Summary

Portrait of Origen Origen Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IV, Origen… (1885)

And perhaps also from the words, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and the base things, and the things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh may glory in His presence;” [1] some have been led to suppose that no one who is instructed, or wise, or prudent, embraces the Gospel.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Origen Origen Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IV, Origen… (1885)

And as he selects for the episcopate a man who has been once married [3] rather than he who has twice entered the married state, [4] and a man of blameless life rather than one who is liable to censure, and a sober man rather than one who is not such, and a prudent man rather than one who is not prudent, and a man whose behaviour is decorous rather than he who is open to the charge even of the slightest indecorum, so he desires that he who is to be chosen by preference for the office of a bishop should be apt to teach, and able to convince the gainsayers.
Source: Wikisource

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