By Water & Blood

Book 3, Chapter 1: How Marcellus dared to interpret the divine Scriptures distortedly

The great evangelist John, then, proclaimed the theology of our Saviour in his own distinctive way, after the manner already set out; and how Marcellus, denying it, ran aground upon Jewish unbelief has been made plain by what has been said. But that he also perversely misinterpreted the acknowledged and clear teachings concerning our Saviour, you may learn from a great many other expositions of his, and not least from the following. In the Proverbs of Solomon, Wisdom is introduced speaking in her own person and setting out these things concerning herself:

“I, Wisdom, have dwelt with counsel, and I have called upon knowledge and understanding. The fear of the Lord hates wickedness, insolence and pride and the ways of evil men; and I have hated the perverse ways of the wicked. Counsel and security are mine; I am understanding, and strength is mine. By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness. By me great men are magnified, and by me monarchs rule the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me shall find me. Riches and glory belong to me, and the possession of many things, and righteousness. It is better to gather my fruit than gold and precious stone, and my produce is better than choice silver. I walk in the ways of righteousness, and I go about in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may apportion substance to those who love me and fill their treasuries with good things. If I declare to you the things that come to pass day by day, I will remember to recount the things that are from everlasting.

“The Lord created me the beginning of his ways for his works; before the age he founded me, in the beginning, before he made the earth, before he made the depths, before the springs of the waters came forth, before the mountains were settled, and before all the hills he begets me. The Lord made the lands, both the uninhabited regions and the inhabited heights of the earth beneath the heavens. When he was preparing the heaven, I was present with him; when he was marking out his own throne upon the winds; when he was making strong the clouds above, and setting fast the springs beneath the heaven, and making strong the foundations of the earth, I was beside him, setting all in order (ἁρμόζουσα). I was the one in whom he delighted day by day; and I rejoiced before his face at every season, when he rejoiced at having completed the inhabited world, and rejoiced over the sons of men.”