Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/Conferences of John Cassian, Part I/Conference VII/Chapter 33

by Philip Schaff et al.

Chapter XXXIII.

A question as to the origin of such differences in powers of evil in the sky.

Germanus: We certainly do not doubt that those orders which the Apostle enumerates refer to them: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,

against powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against spirits of wickedness in heavenly places:”^[1] but we want to know whence comes such a difference between them, or how such grades of wickedness exist? Were they created for this, to meet with these orders of evil, and in some way to serve this wickedness?

Footnotes

1. Eph. vi. 12.