Translation of Celsus’s complaint from Contra Celsum by Origen:
How could we consider him to be a
god (τουτον νομιζειν θεον) who, among other things (as
people heard), did not make a display of any of the things he promised, and
when we had proved him guilty, passed sentence on him, and decided he should be
punished (Matt 26:57-66), he was taken while hiding and shamefully running away
(Matt 26:47-56)—delivered up (προυδοθη)
by those whom he called disciples (Matt 26:48-50)? However, it was not
possible, if he were a god, either to escape or to be led away bound, and even
least of all if he was considered to be a savior, son, and messenger of the
greatest God to be abandoned and betrayed by his companions who had intimately
shared everything with him and regarded him as teacher.
--2.9
Although Chadwick translates τουτον νομιζειν θεον (“consider
him god”) with “regard him as God” here, I think the Jew’s syncretistic
perspective justifies the translation above. (John Granger Cook, “Celsus,” in The
Reception of Jesus in the First Three Centuries, ed. Chris Keith [London:
T&T Clark, 2020], 3:12)
