Desire can be praiseworthy or base
Not every desire is blameworthy: the Lord’s judgments are more to be desired than gold, and the Savior said, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you.”
Base is looking at a woman to desire her. So attend not only to what we do but to what we want.
Greek
Οὐ πᾶσα ἐπιθυμία ψεκτή· ἐπιθυμητὰ ὑπὲρ χρυσίον τὰ κρίματα κυρίου, καὶ ὁ σωτήρ· Ἐπιθυμίᾳ ἐπεθύμησα τοῦτο τὸ πάσχα φαγεῖν μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν.
Φαύλη δὲ ἡ πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι γυναῖκα ἐμβλέψασα· δεῖ οὖν ἐπιστῆσαι μὴ μόνον οἷς ποιοῦμεν ἀλλὰ καὶ οἷς θέλομεν.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on John, Book 20 (later tomoi). Complete on this page: §§1–44.
English follows Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV (GCS 10, 1903). Heine FOTC was not used as wording. This page is Book 20 §§1–44 of the later books (13, 19, 20, 28, 32).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Preuschen, Origenes Werke IV = GCS 10 (1903) (Greek · Book 20 §§1–44)
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.