Bellarmine · De Controversiis · On the Grace of the First Man
Chapter 16: That the Cherubim guarding paradise were not phantoms
Our translation, from the Latin of the Opera Omnia (Paris: Vivès, 1870–74), vol. V, De Gratia Primi Hominis. The Latin source text is public domain; this English rendering is released with the site. Scripture quotations follow Bellarmine's Vulgate citations, rendered in Douay-Rheims wording where he quotes exactly. Click “Show the Latin” for the original (raw OCR of the scan; scanning errors remain — the scan itself is the authority).
Some further ask: “What were those Cherubim which divine Scripture records to have been set for the guarding of paradise?” Theodoret, question 40 on Genesis, and, following him, Procopius of Gaza, in the exposition of the third chapter of Genesis, teach that it is in no way to be believed that the holy angels are occupied in the guarding of paradise, but that those Cherubim are nothing else than certain phantoms, or horrible shapes of animals, which terrified those desiring to enter paradise. Sixtus of Siena also relates, book 5 of the Holy Library, annotation 58, that a new heresiarch, Jacob of Chios (who perhaps is he who called himself Palaeologus, and was lately at Rome converted from heresy to the Catholic faith), in his explanation of the Creed asserted that these Cherubim were an image of a man, of horrible form, covered with a mask, and placed by the Lord at the doors of paradise — plainly in the manner in which farmers are wont to fix stakes, clothed with torn rags of garments, in their sown fields and gardens, to drive away the little birds.
But this opinion is so inept and ridiculous that it scarcely needs any answer. For, to omit that in the divine writings by the name of Cherubim angels are everywhere signified, and that Adam was not so uncouth that he could be terrified by an inanimate image, certainly the weightiest Fathers did not doubt that the Cherubim in this place were true and holy angels. St. Augustine, book 11 On Genesis, chapter 40: “And he ordained the Cherubim, and the flaming sword which turns, to guard the way of the tree of life. This is to be believed to have been done through the heavenly powers, even in the visible paradise — that through angelic ministry there was there a certain fiery guard.” The same writes Eucherius, book 1 on Genesis, chapter 30; Rupert, book 3 on Genesis, chapter 32; and others everywhere.
Show the Latin (Vives edition, OCR)
aliqua, sed veros, sanclosque Angelos fuisse. Quramnt adhuc nonnulli : « Quidnam fue¬ runt illa Cherubin, quae ad paradisi custo¬ diam adhibita fuisse divina Scriptura com¬ memorat. » Theodoretus quaest. 40 in Genes, et eum sequutus Procopius Gazceus in enar¬ rat. 3. cap. lib. Genes, docent nullo modo esse credendum S. Angelos in paradisi cu¬ stodia occupari, sed Cherubin illa nihil esse aliud, nisi spectra quaedam, sive formas horribiles animalium, quae ingredi cupientes in paradisum torrefaciebant. Refert etiam Sixtus Senensis lib. v. Bibliotheca? sancta;, annotatione 58, novum haeresiarcham Jaco- bum Chium (qui forte is est, qui se Paleo- gum nominabat, et Romae nuper ab haeresi adfidem catholicam conversus est) in explana¬ tione Symboli asseruisse Cherubin ista fuisse simulacrum hominis horribili forma, larva- que contectum, atque in paradisi foribus a Domino collocatum, ad eum plane modum quo solent agricolae in satis, et hortis palos defigere laceris vestium pannis indutos ad aviculas abigendas Sed haec opinio tam est inepta et ridicula, ut vix ulla responsione opus habeat. Nam ut omittam, in divinis litteris nomine Cherubin passim Angelos significari, et non fuisse Adamum tam rudem, ut simulacro inanimi terreri potuerit, certe gravissimi Patres, Cherubin hoc loco veros sanctosque Angelos fuisse non dubitarunt. S. Augustinus lib. xi. de Genes, cap. 40. : « Et ordinavit, inquit, Cherubin, et flammeam rompheam, quae vertitur, custodire viam ligni vitae. Hoc per coelestes utique potestates etiam in paradiso visibili factum esse credendum est, ut per angelicum ministerium, esse tillic ignea quae¬ dam custodia. » Quod idem scribit Eucherius lib. i, in Genes, cap. 30. llupertus lib. m. in Genes, cap. 32 et alii passim. CAPUT XVII. Cur diceretur lignum quoddam arbor