Complete Works XVIII: Against Celsus I-IV (Lommatzsch)

or at least very rarely, does he say more or fewer things than Origen. Where a period is longer in the Greek, he cuts it into several, unless the connection of the discourse forbids it, which happens often. For Origen’s fertile genius accumulates thoughts everywhere, so that the greatest wealth of things might be contained in words that are redundant in appearance. This would certainly have provided an insurmountable difficulty for the translator Thuillier if he had not overcome everything with that excellent sagacity of genius with which he is endowed, the highest skill in both the Greek and Latin languages, and that desire, with which he burned, to lessen the labor of an old friend.

The translation is followed by Notes, some of which exhibit variant readings of the manuscript codices, while others elucidate ancient philosophy, dogmas, and the ancient discipline of the Church. The greater part of these is owed to William Spencer. Finally, at the front of the entire work is prefixed an admonition, by which it is taught at what time Celsus lived, what he wrote, and to which sect of philosophers he attached himself, with whom Origen has business; at what time Origen’s eight books were written against him; and with what great praises that excellent Apology for the Christian religion is adorned by both the Ancients and the moderns.

And these are the words of Ruaeus. But you, kind reader, farewell and be well!

Given at Wutzig, near Woldenberg, on the 19th day of July, 1845.