The Two Dwellings

For he possessed the treasure of knowledge, not as a layman according to it, but as a layman in the word in earthen vessels. And the earthen vessels are those saying things which we are surrounded by bodies in the sensible things, by such a thought; because while still surrounded by flesh which hinders the contemplation of the truth, we have knowledge concerning the Trinity, the excess of the greatness of the knowledge is not from us, but from the power of God existing in us is made known to us.

As far as regarding the bitterness of those surrounding us, we would have despaired and we would have been lost (2 Cor 4:8-9); but as far as regarding the God who exhorts, all things are easy for us toward salvation. And even if in every single thing we are being afflicted, being courageous we are not distressed; even if some suppose us as without resource, pursuing and overturning us, but rather we, being resourceful in all things, are not at a loss, we are not lost, we are not cast down; for being overturned by the evil ones we stand unshakeable, being pursued we are courageous, all things being for our salvation. It is to be known that being distressed is at times the same as being afflicted, and at times something else. For when both are spoken, the being afflicted signifies the external circumstance, the being distressed signifies the mourning in the will and the reasoning. But when both are not taken together, they signify the same thing in parallel.

That which is always and at all times lying before us from the spoken word (2 Cor 4:10-11), does not signify the unending and the anarchic, just as we say the eternal, but the unceasing and the uninterrupted; for he will say that the bearing of the death of Jesus, not once indeed, but at times not, in his body, is doing this always. But also he will say that one having life and piety and zeal struggles uninterruptedly for the truth; so that we, the living in the said manner, that is, without interruptions, are being handed over unto death. To this also the thing said by Stephen to the Jews will be taken; for you always oppose the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51); for did not the fathers of ours not pursue the kind of the prophets along with him? This is the thought of what I said: always wandering in heart, that is, not once indeed, but at times not, but uninterruptedly. And that which I was silent about, shall I also be always silent? It signifies the unending and the unceasing; for if even now, he says, I am long-suffering toward your sinning, but not unto the unceasing.

Punishment will be exceeded; for those abiding in wickedness will be punished after much patience. 2 Cor 4:13 says the Spirit calls, the one having the faith which one has. 2 Cor 4:16 For in all our being afflicted, the outward man is being destroyed.

The coming scripture signifies two different dwellings; 2 Cor 5:1 one is earthly and made by hands, the one appearing to be the cosmos in the hands of God for the sake of being produced—for he says it shows all sensible things: 'Your hand made all these things,' but also: 'The works of your hands are the heavens,' and of the same is the intellect—but the other is an unmade dwelling in the heavens, the other cosmos besides this one. Since, when the sensible cosmos is being dissolved, it does not produce the form of heaven and earth, and passing through, it does not go into non-existence, men turn away from the one who dwelt previously in the being-dissolved earthly dwelling; the one to come will receive, and it is eternal. And he said: 'We have an unmade eternal dwelling in the heavens,' showing that it is from elsewhere, but rather it is greatly prepared for those worthy to obtain it. It is said, moreover, that those things in the promise within it, which eye has not seen, nor any other sense or intellect has grasped, are being prepared by God for those who love him. And the Savior says: 'You have inherited the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world.'

And this said sensible dwelling is called not our house once for all, but that of our tent; for our heavenly dwelling is our previous one. For even if from the resurrection the tent of the soul be given back, as it also is in the heavenly dwelling, but this stay is previous to the soul, according to what has happened and what pertains to the tent: just as first, according to the word, the earthly dwelling is the tent of the dwelling, secondly, because the soul is in the body. I have read that the earthly dwelling is called a tent, the body composed of bones and flesh, but the tent being in this dwelling is the form of the inner man, which is a bright and organic body. Those interpreting thus say, therefore: when this dwelling of the thick body is being dissolved, the soul migrates to the heavenly place, called an unmade eternal dwelling. And he shall also receive what he laid aside.