Annotation CCCII

”He who descended, he it is who also ascended.” — Ephesians 4:10.b

On the angels, and the demons.

Jerome, [in] the second book on the epistle to the Ephesians, upon this sentence seems not to stand far distant from the dogma of Origen, [who] thinks the passion of Christ profited not only men, but also angels and demons; for he says: “THE Son of God, therefore, descended into the lower [parts] of the earth, and ascended above all the heavens, that he might fulfil not so much the law and the prophets, but also certain other hidden dispensations, which he alone knows with the Father. For neither can we know in what manner the blood of Christ profited both the angels, and those who were in hell; and yet, that it did profit, we cannot but know.” And this Rufinus condemned in Jerome, in the place cited above — namely, Annotations 170, 292, and 296.