Orth. -Yet it were just that after sharing the transgression, it should share the chastisement.
Eran. -Yes, just.
Orth. -But it did not do so.
Eran. -Certainly not.
Orth. -At least in the life to come it will be sent with the body to Gehenna.
Eran. -So He said "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Orth. -Therefore in this life it escapes death, as being immortal; in the life to come; it will be punished, not by undergoing death, but by suffering chastisement in life.
Eran. -That is what the divine Scripture says.
Orth. -It is then impossible for the immortal nature to undergo death.
Eran. -So it appears.
Orth. -How then do you say, God the Word tasted death? For if that which was created immortal is seen to be incapable of becoming mortal, how is it possible for him that is without creation and eternally immortal, Creator of mortal and immortal natures alike, to partake of death?
Eran. -We too know that His nature is immortal, but we say that He shared death in the flesh.
Orth. -But we have plainly shewn that it is in no wise possible for that which is by nature immortal to share death, for even the soul created together with, and conjoined with, the body and sharing in its sin, does not share death with it, on account of the immortality of its nature alone. But let us look at this same position from another point of view.
Eran. -There is every reason why we should leave no means untried to arrive at the truth.
Orth. -Let us then examine the matter thus. Do we assert that of virtue and vice some are teachers and some are followers?
Eran. -Yes.
Orth. -And do we say that the teacher of virtue deserves greater recompense?
Eran. -Certainly.
Orth. -And similarly the teacher of vice deserves twofold and threefold punishment?
Eran. -True.
Orth. -And what part shall we assign to the devil, that of teacher or disciple?
Eran. -Teacher of teachers, for he himself is father and teacher of all iniquity.
Orth. -And who of men became his first disciples?
Eran. -Adam and Eve.
Orth. -And who received the sentence of death?