Annotation CCXXXVI, On souls fallen down from heaven (Jeremiah 24:5)

Annotatio CCXXXVI

”The captivity of Judah, which I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, [I will regard] for good.” — Jeremiah 24:5

Origen expounding this allegorically, concerning the descent of Souls into the earth on account of crimes perpetrated in the heavens, Jerome, in book 5 on Jeremiah, refuted [him] with these words:¹ “The allegorical interpreter always dotes in this place, and, wishing to do violence to the historical truth, refers [it] to captives from the heavenly Jerusalem, and [says] that they were transferred into the land of the Chaldeans, and again about to return to their former place — like Jeremiah and the other holy prophets; but that others, who shall have been sinners in this land and in the vale of tears, are about to die.” The same [thou hast] above, Annotation 185.

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