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AT that time Origen began his commentaries on the Divine
Scriptures, being urged thereto by Ambrose, who employed innumerable
incentives, not only exhorting him by word, but also furnishing
abundant means. For he dictated to more than seven amanuenses, who
relieved each other at appointed times. And he employed no fewer
copyists, besides girls who were skilled in elegant writing. For all
these Ambrose furnished the necessary expense in abundance,
manifesting himself an inexpressible earnestness in diligence and zeal
for the divine oracles, by which he especially pressed him on to the
preparation of his commentaries. While these things were in progress,
Urbanus, who had been for eight years bishop of the Roman church,
was succeeded by Pontianus, and Zebinus succeeded Philetus in
Antioch. At this time Origen was sent to Greece on account of a
pressing necessity in connection with ecclesiastical affairs, and went
through Palestine, and was ordained as presbyter in Caesarea by the
bishops of that country. The matters that were agitated concerning him
on this account, and the decisions on these matters by those who
presided over the churches, besides the other works concerning the
divine word which he published while in his prime, demand a separate
treatise. We have written of them to some extent in the second book of
the Defense which we have composed in his behalf.
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