CELSUS, an Epicurean philosopher, who in the second century, and is chiefly distinguished as one of the early and most violent opposers of Christianity. Of his life nothing is now known ; but it was prohable that he was a person of sonic celebrity, as Lucian has dedicated to him his Pseudomantis. Ills principal work, which lie wrote against the Christians, and which he entitled ).076, anp,Pn, The True Word, is now lost ; but its arguments and objections are preserved in the excellent answer of Origen, which Du Pin characterises as the completcst and best written apology for the Christian religion which the ancients have left us. In this tic atise, Origen has not merely given us the substance of Celsus's objections, but has fairly stated them in the very words, and in the order in which they were set forth by their author ; so that from these extracts we ale enabled to form a tolerably correct estimate of Celsus's reasoning and abilities. Though it must be admitted that many of his objections are frivolous, scarcely deserving a serious refutation, and betray rather a spiteful desire of throwing obloquy upon the Christians, than an hones' wish of meeting their opinions and morals with logical reasoning, and a candid statement of facts, yet we can not join entirely with those who represent him as a trifling caviller, or a futile calumniator. His arguments display considerable ingenuity and learning, and prove him to be perfectly versed in all the arts of controversy. It is indeed no small praise, that his book was con sidered worthy of an answer from the pen of Origen ; and, to its credit, we may also observe, that it may be considered as the great armoury from which almost every weapon has been drawn which has been pointed against our religion since the days of Celsus. Modern
cavillers have gone over the same ground, and iii:,isted upon the same objections, as their great predecessor ; and their answer, as well as his, is to be found in the Apology of Origen. But however the opponents of Christianity may have been indebted to him for their principal arguments, its advocates have also profited by his admissions ; and, consequently, we are disposed to be equally grateful with them for the advantages that may be derived from his writings. Ilis testimony to the books of the New Testament is peculiarly valuable ; for, while he misrepresents and perverts the facts xt Lich they contain, he bears evidence of their truth ; and this evidence is the more considerable, as it is altogether beside the intention of the author. Of the fragments of Cc 'sus's work, which are preserved by Origen, there are three summaries in the English language, viz. one by Dr Doddridge, one by Dr Joon Leland of Dublin. acid another by Dr Sherlock. Besides his Ae-,0; canfin, a piece against magic is ascribed to him bow by Origen and Lucian ; and he is also said to have promised anotl er ill which he undertook to chew, how men should live who would follow the rules of philosophy ; but it is not known whether that work ever appeared. See Lardner's Works, vol. viii. p. 6, Mosheim's Eccle siastical History, vol. i. p. 163 ; Den Pin. vol. ii. p. 43.1; 1. abr. Bib. Gr.ec. tom. ii. p. 809 ; and Paley's Evidences, vol. i. p. 29.1. &e. (f.)