What Follows From God Being Everyone's Father

If a man should be able to assent to this doctrine as he ought, that we are all sprung from God³⁸ in an especial manner, and that God is the father both of men and of gods, I suppose that he would never have any ignoble or mean thoughts about himself. But if Caesar (the emperor) should adopt you, no one could endure your arrogance; and if you know that you are the son of Zeus, will you not be elated? Yet we do not so; but since these two things are mingled in the generation of man, body in common with the animals, and reason and intelligence in common with the gods, many incline to this kinship, which is miserable and mortal; and some few to that which is divine and happy. Since then it is of necessity that every man uses everything according to the opinion which he has about it, those, the few, who think that they are formed for fidelity and modesty and a sure use of appearances have no mean or ignoble thoughts about themselves; but with the many it is quite the contrary. For they say, What am I? A poor, miserable man, with my wretched bit of flesh. Wretched, indeed; but you possess something better than your bit of flesh. Why then do you neglect that which is better, and why do you attach yourself to this?

If a man could truly accept this teaching, he would never have low or unworthy thoughts about himself. The teaching is that we all come from God³⁸ in a special way, and that God is the father of both men and gods. If Caesar (the emperor) adopted you, no one could stand your arrogance. And if you know that you are the son of Zeus, will you not be proud? Yet we are not. Two things are combined in human nature: a body, which we share with animals, and reason and intelligence, which we share with the gods. Many of us lean toward our kinship with animals, which is miserable and mortal. A few lean toward our kinship with the gods, which is divine and happy. Everyone must use things according to their opinions about them. So the few who believe they are made for faithfulness, modesty, and sound judgment of appearances have no low or unworthy thoughts about themselves. But with the many, it is quite the opposite. They say, What am I? A poor, miserable man, with my wretched bit of flesh. Wretched indeed, but you possess something better than your bit of flesh. Why, then, do you neglect what is better and cling to your flesh?

Through this kinship with the flesh, some of us inclining to it become like wolves, faithless and treacherous and mischievous: some become like lions, savage and bestial and untamed; but the greater part of us become foxes, and other worse animals. For what else is a slanderer and a malignant man than a fox, or some other more wretched and meaner animal? See³⁹ then and take care that you do not become some one of these miserable things.

Because we are related to the flesh, some of us give in to it and become like wolves: faithless, treacherous, and harmful. Some become like lions, savage, beastly, and untamed. But most of us become foxes or other, even worse animals. For what is a person who slanders others and wishes them harm, if not a fox or some more wretched, meaner animal? Take care,³⁹ then, not to become one of these miserable creatures.