Refutation of the Sects

but either comes to be from someone or something, or it is cut off from non-existence. But He who is and moves everything, He Himself is not moved and does not change, for He is substantial possessing essential being and is immutable.

3. And because the one ousia essence/substance is eternal and the cause of the existence of all things, those who introduce the worship of polytheism also testify to this, and they reason as follows: We, they say, because we are not sufficient to approach the Cause of all, the One who is the Being, the Eternal, and the Inaccessible, for that reason we offer service to Him through other, lower beings. And with whomever we offer the service to Him, it is necessary to appease them also with sacrifices and offerings.

If, as they testify, there is one cause for all things, and it is the same substantial possessing essential being and eternal, it is clear that the others are neither substantial nor eternal. And how is it that the non-substantial and the non-eternal receive worship alongside the substantial and the eternal?