Commentary on Jeremiah

Origen of Alexandria (185–253)

We forget that the words "Let us make man according to our image and according to our likeness" apply to each person. When we fail to remember the one who formed a person in the womb, and formed all people's hearts individually and understands all their works, we do not perceive that God is a helper of those who are lowly and inferior, a protector of the weak, a provider of shelter of those who have been given up in despair and Savior of those who have been given up as hopeless.

We do not find, therefore, that the expression "to be sent from God" is be used of anyone other than the saints. It occurs in the case of Isaiah … and in the case of Jeremiah, "You shall go to all that I shall send you"; and in the case of Ezekiel, "I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me."

See also

• More works by Origen of Alexandria

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