Against Celsus 6.3

Let the ancient and wise men, then, make themselves known to those who are able to understand; and let Plato, the son of Ariston, point out what concerns the first good in one of his letters, and say that the first good is in no way “expressible,” “but from long association” it comes to be, and “suddenly, like light kindled from a leaping fire, in the soul.” When we hear these words we too agree with them as well said, “for God revealed” these things “to them,” and whatever else has been well said. For this very reason we say that those who have grasped the truth about God, but have not practised the piety worthy of the truth about him, are liable to the punishments of sinners. For Paul says of such people in these very words: “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness, because what can be known of God is manifest among them; for God revealed it to them. For his invisible things are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, so that they are without excuse; because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks, but became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.” So those who hold that the first good is “in no way expressible,” and who say that “from long association with the matter itself and living with it, suddenly, like light kindled from a leaping fire, it comes to be in the soul and then nourishes itself,” do “hold” the “truth,” as our own Scripture also testifies.