Ways of Distinguishing Creatures
For there are many ways to distinguish the diversity and dissimilarity of these animals and winged creatures, says the Father.
First, it is through the saying 'and the Lord God formed out of the ground still' (Genesis 2:22); for we do not find any of God's creations to be other than man.
Again, through the saying 'still', the scripture shows other animals and winged creatures to be prophesied here besides the former, for it has not been written that the first winged creatures came from the ground, but from the waters; but these came from the ground, or rather they were formed by the direct hand of God and not by command.
Likewise, through the saying that all winged creatures and all beasts were now formed by God, it does not give us room to say entirely that some came before, while a part came now from where [...]
Greek
In Genesim de creatione [Sp.] (fragmenta) 85 Καὶ γὰρ ἐκ πολλῶν τρόπων ἔστι διαγνῶναι, φησὶν ὁ Πατὴρ, τούτων τῶν ζῴων καὶ πετεινῶν τὸ διάφορόν τε καὶ ἀνόμοιον· πρῶτον διὰ τοῦ εἰπεῖν καὶ ἔπλασε κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἔτι· οὐ γὰρ εὑρίσκομεν πλάσμα Θεοῦ εἶναι εἰ μὴ τὸν ἄνθρωπον· πάλιν καὶ διὰ τοῦ λέγειν τὸ ἔτι, δείκνυσιν ἡ γραφὴ ἔτερά τινα ἐνταῦθα ζῷα προφητεύεσθαι καὶ πετεινὰ παρὰ τὰ πρότερα οὔτε γὰρ γέγραπται τὰ πρῶτα πετεινὰ ἐκ γῆς γενόμενα, ἀλλ' ἐξ ὑδάτων· ταῦτα δὲ ἐκ γῆς ἐγένοντο, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐπλάσθησαν ἰδιοχείρως παρὰ Θεοῦ καὶ οὐ κατὰ πρόσταξιν. Ὡσαύτως καὶ διὰ τοῦ λέγειν πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ καὶ πάντα τὰ θηρία νῦν ὑπὸ Θεοῦ πλασθῆναι οὐ δίδωσι ἡμῖν χώραν τοῦ ὅλως εἰπεῖν ὅτι μὲν ἐγένοντο πρότερον, μέρος δὲ νῦν ὅθεν οὔτε περὶ
About this text
Eustathius on the creation account in Genesis.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 18 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.