Against Celsus 8.33

From this it is clear that we have also answered what he says next, which runs thus: “Either, then, one must not live at all nor come into this world, or one who has come into life on these terms must give thanks to the demons who have been allotted the things on earth, and render them first-fruits and prayers as long as we live, so that we may find them kind to men.” We must indeed live, and live according to the Word of God, as far as possible and as it is granted to live according to him; and it is granted when, whether we eat or drink, we do “all to the glory of God.” And we must not refuse to use, with thanksgiving to the Creator, the things he made for our sake. It is rather on these terms than on those Celsus thinks that we were brought into life by God; and we are not subject to demons but to the God over all, through Jesus Christ who brought us to him. By the laws of God no demon has been allotted the things on earth; but by their own lawlessness they have perhaps divided among themselves the places where there is a desert of knowledge of God and of the life according to him, or where much that is alien to divinity is found; or perhaps, as fit to be overseers and punishers of the wicked, they have been appointed by the Word who governs the universe to rule over those who have subjected themselves to wickedness and not to God. For such reasons, then, let Celsus, as one who does not know God, render his thank-offerings to demons; but we, giving thanks to the Creator of the universe, also eat the loaves that are brought with thanksgiving and prayer over what has been given, loaves that through the prayer have become a certain holy body, which sanctifies those who use it with a sound purpose.