Paraphrasis in Dionysium Areopagitam

the oracles of the Lord are pure, refined oracles. But it is thus regarding God. Fire is also spoken of regarding angels, as things caused by God through participation, just as they are also called light, and gods, and other things that belong to God.

Rather, to speak concisely, when fire is spoken of in relation to God, it is said according to causality; for He is called so as being the cause of the caused thing, fire. But regarding the providences and the oracles of God, it is said according to their existence. I say this, not that the providences of God are unsubstantial, but that they are from God and exist, not as subsisting entities, but as being enacted. But regarding the angels, it is according to participation, since they are also called godlike and participate in the divine. God is called fire, and they too are called fire according to participation. The "divine according to participation" differs here from the "divine according to existence" in that the "according to participation" signifies an essence that is in itself and possesses the godlike as an acquired quality. The "according to existence," however, [refers to] a spirit or divine oracle—that is, produced and spoken from God. For in this way, the meanings of symbolic names are not muddled, but are understood fittingly according to their subjects. As, for example, regarding light: God is called light, but as being the cause of light. The commandments of God are light, but according to existence. We said above how he takes "existence." For since God is called light, and the commandment exists as produced from Him, it also is called light, but not according to participation; for the commandment is not something else that participates in the divine light, but it was produced from God in such a way, and is divine, which the Father calls "according to existence." The angel is also light, but according to participation in the divine light. The orders of angels that have surpassed others are light according to their order and dignity, because they approach the first light and have the power of illumination. And...