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The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

Lactantius

Chapter 70

About this work

A condensed presentation of Lactantius’s apologetic project, summarizing his case against pagan worship and his account of divine providence, true religion, justice, and Christian hope.

Author: Lactantius
Date: Early 4th century
Origin: Nicomedia or Gaul
Genre: Apology

Chap. LXX.—The Immortality of the Soul is Confirmed.

It may in truth be collected from many

‹ Chapter 69 Chapter 71 ›

arguments

that

souls

are

eternal

.

Plato

says

that

which

always

moves

by

itself

,

and

has

no

beginning

of

motion

,

also

has

no

end

;

but

that

the

soul

of

man

always

moves

by

itself

,

and

because

it

is

flexible

for

reflection

,

subtle

for

discovery

,

easy

of

perception

,

adapted

to

learning

,

and

because

it

retains

the

past

,

comprehends

the

present

,

foresees

the

future

,

and

embraces

the

knowledge

of

many

subjects

and

arts

,

that

it

is

immortal

,

since

it

contains

nothing

which

is

mixed

with

the

contagion

of

earthly

weight

.

Moreover

,

the

eternity

of

the

soul

is

understood

from

virtue

and

pleasure

.

Pleasure

is

common

to

all

animals

,

virtue

belongs

only

to

man

;

the

former

is

vicious

,

the

latter

is

honourable

;

the

former

is

in

accordance

with

nature

,

the

latter

is

opposed

to

nature

,

unless

the

soul

is

immortal

.

For

in

defence

of

faith

and

justice

,

virtue

neither

fears

want

,

nor

is

alarmed

at

exile

,

nor

dreads

imprisonment

,

nor

shrinks

from

pain

,

nor

refuses

death

;

and

because

these

things

are

contrary

to

nature

,

either

virtue

is

foolishness

,

if

it

stands

in

the

way

of

advantages

,

and

is

injurious

to

life

;

or

if

it

is

not

foolishness

,

then

the

soul

is

immortal

,

and

despises

present

goods

,

because

other

things

are

preferable

which

it

attains

after

the

dissolution

of

the

body

.

But

that

is

the

greatest

proof

of

immortality

,

that

man

alone

has

the

knowledge

of

God

.

In

the

dumb

animals

there

is

no

notion

of

religion

,

because

they

are

earthly

and

bent

down

to

the

earth

.

Man

is

upright

,

and

beholds

the

heaven

for

this

purpose

,

that

he

may

seek

God

.

Therefore

he

cannot

be

other

than

immortal

,

who

longs

for

the

immortal

.

He

cannot

be

liable

to

dissolution

,

who

is

connected

with

God

both

in

countenance

and

mind

.

Finally

,

man

alone

makes

use

of

the

heavenly

element

,

which

is

fire

.

For

if

light

is

through

fire

,

and

life

through

light

,

it

is

evident

that

he

who

has

the

use

of

fire

is

not

mortal

,

since

this

is

closely

connected

,

this

is

intimately

Him

without

whom

neither

light

nor

life

can

exist

.

But why do we infer from arguments that souls are eternal, when we have divine testimonies? For the sacred writings and the voices of the prophets teach this. And if this appears to any one insufficient, let him read the poems of the Sibyls, let him also weigh the answers of the Milesian Apollo, that he may understand that Democritus, and Epicurus, and Dicæarchus raved, who alone of all mortals denied that which is evident. Having proved the immortality of the soul, it remains to teach by whom, and to whom, and in what manner, and at what time, it is given. Since fixed and divinely appointed times have begun to be filled up, a destruction and consummation of all things must of necessity take place, that the world may be renewed by God. But that time is at hand, as far as may be collected from the number of years, and from the signs which are foretold by the prophets. But since the things which have been spoken concerning the end of the world and the conclusion of the times are innumerable, those very things which are spoken are to be laid down without adornment, since it would be a boundless task to bring forward the testimonies. If any one wishes for them, or does not place full confidence in us, let him approach to the very shrine of the heavenly letters, and being more fully instructed through their trustworthiness, let him perceive that the philosophers have erred, who thought either that this world was eternal, or that there would be numberless thousands of years from the time when it was prepared. For six thousand years have not yet been completed, and when this number shall be made up, then at length all evil will be taken away, that justice alone may reign. And how this will come to pass, I will explain in few words.

Notes

1
Suspicio.
2
Cum Deo communis est.