The Literal Meaning of Genesis
BOOK TEN 119 was good, therefore, from another source before coming to the body, but certainly not because of a difference in his way of life, since there is no merit for deeds in a previous life; nor because of a difference in his body, since he was good before entering the body. What, then, was the source of the difference?
31. This text, in so far as it says, J came to a body, does not seem favorable to those who maintain that souls are created as offshoots of the soul that first sinned; but for the rest it fits that theory, since after the author has said, As a child I was well endowed, explaining the reason why he was well endowed, he immediately adds, And a good soul fell to my lot, that is, from the character or the well-balanced bodily disposition of his father. Then he says, Being good above the common, I came to a body undefiled; and if this is understood as referring to his mother's body, the statement, J came to a body, will not be in opposition to that opinion when he is understood to have come from his father's soul and body to his mother's undefiled body. Defilement in this connection would be either from menstrual blood, which they say oppresses the natural endowment of the infant, or from the contamination of an adulterous union. Hence, the words of the Book of Wisdom are more favorable to those who speak of the soul as an offshoot of Adam's soul; or if the other side can explain them in keeping with their theory, this text leaves the question open.
CHAPTER 18
The soul of Christ. Is it possible to apply Wisdom 8.19-20 to Christ?
32. If we wish to apply these words from the Book of Wisdom to our Lord according to the created human nature assumed by the Word, there are some details in the context which are inconsistent with His perfection. This is especially true of the fact that the one who is speaking in this book, shortly before he said these words which we are now discussing, confessed that he was compacted with blood, from the seed of a man.' Now, this manner