"Further, in the first book of the Kings an evil spirit is said to suffocate Saul (cf. 1 Sm 18:20); and in the third book of Micaiah the prophet says, 'I saw the God of Israel sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven stood round about him on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came a spirit, and stood before the Lord and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth , and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shall entice him, and prevail also; go forth and do so. And the Lord put a lying spirit in the mouth of all thy prophets; and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee'(1 Kings 22:19-23). This account clearly shows that a certain spirit by his own will and choice elected to entice and to practice deceit, and that God makes use of this spirit to compass the death of Ahab, who deserved that fate."
P. 276, "Book III, Chapter II 'The Opposing Powers,'" ON FIRST PRINCIPLES by Origen (2013)
Thursday, December 1, 2016
ON FIRST PRINCIPLES
"Further, in the first book of the Kings an evil spirit is said to suffocate Saul (cf. 1 Sm 18:20); and in the third book of Micaiah the prophet says, 'I saw the God of Israel sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven stood round about him on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came a spirit, and stood before the Lord and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth , and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shall entice him, and prevail also; go forth and do so. And the Lord put a lying spirit in the mouth of all thy prophets; and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee'(1 Kings 22:19-23). This account clearly shows that a certain spirit by his own will and choice elected to entice and to practice deceit, and that God makes use of this spirit to compass the death of Ahab, who deserved that fate."
P. 276, "Book III, Chapter II 'The Opposing Powers,'" ON FIRST PRINCIPLES by Origen (2013)