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Banquet of the Ten Virgins

Methodius of Olympus

Chapter 9

About this work

A literary symposium in which ten women offer speeches on virginity, creation, Scripture, virtue, and Christian perfection, consciously adapting the form of a classical philosophical banquet.

Author: Methodius of Olympus
Date: Late 3rd century
Origin: Eastern Mediterranean
Genre: Dialogue

Chapter IX.—The Dispensation of Grace in Paul the Apostle.

Now we should consider the case of the renowned

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Paul

,

that

when

he

was

not

yet

perfect

in

Christ

,

he

was

first

born

and

suckled

,

Ananias

preaching

to

him

,

and

renewing

him

in

baptism

,

as

the

history

in

the

Acts

relates

.

But

when

he

was

grown

to

a

man

,

and

was

built

up

,

then

being

moulded

to

spiritual

perfection

,

he

was

made

the

help

-

meet

and

bride

of

the

Word

;

and

receiving

and

conceiving

the

seeds

of

life

,

he

who

was

before

a

child

,

becomes

a

church

and

a

mother

,

himself

labouring

in

birth

of

those

who

,

through

him

,

believed

in

the

Lord

,

until

Christ

was

formed

and

born

in

them

also

.

For

he

says

,

“

My

little

children

,

of

whom

I

travail

in

birth

again

until

Christ

be

formed

in

you

;

”

and

again

,

“

In

Christ

Jesus

I

have

begotten

you

through

the

Gospel

.

”

It is evident, then, that the statement respecting Eve and Adam is to be referred to the Church and Christ. For this is truly a great mystery and a supernatural, of which I, from my weakness and dulness, am unable to speak, according to its worth and greatness. Nevertheless, let us attempt it. It remains that I speak to you on what follows, and of its signification.

Notes

1
Gal. iv. 19.
2
1 Cor. iv. 15.