Heracleon: she leaves the jar to the world and goes to spiritual things
Heracleon also takes “She left the water-jar” as her leaving the temporary world and going, through the Word, toward spiritual things.
We take it more simply: she leaves the jar so she is not pulled aside by drawing water, and hurries to announce the good news.
Greek
Ὁ δὲ Ἡρακλέων καὶ τό· Ἀφῆκεν τὴν ὑδρίαν· οὕτως ἐκδέχεται, ὡς τὸν πρόσκαιρον κόσμον καταλιποῦσαν καὶ διὰ τοῦ λόγου ἀπερχομένην ἐπὶ τὰ πνευματικά.
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἁπλούστερον ἐκδεξόμεθα τὴν καταλιποῦσαν τὴν ὑδρίαν διὰ τὸ μὴ περισπᾶσθαι περὶ τὸ ἀντλεῖν, ἀλλὰ σπεύδειν ἐπὶ τὸ εὐαγγελίσασθαι.
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.