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Origen (engraving), Unknown engraver

Catena Aurea on Luke 16:8–13: Origen

Unknown engraver, Origen (engraving) · Public domainUnknown engraver, Origen (engraving)

CommentOrigenPublic domainLuke 16:8–13

But because the Gentiles say that wisdom is a virtue, and define it to be the experience of what is good, evil, and indifferent, or the knowledge of what is and what is not to be done, we must consider whether this word signifies many things, or one. For it is said that God by wisdom prepared the heavens. (Prov. 3:19.) Now it is plain that wisdom is good, because the Lord by wisdom prepared the heavens. It is said also in Genesis, according to the LXX, that the serpent was the wisest animal, wherein He makes wisdom not a virtue, but evil-minded cunning. And it is in this sense that the Lord commended the steward that he had done wisely, that is, cunningly and evilly. And perhaps the word commended was spoken not in the sense of real commendation, but in a lower sense; as when we speak of a man being commended in slight and indifferent matters, and in a certain measure clashings and sharpness of wit are admired, by which the power of the mind is drawn out.

Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).

Also cites: in <a href="/bible/proverbs/1/1">Prov. 1:1</a>.

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