that can be measured and see measure without measure, to soar beyond every
246 The Literal Meaning of Genesis measure and number and weight (Wis 1 1 :20). And then, after calling upon God to help by his inspiration and encouragement, let the soul which can do so think about whether these three, measure, number, weight, in which, as it is written, God has arranged all things, were somewhere or other before the whole natural cosmos was created, or whether they too were created; and if they existed beforehand, where were they? After all, before creation there was nothing except the creator. Therefore they were in him. But how? I mean, we read that these other things that have been created are also in him; 1 2 so are these three iden tical with him, while the others are in him by whom they are governed and directed?
And how are these identical with him? God, after all, is neither measure nor number nor weight, nor all of them together. Or rather, as we ordinarily under stand measure in the things we measure, and number in the things we number or count, and weight in the things we weigh, no, God is not these things; but insofar as measure sets a limit to everything, and number gives everything its specific form, and weight draws everything to rest and stability, he is the original, true and unique measure which defines for all things their bounds, the number which forms all things, the weight which guides all things; so are we to understand that by the words You have arranged all things in measure and number and weight nothing else was being said but "You have arranged all things in yourself?
Measure is in God without measure, number without number, weight without weight
8. It is a great thing, a concession granted to few, to soar beyond everything that can be measured and see measure without measure, to soar beyond every thing that can be numbered and see number without number, to soar beyond everything that can be weighed and see weight without weight.
4. In fact, you see, measure and number and weight can be noticed and thought about in other things besides stones and planks and similar masses of material, and any other material objects, whether on earth or in the sky. There is also a measured way of doing things, to avoid going too far by exceeding all bounds and doing what cannot be undone; and there is a numbering of the spirit's passions and powers, by which it is helped to pull itself together, pulling away from the deformity of folly, and towards the form of wisdom; and there is a weighing for the will and for love, which shows what should be weighed and for
1 2. For example, in Rom 1 1 :36. in the Latin: quoniam ex ipso et per ipsum et in ipso sunt omnia; "since from him and through him and in him are all things." For the last phrase the Greek has "to him." But see also Col 1:16: "because in him were created all things in the heavens and on the earth."