Annotation CXLII

”And there came also publicans, to be baptized.” — Luke 3:12

On the instruction, errings, and penance of the angels.

Origen, in homily 23 on Luke, brings forth four [things] beside the common opinion of the theologians, from the workshop of his own dogmas. Of these the first is, that the angels are instructed by men, and also learn from them. The second is, that the bishops of the seven churches — whom John in the Apocalypse, by reason of [their] office, calls “Angels” — were truly angels, and had the true nature of angels. The third is, that those angels were liable to sins, and were reproved for these by John. The fourth is, that Christ came into this world to preach penance not only to men, but also to angels. These opinions he expresses in these words: “The Prophets and Apostles preach all that they proclaim not only to men, but also to angels. For thou wilt find, in very many places, and especially in the Psalms, that discourse is made even to the angels — power being given to a man, namely to him who has the Holy Spirit, that he may address the angels. Of which [places] I will set down one example, that we may know that the angels too are instructed by human voices. It is written in the Apocalypse of John: ‘To the Angel of the church of the Ephesians write: I have somewhat

against thee’; and again, ‘To the Angel of the church of Pergamum write: I have somewhat against thee.’ Certainly he is a man who writes to the angels, and commands something. For I do not doubt that there are angels — not only generally for every church, but also individually; concerning whom the Savior says, ‘Their angels always see the face of the Father.’ And below: ‘These [things] we have said for this [reason], that we might show that the publicans too are taught by John. For not John and a [mere] prophet only came, but also the Savior himself, to preach saving penance both to men, and to angels, and to the other Powers — that in the name of Jesus every knee may bow, of [things] heavenly, earthly, and infernal.’” These [things] Origen [says]; whose first proposition can be piously interpreted according to the sense of what Paul, writing to the Ephesians, said — that the wisdom of God became known to the Principalities and Powers through the preaching of the Church. You have this more clearly explained below, in Annotations 195, 182, and 298.