Complete Works of Philo Judaeus (Vol. 6)

But if he were to create a better one, then the creator would also be better, so that when he was constructing the former, he was more imperfect in both art and understanding, which it is not even lawful to suspect. For God is equal and similar to himself, accepting neither relaxation toward the worse nor tension toward the better. But humans have turned toward such inconsistencies, naturally inclined to change toward both—the good and the worse—accustomed to using growth, progress, improvements, and all their opposites. Furthermore, our mortal works would properly be perishable, but those of the immortal being would surely be imperishable according to reasonable argument. For it is reasonable that the things created should be made similar to the nature of the craftsmen.

§. 14. And surely it is clear to everyone that if the earth perishes, it is necessary that land animals also perish according to the whole genus; if water perishes, the aquatic creatures; and indeed if air and fire perish, those that fly and those born of fire. Proportionally, therefore, if the heaven perishes, then the sun and moon will also perish, the remaining planets will perish, and the fixed stars will perish—that vast army of perceptible gods considered happy of old. Which would be nothing other than to suspect that gods are perishing; for it is equal to suspecting that humans are immortal. And yet you would find this more reasonable to consider than that, by the grace of God. For it is likely for a mortal to partake of immortality, but it is impossible for gods to lose incorruptibility, even if human philosophies go mad. And indeed, those who introduce the ekpyrosis conflagration and the palingenesia rebirth of the world think and agree that the stars are gods, whom they are not ashamed to destroy by argument. For they ought to have declared them to be red-hot iron masses, like some of those who babble about the entire heaven being a prison, or, regarding them as divine or demonic natures, to have agreed to the incorruptibility fitting for gods.