)xou/sv makra\n para\ pa=n to\ sph/laion, e)n tau/tv e)k pai/dwn o)/ntaj e)n desmoi=j kai\ ta\ ske/lh kai\ tou\j au)xe/naj, w(/ste me/nein te au)tou\j ei)/j te to\ pro/sqen mo/non o(ra=n, ku/kl% de\ ta\j kefala\j u(po\ tou= desmou= a)duna/touj peria/gein,
Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets. / fw=j de\ au)toi=j puro\j a)/nwqen kai\ po/rrwqen kao/menon o)/pisqen au)tw=n, metacu\ de\ tou= puro\j kai\ tw=n desmwtw=n e)pa/nw o(do/n, par' h(\n i)de\ teixi/on par%kodomhme/non, w(/sper toi=j qaumatopoioi=j pro\ tw=n a)nqrw/pwn pro/keitai ta\ parafra/gmata, u(pe\r w(=n ta\ qau/mata deiknu/asin.
I see. / (Orw=, e)/fh.
And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent. / (/Ora toi/nun para\ tou=to to\ teixi/on fe/rontaj a)nqrw/pouj skeu/h te pantodapa\ u(pere/xonta tou= teixi/ou kai\ a)ndria/ntaj kai\ a)/lla z%=a li/qina/ te kai\ cu/lina kai\ pantoi=a ei)rgasme/na, oi(=on ei)ko\j tou\j me\n fqeggome/nouj, tou\j de\ sigw=ntaj tw=n parafero/ntwn.
You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners. / )/Atopon, e)/fh, le/geij ei)ko/na kai\ desmw/taj a)to/pouj.
Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave? / (Omoi/ouj h(mi=n, h)=n d' e)gw/: tou\j ga\r toiou/touj prw=ton me\n e(autw=n te kai\ a)llh/lwn oi)/ei a)/n ti e(wrake/nai a)/llo plh\n ta\j skia\j ta\j u(po\ tou= puro\j ei)j to\ katantikru\ au)tw=n tou= sphlai/ou prospiptou/saj;
True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads? / Pw=j ga/r, e)/fh, ei) a)kinh/touj ge ta\j kefala\j e)/xein h)nagkasme/noi ei)=en dia\ bi/ou;
And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows? / Ti/ de\ tw=n paraferome/nwn; ou) tau)to\n tou=to;
Yes, he said. / Ti/ mh/n;
And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them? / Ei) ou)=n diale/gesqai oi(=oi/ t' ei)=en pro\j a)llh/louj, ou) tau=ta h(gv= a)\n ta\ o)/nta au)tou\j nomi/zein a(/per o(r%=en;
Very true. / )Ana/gkh.
And suppose further that the prison had an echo which came from the other side, would they not be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that the voice which they heard came from the passing shadow? / Ti/ d' ei) kai\ h)xw\ to\ desmwth/rion e)k tou= katantikru\ e)/xoi; o(po/te tij tw=n pario/ntwn fqe/gcaito, oi)/ei a)\n a)/llo ti au)tou\j h(gei=sqai to\ fqeggo/menon h)\ th\n pariou=san skia/n;
No question, he replied. / Ma\ Di/' ou)k e)/gwg', e)/fh.
To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images. / Panta/pasi dh/, h)=n d' e)gw/, oi( toiou=toi ou)k a)\n a)/llo ti nomi/zoien to\ a)lhqe\j h)\ ta\j tw=n skeuastw=n skia/j.
That is certain. / Pollh\ a)na/gkh, e)/fh.
And now look again, and see what will naturally follow it' the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, -what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them, -will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him? / Sko/pei dh/, h)=n d' e)gw/, au)tw=n lu/sin te kai\ i)/asin tw=n te desmw=n kai\ th=j a)frosu/nhj, oi(/a tij a)\n ei)/h, ei) fu/sei toia/de sumbai/noi au)toi=j: o(po/te tij luqei/h kai\ a)nagka/zoito e)cai/fnhj a)ni/stasqai/ te kai\ peria/gein to\n au)xe/na kai\ badi/zein kai\ pro\j to\ fw=j a)nable/pein, pa/nta de\ tau=ta poiw=n a)lgoi= te kai\ dia\ ta\j marmaruga\j a)dunatoi= kaqora=n e)kei=na w(=n to/te ta\j skia\j e(w/ra, ti/ a)\n oi)/ei au)to\n ei)pei=n, ei)/ tij au)t%= le/goi o(/ti to/te me\n e(w/ra fluari/aj, nu=n de\ ma=llo/n ti e)ggute/rw tou= o)/ntoj kai\ pro\j ma=llon o)/nta tetramme/noj o)rqo/teron ble/poi, kai\ dh\ kai\ e(/kaston tw=n pario/ntwn deiknu\j au)t%= a)nagka/zoi e)rwtw=n a)pokri/nesqai o(/ti e)/stin; ou)k oi)/ei au)to\n a)porei=n te a)\n kai\ h(gei=sqai ta\ to/te o(rw/mena a)lhqe/stera h)\ ta\ nu=n deiknu/mena;
Far truer. / Polu/ g', e)/fh.
And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him? / Ou)kou=n ka)\n ei) pro\j au)to\ to\ fw=j a)nagka/zoi au)to\n ble/pein, a)lgei=n te a)\n ta\ o)/mmata kai\ feu/gein a)postrefo/menon pro\j e)kei=na a(\ du/natai kaqora=n, kai\ nomi/zein tau=ta t%= o)/nti safe/stera tw=n deiknume/nwn;
True, he now / Ou(/twj, e)/fh.
And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he 's forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities. / Ei) de/, h)=n d' e)gw/, e)nteu=qen e(/lkoi tij au)to\n bi/# dia\ traxei/aj th=j a)naba/sewj kai\ a)na/ntouj, kai\ mh\ a)nei/h pri\n e)celku/seien ei)j to\ tou= h(li/ou fw=j, a)=ra ou)xi\ o)duna=sqai/ te a)\n kai\ a)ganaktei=n e(lko/menon, kai\ e)peidh\ pro\j to\ fw=j e)/lqoi, au)gh=j a)\n e)/xonta ta\ o)/mmata mesta\ o(ra=n ou)d' a)\n e(\n du/nasqai tw=n nu=n legome/nwn a)lhqw=n;
Not all in a moment, he said. / Ou) ga\r a)/n, e)/fh, e)cai/fnhj ge.
He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day? / Sunhqei/aj dh\ oi)=mai de/oit' a)/n, ei) me/lloi ta\ a)/nw o)/yesqai. kai\ prw=ton me\n ta\j skia\j a)\n r(#=sta kaqor%=, kai\ meta\ tou=to e)n toi=j u(/dasi ta/ te tw=n a)nqrw/pwn kai\ ta\ tw=n a)/llwn ei)/dwla, u(/steron de\ au)ta/: e)k de\ tou/twn ta\ e)n t%= ou)ran%= kai\ au)to\n to\n ou)rano\n nu/ktwr a)\n r(#=on qea/saito, prosble/pwn to\ tw=n a)/strwn te kai\ selh/nhj fw=j, h)\ meq' h(me/ran to\n h(/lio/n te kai\ to\ tou= h(li/ou.
Certainly. / Pw=j d' ou)/;
Last of he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is. / Teleutai=on dh\ oi)=mai to\n h(/lion, ou)k e)n u(/dasin ou)d' e)n a)llotri/# e(/dr# fanta/smata au)tou=, a)ll' au)to\n kaq' au(to\n e)n tv= au(tou= xw/r# du/nait' a)\n katidei=n kai\ qea/sasqai oi(=o/j e)stin.
Certainly. / )Anagkai=on, e)/fh.
He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold? / Kai\ meta\ tau=t' a)\n h)/dh sullogi/zoito peri\ au)tou= o(/ti ou(=toj o( ta/j te w(/raj pare/xwn kai\ e)niautou\j kai\ pa/nta e)pitropeu/wn ta\ e)n t%= o(rwme/n% to/p%, kai\ e)kei/nwn w(=n sfei=j e(w/rwn tro/pon tina\ pa/ntwn ai)/tioj.
Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him. / Dh=lon, e)/fh, o(/ti e)pi\ tau=ta a)\n met' e)kei=na e)/lqoi.
And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them? / Ti/ ou)=n; a)namimnvsko/menon au)to\n th=j prw/thj oi)kh/sewj kai\ th=j e)kei= sofi/aj kai\ tw=n to/te sundesmwtw=n ou)k a)\n oi)/ei au(to\n me\n eu)daimoni/zein th=j metabolh=j, tou\j de\ e)leei=n;
Certainly, he would. / Kai\ ma/la.
And if they were in the habit of conferring honours among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together; and who were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the future, do you think that he would care for such honours and glories, or envy the possessors of them? Would he not say with Homer, / Timai\ de\ kai\ e)/painoi ei)/ tinej au)toi=j h)=san to/te par' a)llh/lwn kai\ ge/ra t%= o)cu/tata kaqorw=nti ta\ pario/nta, kai\ mnhmoneu/onti ma/lista o(/sa te pro/tera au)tw=n kai\ u(/stera ei)w/qei kai\ a(/ma poreu/esqai, kai\ e)k tou/twn dh\ dunatw/tata a)pomanteuome/n% to\ me/llon h(/cein, dokei=j a)\n au)to\n e)piqumhtikw=j au)tw=n e)/xein kai\ zhlou=n tou\j par' e)kei/noij timwme/nouj te kai\ e)ndunasteu/ontaj, h)\ to\ tou= (Omh/rou a)\n peponqe/nai kai\ sfo/dra bou/lesqai
“Better to be the poor servant of a poor master,” and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner? / "e)pa/rouron e)o/nta qhteue/men a)/ll% a)ndri\ par' a)klh/r%" kai\ o(tiou=n a)\n peponqe/nai ma=llon h)\ 'kei=na/ te doca/zein kai\ e)kei/nwj zh=n;
Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner. / Ou(/twj, e)/fh, e)/gwge oi)=mai, pa=n ma=llon peponqe/nai a)\n de/casqai h)\ zh=n e)kei/nwj.
Imagine once more, I said, such an one coming suddenly out of the sun to be replaced in his old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes full of darkness? / Kai\ to/de dh\ e)nno/hson, h)=n d' e)gw/. ei) pa/lin o( toiou=toj kataba\j ei)j to\n au)to\n qa=kon kaqi/zoito, a)=r' ou) sko/touj <a)\n> a)na/plewj sxoi/h tou\j o)fqalmou/j, e)cai/fnhj h(/kwn e)k tou= h(li/ou;
To be sure, he said. / Kai\ ma/la g', e)/fh.
And if there were a contest, and he had to compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners who had never moved out of the den, while his sight was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady (and the time which would be needed to acquire this new habit of sight might be very considerable) would he not be ridiculous? / Ta\j de\ dh\ skia\j e)kei/naj pa/lin ei) de/oi au)to\n gnwmateu/onta diamilla=sqai toi=j a)ei\ desmw/taij e)kei/noij, e)n %(= a)mbluw/ttei, pri\n katasth=nai ta\ o)/mmata, ou(=toj d' o( xro/noj mh\ pa/nu o)li/goj ei)/h th=j sunhqei/aj, a)=r' ou) ge/lwt' a)\n para/sxoi,
Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death. / kai\ le/goito a)\n peri\ au)tou= w(j a)naba\j a)/nw diefqarme/noj h(/kei ta\ o)/mmata, kai\ o(/ti ou)k a)/cion ou)de\ peira=sqai a)/nw i)e/nai; kai\ to\n e)pixeirou=nta lu/ein te kai\ a)na/gein, ei)/ pwj e)n tai=j xersi\ du/nainto labei=n kai\ a)poktei/nein, a)pokteinu/nai a)/n;
No question, he said. / Sfo/dra g', e)/fh.
This entire allegory, I said, you may now append, dear Glaucon, to the previous argument; the prison-house is the world of sight, the light of the fire is the sun, and you will not misapprehend me if you interpret the journey upwards to be the ascent of the soul into the intellectual world according to my poor belief, which, at your desire, I have expressed whether rightly or wrongly God knows. But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed. / Tau/thn toi/nun, h)=n d' e)gw/, th\n ei)ko/na, w)= fi/le Glau/kwn, prosapte/on a(/pasan toi=j e)/mprosqen legome/noij, th\n me\n di' o)/yewj fainome/nhn e(/dran tv= tou= desmwthri/ou oi)kh/sei a)fomoiou=nta, to\ de\ tou= puro\j e)n au)tv= fw=j tv= tou= h(li/ou duna/mei: th\n de\ a)/nw a)na/basin kai\ qe/an tw=n a)/nw th\n ei)j to\n nohto\n to/pon th=j yuxh=j a)/nodon tiqei\j ou)x a(marth/sv th=j g' e)mh=j e)lpi/doj, e)peidh\ tau/thj e)piqumei=j a)kou/ein. qeo\j de/ pou oi)=den ei) a)lhqh\j ou)=sa tugxa/nei. ta\ d' ou)=n e)moi\ faino/mena ou(/tw fai/netai, e)n t%= gnwst%= teleutai/a h( tou= a)gaqou= i)de/a kai\ mo/gij o(ra=sqai, o)fqei=sa de\ sullogiste/a ei)=nai w(j a)/ra pa=si pa/ntwn au(/th o)rqw=n te kai\ kalw=n ai)ti/a, e)/n te o(rat%= fw=j kai\ to\n tou/tou ku/rion tekou=sa, e)/n te noht%= au)th\ kuri/a a)lh/qeian kai\ nou=n parasxome/nh, kai\ o(/ti dei= tau/thn i)dei=n to\n me/llonta e)mfro/nwj pra/cein h)\ i)di/# h)\ dhmosi/#.
I agree, he said, as far as I am able to understand you. / Sunoi/omai, e)/fh, kai\ e)gw/, o(/n ge dh\ tro/pon du/namai.
Moreover, I said, you must not wonder that those who attain to this beatific vision are unwilling to descend to human affairs; for their souls are ever hastening into the upper world where they desire to dwell; which desire of theirs is very natural, if our allegory may be trusted. / )/Iqi toi/nun, h)=n d' e)gw/, kai\ to/de sunoih/qhti kai\ mh\ qauma/svj o(/ti oi( e)ntau=qa e)lqo/ntej ou)k e)qe/lousin ta\ tw=n a)nqrw/pwn pra/ttein, a)ll' a)/nw a)ei\ e)pei/gontai au)tw=n ai( yuxai\ diatri/bein: ei)ko\j ga/r pou ou(/twj, ei)/per au)= kata\ th\n proeirhme/nhn ei)ko/na tou=t' e)/xei.
Yes, very natural. / Ei)ko\j me/ntoi, e)/fh.
And is there anything surprising in one who passes from divine contemplations to the evil state of man, misbehaving himself in a ridiculous manner; if, while his eyes are blinking and before he has become accustomed to the surrounding darkness, he is compelled to fight in courts of law, or in other places, about the images or the shadows of images of justice, and is endeavouring to meet the conceptions of those who have never yet seen absolute justice? / Ti/ de/; to/de oi)/ei ti qaumasto/n, ei) a)po\ qei/wn, h)=n d' e)gw/, qewriw=n e)pi\ ta\ a)nqrw/peia/ tij e)lqw\n kaka\ a)sxhmonei= te kai\ fai/netai sfo/dra geloi=oj e)/ti a)mbluw/ttwn kai\ pri\n i(kanw=j sunh/qhj gene/sqai t%= paro/nti sko/t% a)nagkazo/menoj e)n dikasthri/oij h)\ a)/lloqi/ pou a)gwni/zesqai peri\ tw=n tou= dikai/ou skiw=n h)\ a)galma/twn w(=n ai( skiai/, kai\ diamilla=sqai peri\ tou/tou, o(/pv pote\ u(polamba/netai tau=ta u(po\ tw=n au)th\n dikaiosu/nhn mh\ pw/pote i)do/ntwn;
Anything but surprising, he replied. / Ou)d' o(pwstiou=n qaumasto/n, e)/fh.
Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eyes are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees any one whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will first ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter light, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess of light. And he will count the one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other; or, if he have a mind to laugh at the soul which comes from below into the light, there will be more reason in this than in the laugh which greets him who returns from above out of the light into the den. / )All' ei) nou=n ge e)/xoi tij, h)=n d' e)gw/, memnv=t' a)\n o(/ti dittai\ kai\ a)po\ dittw=n gi/gnontai e)pitara/ceij o)/mmasin, e)/k te fwto\j ei)j sko/toj meqistame/nwn kai\ e)k sko/touj ei)j fw=j. tau)ta\ de\ tau=ta nomi/saj gi/gnesqai kai\ peri\ yuxh/n, o(po/te i)/doi qoruboume/nhn tina\ kai\ a)dunatou=sa/n ti kaqora=n, ou)k a)\n a)logi/stwj gel%=, a)ll' e)piskopoi= a)\n po/teron e)k fanote/rou bi/ou h(/kousa u(po\ a)hqei/aj e)sko/twtai, h)\ e)c a)maqi/aj plei/onoj ei)j fano/teron i)ou=sa u(po\ lamprote/rou marmarugh=j e)mpe/plhstai, kai\ ou(/tw dh\ th\n me\n eu)daimoni/seien a)\n tou= pa/qouj te kai\ bi/ou, th\n de\ e)leh/seien, kai\ ei) gela=n e)p' au)tv= bou/loito, h(=tton a)\n katage/lastoj o( ge/lwj au)t%= ei)/h h)\ o( e)pi\ tv= a)/nwqen e)k fwto\j h(kou/sv.