In the previous debate, the first dialogue took place with Father Serenus regarding controlling thought, and we saw the role of demons in dispersing thought. The father spoke about the power of Satan and his capabilities, but he will not be able to defeat the believer who is attached to God, because the one who is with us is greater than the one who is against us. As for this dialogue, which contains 25 chapters, he spoke about it About the existence of various ranks among demons.
Chapter 1: Talk about it Honored Father Serenus (Chapter 1)
Chapter 2: Germanius asked On the origin of the very diverse forces resistant to man، وعن الفروق بينها، إذ يقول الرسول بولس: “فإن مصارعتنا ليس مع دمٍ ولحمٍ، بل مع الرؤساء، مع السلاطين، مع ولاة العالم على ظلمة هذا الدهر، مع أجناد الشر الروحية في السماويات” (أف 12:6). و”لا ملائكة ولا رؤساء ولا قوات ولا خليقة أخرى تقدر أن تفصلنا عن محبة الله التي في المسيح يسوع ربنا” (رو 38:8، 39). يسأل أيضًا: Where did all this envy-filled hostility against us come from? Can we believe that these forces were created by the Lord for this purpose, that is, to fight against humans with these ranks that they have?
Chapter 3: Father Serenus replied that what was mentioned in this regard in the Bible is a hidden secret that requires study and diligence. The Word of God is food that must be cooked in order to be eaten. The word of God has the literal apparent meaning, as well as the hidden meaning (Chapter 4).
Chapter 6: confirms that God did not create anything evil, but everything He created is very good (Genesis 1:31).
Chapter 7: Explain that God created the heavenly creatures before He created the world. “عندما صُنعت الكواكب معًا سبحتني الملائكة بصوٍت عالٍ” (أي 7:38 LXX). فقد كانت الملائكة موجودة في بدء خلقة العالم تسبحه على أعمال خلقته للعالم المنظور لنا.
يقول الإنجيلي يوحنا: “به كان كل شيء، وبغيره لم يكن شيء مما كان” (يو3:1)، ويعدد الرسول بولس الخليقة قائلاً: “فإن فيه (في المسيح) خُلق الكل، ما في السماوات وما على الأرض، ما يُرى وما لا يُرى، سواء كان عروشًا أم سيادات أم رياسات أم سلاطين، الكل به وله قد خُلق” (كو 16:1).
Chapter 8: He talked about the fall of Satan and his angels, and the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah lamented them:
“يا ابن آدم ارفع مرثاة على ملك صور وقل له:
Thus says the Lord God: You are the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect beauty.
I was in God's paradise.
Every precious stone, your curtain is red agate, yellow sapphire, chalcedony, aquamarine, onyx, jasper, sapphire, amber, emerald, and gold.
They created in you the workmanship of the stones and their inlay on the day you were created.
You are the spread out cherub that covers you, and I set you up.
On God's holy mountain you were.
I walked among the stones of fire.
You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.
With the abundance of your trade they filled you with injustice, and you sinned.
So I will cast you from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire.
Your heart has been lifted up for your joy.
I corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I will cast you to the ground and make you appear before kings so that they may look upon you.
قد نجست مقادسك بكثرة أثامك بظلم تجارتك” (حز 11:28-18).
Isaiah says about another demon:
“كيف سقطت من السماء يا زهرة بنت الصبح؟!
How were you cut down to the ground, O conqueror of nations?!
And you said in your heart:
I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mountain of assembly in the farthest parts of the north.
I rise above the heights of the clouds,
أصير مثل العلي” (إشعياء 12:14-14).
The Bible tells us that Satan did not fall alone from his blessed state, but rather the dragon fell and a third with him Planets (Rev. 4:12).
في أكثر وضوح يقول أحد الرسل: “والملائكة الذين لم يحفظوا رياستهم، بل تركوا مسكنهم حفظهم إلى دينونة اليوم العظيم بقيود أبدية تحت الظلام” (يهوذا 6).
هذا أيضًا وقد قيل لنا: “لكن مثل الناس تموتون وكأحد الرؤساء تسقطون” (مز7:80). على من ينطبق هذا القول بأن كثيرين من الرؤساء قد سقطوا؟
be seen Father Serenus That the rulers are angels, who fell from their various ranks from their heavenly positions as a result of their evil, and that they also carried ranks according to the degree of their evil. It is as if they had various ranks in their angelic lives, and in their fall they attained opposite ranks according to the degree of their evil.
F 9: Germanius says that they used to believe that envy was the cause of Satan's fall and the beginning of his fall, because of which he was expelled from the heavenly places, and that When Adam and Eve were deceived by fraud.
P10: Father Serenus explained that it is clear from the Book of Genesis that Satan's fall and destruction began before this deception. فقد قيل عن الحية (الشيطان) أنها أحكم من كل حيوانات الأرض، وجاءت كلمة “أحكم” في العبرية تعني “أحيل”. كان أكثر خداعًا ليس من الملائكة، لأنهم ليسوا مخادعين، ولا من البشر، لأنهم لم يكونوا بعد قد خلقوا (بل من ملائكته الساقطين معه). هذا الخداع الذي فيه كبرياء نزل به ليحمل اسم “الحية”، ويحمل حسدًا.
He is no longer able to walk, but rather crawl, nor to look up, but rather sticks to the ground and crawls on it, and descends to crawl on his stomach and eat dusty food, that is, the works of sins. Thus, he carries the spirit of hostility against all of creation. Although this enmity prompted him to deceive Adam and Eve, but as Father Serenus says, it is for our benefit, and this disagreement is for our benefit, so humans stand on guard against him as a dangerous enemy, and he is no longer able to harm us by deceiving us by showing friendship with us.
Here I can, through the words of this father, draw a comparison between... Man’s attachment to the ancient serpent Satan and his attachment to Jesus Christ:
· يوجد صراع بين السيد المسيح كلمة الله وإبليس، كل منهما يريد أن يضم الإنسان إليه ويهبه ما عنده.
· Man’s attachment to Satan makes him resemble the serpent, who is unable to walk on the divine, royal path, but rather crawls on the earth, so man becomes dust. As for adhering to Jesus Christ, the true path, He gives us the wings of the Holy Spirit so that the soul can take off like a dove and fly to heaven. Thus, the soul sits as in the heavenly places and enjoys heavenly citizenship.
· التصاق الإنسان بإبليس يجعله يزحف على بطنه فيأكل التراب، ويجعل من بطنه إلهًا كقول الكتاب: “آلهتهم بطونهم”، يعيش الإنسان ليأكل، وليس يأكل لكي يعيش. يقتات الإنسان مع إبليس على الخطية كطعام داخلي له. أما السيد المسيح فيهبنا جسده ودمه مأكلاً ومشربًا لكي ننعم بالحياة الأبدية. يصير السيد المسيح “البر الإلهي” طعامًا للنفس التي تقتات به، أما طعام الجسد فضرورة لأجل الحياة.
· A person’s attachment to Satan pours into him his spirit, which is the spirit of enmity, while his attachment to Jesus Christ pours into him his spirit, which is the spirit of love and friendship on an eternal level.
F11: If the deceiver, Satan, falls under the punishment and judgment he deserves, then whoever accepts deception will not be exempt from punishment, even if his punishment is lighter than the punishment to which the deceiver himself falls.
The Messenger says that it was Eve, not Adam, who was deceived, but that Adam accepted her advice. Therefore, it is appropriate for us to beware of all evil advice, which brings punishment on the one who gave it and who accepted it.
F12: Devils fans And the disturbances it raises in our lives.
Father Serenus sees that the atmosphere between the earth and the sky is crowded with masses of light spirits, flying neither quietly nor in a state of lethargy.
It is God's great providence that He concealed this sight from human eyes. Because if he opened a person's eyes to see this scene, he would fall into a state of extreme terror and collapse, his life would be ruined day by day, and he would be unable to carry out his daily work and achieve his mission. The vision makes him enter into a direct, visible relationship during which he sees at every moment the evil they practice, which may push a person to make a mistake.
Chapter 13: The struggle of demons is not only against man, but... Even against each other, they won't They stop quarrels and conflicts because of the evil they carry.
In Daniel 10:12-14 we see the archangel Michael resisting the ruler of the Persians for 21 days in order to protect Daniel from him. He also talks about a ruler of the Greeks... and that Satan, who is known as the Persians, struggles not only against the children of God, but also against Satan, who is known as the Greeks. This, in Father Serenus’ opinion, is the secret of the ongoing conflicts between nations in a spirit of unending envy. It is conflicts between demons and each other that pit nations against each other.
Chapter 14: How did the spiritual forces of evil obtain the titles of forces and chiefships?
لأنها تحكم وتسيطر على أمم مختلفة، ولها تأثيرها على أرواح أقل منها، وعلى شياطين، وقد شهدت الأناجيل عن وجود “لجيئون”.
It was not possible to call them lords unless there were those who practiced lordship over them.
They do not claim powers and authorities unless they have someone to exercise this authority over them.
فالفريسيون في تجديفهم على السيد المسيح قالوا: “ببعلزبول رئيس الشياطين يخرج الشياطين” (لو15:11)، كما دُعيت الشياطين: “ولاة العالم على ظلمة” (أف12:6)، ودُعي أحدهم: “رئيس هذا العالم” (يو30:14). ويتحدث الطوباوي بولس عن هؤلاء الرئاسات والقوات كيف يبطل سلطانهم على هذا العالم حين يخضع الكل للسيد المسيح فيقول: “متى سُلم المُلك لله الآب متى أبطل كل رياسة وكل سلطان وكل قوة” (1كو24:15).
Chapter 15: Not without reason the heavenly holy forces bore the titles of angels and archangels.
دعوا “Angels” ومعناها “رسل”، لأن عملهم هو حمل رسائل إلهية.
ودعوا “Archangels” لأن لهم سلطان على الملائكة.
و”Sultans” لأن لهم سلطان على أشخاص معينين.
و”Presidencies” إذ لهم أشخاص هم رؤساء عليهم.
و”Thrones” لأنهم قريبون جدًا من الله وأخصاء وملتصقون به، فتستريح العظمة الإلهية فيهم كما في عرش إلهي بطريقة كمن يتكئ عليهم.
Chapter 16: We realize the submission of demons to their leaders not only from what is stated in the Holy Bible (Luke 11:19), but we also see it through the various experiences of the saints..
Father Serenus told the story of one of the brothers (monks). While he was on a trip in that wilderness, he found a cave, so he stopped there and performed his evening prayer there, praising the Psalms. After praying, he sat down before eating and his body was exhausted. He saw countless groups of demons gathered together from all sides. They came as countless crowds in a long line, some ahead of others, others following their chief, who was taller and more fearsome than them. A throne was placed on it, with a seat of judgment high above it, and he began to examine the deeds of each one of them.
If someone says that he has not yet been able to defeat his competitors, he is ordered to be expelled in disgrace for being lazy and inactive, and he is reprimanded with extreme anger because he has wasted a long time and that his work has not yielded results.
As for those who say that they deceived their competitors, the president praises them and glorifies them above all as brave wrestlers and that they have become famous models before the rest.
Among these the most evil of spirits appeared and presented himself to narrate his great triumph. He mentioned a very well-known monk who, after struggling against him for 15 years, finally overcame him tonight with the sin of adultery with a consecrated girl, and that he had seduced her in order to marry her. Then there were loud cries of joy, and he received great praise from the prince of darkness, and great honors were bestowed upon him.
إذ ظهر النهار اختفت كل الشياطين من أمام عيني الأخ، وكان متشككًا من جهة الأرواح الدنسة متذكرًا كلمات الإنجيل: “لم يثبت في الحق، لأنه ليس فيه حق، متى تكلم بالكذب فإنما يتكلم مما له، لأنه كذاب وأبو الكذاب” (يو 44:8).
The brother continued on his way to Balsam, where he knew that this man lived there, the one whom the evil spirit spoke of as having destroyed him, as the brother was very well known to him. When he asked about him, he found that he had actually left his monastery that night and fallen into his sin with the girl mentioned above.
Chapter 17Father Serenus says:
[The Bible testifies to the existence of two angels, one good and one evil, who are close to each one of us. The Savior says about the good angel: “لا تحتقروا أحد هؤلاء الصغار، لأني أقول لكم إن ملائكتهم في السموات كل حين ينظرون وجه أبي الذي السموات” (مت10:18). وأيضًا: “ملاك الرب حال حول خائفيه وينجيهم” (مز7:34). وأيضًا ما قيل في أعمال الرسل عن بطرس: “إنه ملاكه” (أع15:12).
As for the existence of both types of angels, this shepherd’s book teaches us in a complete way[1].
If we think about the one who attacked the blessed Job, we learn that he was planning against him, but he was never able to lure him into sin, so he was asking for authority from the Lord, as he was tied not to the virtue of (Job), but to the protection of the Lord that always protected him.
قيل أيضًا عن يهوذا: “ليقف الشيطان عن يمينه” (مز6:19).]
Chapter 18: The degrees of evil present in hostile spirits as revealed in the case of two philosophers.
He talked about the example of two philosophers who had great experience in witchcraft with laziness, audacity, and evil. They tried to harm Blessed Anthony, and when they could not, they tried to remove him from his cell with the illusions of magic and the lies of demons. They incited evil spirits full of violence against him, to attack him out of envy because he was a servant of God. When they were not even able to approach him, as he was marking his chest and forehead with the sign of the cross, devoting his time to prayers and supplications, the demons returned to those who directed them. The two magicians sent more evil evil spirits, and when they returned disappointed, they did not fulfill their mission. They sent those more powerful to resist the victorious soldier of Christ, and they were unable to do anything against him.
That's all the tricks Plans and magical arts are useful in confirming the great appreciation for the work of Christians، حتى إن هذه الخيالات العنيفة والمتسلطة التي تظن أنها قادرة على حجب الشمس والقمر إذ اتجهت نحو الطوباوي أنطونيوس لم تستطع أن تصيبه بضرر، ولا أن تسحبه من ديره للحظة واحدة.
Chapter 19: Demons will not be able to overcome humans unless they first possess their minds.
The father continued his speech by saying:
[As the two philosophers were astonished, they immediately went to Father Anthony, revealed to him their attacks and their plan against him, and asked to become Christians. When he asked them about the day they practiced this work, he discovered that on that day he was a warrior with bitter thoughts. With this experience, Blessed Anthony confirmed and confirmed the idea that we said yesterday in our debate Demons cannot find entry into anyone's mind or... His body, and it has no power to control anyone’s soul unless it removes all sacred thoughts from it It makes it empty and lacking in spiritual contemplation.
It is appropriate for you to know that impure spirits obey humans in two ways:
Either by divine grace and the authority of the holiness of believers.
Or they may be captivated by the sacrifices of sinners and practice certain recitations as worshipers of devils.
لقد ضل الفريسيون بفهم خاطئ وتخيلوا أن الرب المخلص أعطى الأوامر للشياطين بهذه الطريقة (أعمال السحر) إذ قالوا: “إنه ببعلزبول رئيس الشياطين يخرج الشياطين”. هذا يتفق مع تلك الخطة التي عرفوا أن سحرتهم والعرّافين الذين لهم – إذ يمارسون تلاوات لإبليس ويقدمون له الذبائح التي يُسر بها ويبتهج يصيرون له كخدام يهبهم السلطان حتى على الشياطين الخاضعة له.
Chapter 20: Germanius asked about what was mentioned in the Book of Genesis Concerning the fallen angels if they had physical relations with people’s daughters (Genesis 6:2), and what is mentioned in the Bible about Satan is that he is a liar and the father of liars (John 8:44). What does he mean when he says he is the father of liars?
Chapter 21: Answer the previous two questions.
Father Serenus answered the previous two questions by saying:
[We cannot believe that these spiritual beings can have physical relations with women. If this could literally happen, why can't it happen now too, when we somehow don't see women getting pregnant by demons without having a physical relationship with men? خاصة عندما يظهر بوضوح أن الشياطين تجد لذة في إثارة الشهوة التي بالتأكيد كان الأفضل لها أن تحققها بواسطتها مباشرة عن أن تتم خلال الرجال، لو كان ذلك ممكنًا لهم أن يمارسوه. وكما يقول سفر الجامعة: “ما كان فهو ما يكون، والذي صُنع فهو الذي يُصنع فليس تحت الشمس جديد. إن وجد شئ يُقال عنه: انظر، هذا جديد. فهو منذ زمان كان في الدهور التي كانت قبلنا” (جا9:1-10).
لكن السؤال الذي طُرح يمكن أن يُحل بالطريقة التالية: بعد موت هابيل البار، لكي لا يخرج كل الجنس البشري من صلب إنسان قاتل لأخيه وُلد شيث بدلاً من أخيه الذي قتل (هابيل) ليحتل مكانه، ليس فقط بخصوص إنجاب الأجيال، بل وفي ممارسة العدالة والصلاح. وجاء نسله يتبعون مثال صلاح أبيهم، صاروا دائمًا في عزلة عن الدخول في علاقات (زيجية) مع قايين. فقد ظهر الاختلاف بين السلسلتين في الأنساب كما قيل لنا بوضوح: “آدم ولد شيثًا، وشيث ولد أنوش، وأنوش ولد قينان، وقينان ولد مهللئيل، ومهللئيل ولد يارد، ويارد ولد أخنوخ، وأخنوخ ولد متوشالح، ومتوشالح ولد لامك، ولامك ولد نوحًا” (تك5). وجاءت سلسلة أنساب قايين منفصلة: “قايين ولد حنوك، وحنوك ولد عيراد (قينان)، وعيراد ولد محويائيل، ومحويائيل ولد متوشائيل، ومتوشائيل ولد لامك، ولامك ولد يابال ويوبال” (تك17:4-21). وهكذا بقي خط الأنساب النابع من صلب شيث البار يختلط مع بعضه البعض مستمرًا إلى فترة طويلة في قداسة آبائهم وأسلافهم، لا يتلامسون مع تجاديف وشرور النسل الشرير المغروس فيه بذرة الخطية كما لو كانت تتنقل من الأسلاف.
طالما بقي هذا الانفصال بين الخطين: زرع شيث كمن صدر عن جذر ممتاز، دُعي بسبب قداسته “ملائكة الله”، أو كما نسخها البعض “أبناء الله” (تك 2:6 LXX). وعلى العكس دُعي الآخرون بسبب شرهم وشر آبائهم وتصرفاتهم الأرضية “بنات الناس”.
بالرغم من وجود الانفصال المقدس والنافع بينهما حتى هذا الوقت، فإنه بعد ذلك رأى أولاد شيث الذين هم أبناء الله البنات اللواتي من نسل قايين، فالتهبت فيهم الشهوة بسبب جمالهن، واتخذوا لهم منهن زوجات. علّمت الزوجات رجالهن شر آبائهن، واقتدن إياهم بعيدًا عن القداسة الموروثة وبساطة الذهن التي لآبائهم. فانطبق عليهم بكل دقة هذا القول: “أنا قلت إنكم آلهة وبنو العلي كلكم، لكن مثل الناس تموتون وكأحد الرؤساء تسقطون” (مز 6:82-7). هؤلاء سقطوا من الدراسة الحقيقية للفلسفة الطبيعية التي تسلموها من أسلافهم، حيث تتبع الرجل الأول (آدم) دراسة كل الطبيعة واستطاع أن ينالها بوضوح، وسلّمها إلى خلفه على أسس أكيدة، وذلك قدر ما رأى العالم في بدء نشأته، حيث كان لا يزال الإنسان في رقته وبساطته كمن فيه ليس فقط كمال الحكمة هذه، بل ونعمة النبوة التي وهبت له بالوحي الإلهي، حتى أنه بينما كان ساكنًا في هذا العالم غير متعلم أعطى أسماء لكل الكائنات الحية، ولم يعرف فقط ثورة كل أنواع الحيوانات والثعابين وسمومها، بل وميّز بين أنواع النباتات والأشجار وطبائع الأحجار وتغيير الفصول التي لم يكن بعد قد اختبرها. استطاع أن يقول حسنُا: “الرب وهب لي علمًا يقينًا بالكائنات حتى أعرف نظام العالم، وفاعلية العناصر، ومبدأ الأزمنة ومنتهاها وما بينها، وتعاقب الاعتدالات وتغيير الفصول، ودوائر السنة ومراكز النجوم، وطبائع الحيوانات وغرائز الوحوش، ونغمات الأرواح وخواطر البشر، وأنواع النبات وخواص الجذور، فعرفت كل ما خفي وكل ما ظهر” (حك 17:7-21).
The descendants of Seth received this knowledge of all nature through the succession of generations that received it from their fathers, as long as the generations remained detached from the evil line, receiving it in holiness, and using it for the glory of God and to satisfy their daily needs.
But when it mixed with the evil generation, it withdrew towards the suggestions of the devils and corrupted their use in a harmful way. She lost the knowledge she had learned in innocence, and began to learn, with curiosity and unreasonable boldness, the arts of magic, recitations, and superstitions. Successive generations learned to abandon the holy worship of God, and to honor and prostrate themselves to the elements, fire, or the demons of the air.]
Father Serenus then narrates how the arts of magic and the worship of idols and demons were transmitted even after the flood through false marriages between the sons of God and the daughters of people.
Chapter 22Germanius’s objection to considering marriage between the sons of God from the lineage of Seth and the daughters of people from the lineage of Cain as a sin since there was no law prohibiting that.
Chapter 23Father Serenus explains that the natural law prevented this from the beginning, which is why they were subjected to punishment.
Chapter 24: Justly, the children of God who married the daughters of men fell into punishment, even though they had sinned before the flood.
Chapter 25Father Serenus explained the meaning of what was mentioned in the Gospel about Satan, that he is a liar and that he is the father of liars (John 8:44).
[إنه لأمر سخيف أن تتخيل هذا (أن الشيطان يلد أبناء) ولو على سبيل حب الاستطلاع. فإنه كما قلنا منذ قليل أن الأرواح لا تلد أرواحًا، كما أن النفس لا تقدر أن تصدر نفسًا، مع هذا لا نشك أن الجسد بصغره من زرع الإنسان. يميز الرسول بوضوح بين الحالتين، أي بين الجسد والروح … “ثم قد كان لنا آباء أجسادنا مؤدبين وكنا نهابهم؛ أفلا نخضع بالأولى جدًا لأبي الأرواح فنحيا؟!” (عب9:12). أي شيء يمكن أن يكون أكثر وضوحًا من هذا التمييز، حيث يوضح أن البشر هم آباء أجسادنا، ولكنه دائمًا يعلِّم أن الله هو وحده أب النفوس.
مع أن الأمر الأصغر الخاص بهذا الجسد… يُنسب للبشر، بينما الجزء الرئيسي لتكوين الإنسان يشكله الله خالق الكل، يقول داود: “يداك خلقتاني وكوّنتاني” (مز 73:119). ويقول الطوباوي أيوب: “ألم تصبني كاللبن، وخترتني كالجبن، كسوتني جلدًا ولحمًا، فنسجتني بعظام وعصب؟!” (أي 10:5،11). ويقول الله لإرميا: “قبلما صورتك في الرحم عرفتك” (إر 5:1). لكن سفر الجامعة يجمع بوضوح شديد ودقة طبيعة بين العنصرين وبدايتهما… ونهاية كل منهما، فاصلاً بين الجسد والنفس بقوله: “فيرجع التراب إلى الأرض كما كان، وترجع الروح إلى الله الذي أعطاها” (جا 7:7).
هكذا إذ خُلق الشيطان أيضًا روحًا، أو ملاكًا صالحًا، لم يكن له أب إلا الله خالقه. لكنه عندما انتفخ بالكبرياء، وقال في قلبه: “أصعد فوق مرتفعات السحاب، أصير مثل العلي” (إش14:14) صار كذّابًا ولم يثبت في الحق (يو44:7)، بل ولد كذبًا من مخازن شره. صار ليس فقط كذابًا بل أبًا للكذب العملي. عندما وعد الإنسان بالألوهة وقال: “تصيران كالله” تك5:3 لم يثبت في الحق، بل كان منذ البدء قتّالاً يجلب آدم إلى حالة الموت، وقتل هابيل بيد أخيه بناء على اقتراحٍ منه.
[Footnote linked to the title] I hope that the Lord will allow us to publish the translation of this debate along with the rest of the texts of the writings of Saint John Cassian that have not yet been translated in another volume.
[1] The Shepherd of Hermas: K2 Commandment 6.