Two “hours are coming”: perfection beyond bodies, and progress already now
“An hour is coming” is written twice. The first time “and now is” is not added; the second time it is. I take the first to mark worship beyond bodies that will stand in at perfection; the second to mark the progress of those being perfected in this life as far as human nature allows.
So one may already worship the Father in spirit and truth when the hour is not only coming but also now is. When Scripture says, “An hour is coming, and now is,” it no longer adds, “neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem,” — the clause that stands where “an hour is coming” is written without “now is.”
Greek
Δὶς δὲ τὸ · Ἔρχεται ὥρα · γέγραπται, καὶ κατὰ μὲν τὸ πρῶτον οὐ πρόσκειται · Καὶ νῦν ἐστίν · κατὰ δὲ τὸ δεύτερον πρόσκειται. οἶμαι τὸ μὲν πρότερον δηλοῦν τὴν ἔξω σωμάτων προσκύνησιν ἐνστησομένην κατὰ τὴν τελειότητα · τὸ δὲ δεύτερον τὴν τῶν ἐν τῷ βίῳ τούτῳ ὡς ἐνδέχεται κατὰ ἀνθρωπίνην φύσιν προκοπὴν τελειουμένων.
ἔξεστιν οὖν καὶ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ προσκυνεῖν τῷ πατρὶ ὅτε οὐ μόνον ἔρχεται ὥρα ἀλλὰ καὶ νῦν ἐστίν. ὅτε γοῦν γέγραπται · Ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστίν · οὐκέτι λέγεται τό · Οὔτε ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ οὔτε ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις · ὥσπερ εἴρηται ὅπου τό · Ἔρχεται ὥρα · χωρὶς τοῦ · Νῦν ἐστίν · ἀναγέγραπται.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on John, Book 13 (later tomoi). Complete on this page: §§1–64.
English follows Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV (GCS 10, 1903). Heine FOTC was not used as wording. This page is Book 13 §§1–64 of the later books (13, 19, 20, 28, 32).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV = GCS 10 (1903) (Greek · Book 13 §§1–64)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.