Theophanies of the Ancients

[Gent]iles The text continues from the previous page's word "genti-", referring to the "gentiles" or pagan nations., although led by a certain notable superstition, have gradually and slowly lost the true knowledge of God and divine things through the most just judgment of the eternal Deity. Yet, by the benefit of the light of nature The "light of nature" refers to the innate human capacity for reason and basic moral or spiritual awareness, independent of revealed scripture. implanted in all men without exception, they have nonetheless retained this belief—just as those devoted to the true Religion believe concerning the true and immortal Deity—that their own gods are also most present to all. Indeed, Hesiod calls them

Works and Days, line 247.

Compare Acts 17:27.

since for Callimachus, in his Hymn to Apollo, line 7, they are "not far off" original Greek: ἑκάς μακρὰν (hekas makran). Furthermore, they also thought that these gods—being "bodiless and formless" original Greek: ἀσωμάτους καὶ ἀμορφώτους (asōmatous kai amorphōtous), as they are called by Proclus Compare 1 Timothy 6:16. in Book II of his commentary on the Republic, page 358—could not be seen in themselves and through their own essence by finite and bodily eyes. They are "invisible," of course, and "objects of the intellect" original Greek: ἀοράτους (aoratous) and νοητοὺς (noētous); things that can only be grasped by the mind rather than the senses, who, being destitute of all bodily qualities, ought to be perceived by the mind alone. Therefore, on the part of the gods, there was a need—if indeed they wished to manifest themselves to men—to appear by assuming bodies. These are variously called "statues" original Greek: ἀγάλματα (agalmata) in Iamblichus, Section II, chapter 4; "apparitions" original Greek: φαντάσματα (phantasmata) in the same, chapter 3; "figures" original Greek: σχήματα (schēmata) in Proclus, Book II on the Republic, page 358; "images" original Greek: εἴδωλα (eidōla), and so forth.

Thesis 4.

Nor, however, did anything of the divine essence diminish because of this; rather, the gods—with their Divinity unharmed, being "unshaken" original Greek: ἀσυφέλικτοι (asypheliktoi), meaning firm or undisturbed; a term used by Callimachus in his Hymn to Delos, line 26—assumed bodies, or whatever you may call these likenesses, according to their power. This is beautifully taught by Proclus on the Republic, Book II, page 358 and following, where he asks: How do the self-manifestations original Greek: αὐτοφάνειαι (autophaneiai) of the appearing gods happen, sometimes without form...