V. They also erred who believed the water to be a god. For it, too, has been made for the use of men, and is controlled by them; it is defiled and destroyed and suffers change on being boiled and dyed with colours; and it is congealed by the frost, and polluted with blood, and is introduced for the washing of all unclean things. Wherefore it is impossible that water should be a god, but it is a work of God.
They also err who believe that fire is a god. For fire was made for the use of men, and it is controlled by them, being carried about from place to place for boiling and roasting all kinds of meat, and even for (the burning of) dead bodies. Moreover it is extinguished in many ways, being quenched through man’s agency. So it cannot be allowed that fire is a god, but it is a work of God.
They also err who think the blowing of the winds is a goddess. For it is clear that it is under the dominion of another; and for the sake of man it has been designed by God for the transport of ships and the conveyance of grain and for man’s other wants. It rises too and falls at the bidding of God, whence it is concluded that the blowing of the winds is not a goddess but only a work of God.
[5] Οἱ δὲ νομίζοντες τὸ ὕδωρ εἶναι θεὸν ἐπλανήθησαν. καὶ αὐτὸ γὰρ εἰς χρῆσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων γέγονε καὶ κατακυριεύεται ὑπ' αὐτῶν, μιαίνεται καὶ φθείρεται καὶ ἀλλοιοῦται ἑψούμενον καὶ ἀλλασσόμενον χρώμασι καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ κρύους πηγνύμενον καὶ αἵμασι μολυνόμενον. καὶ εἰς πάντων τῶν ἀκαθάρτων πλύσιν ἀγόμενον. διὸ ἀδύνατον τὸ ὕδωρ εἶναι θεὸν ἀλλ' ἔργον θεοῦ. οἱ δὲ νομίζοντες τὸ πῦρ εἶναι θεὸν πλανῶνται. καὶ αὐτὸ γὰρ εἰς χρῆσιν ἐγένετο ἀνθρώπων καὶ κατακυριεύεται ὑπ' αὐτῶν περιφερόμενον ἐκ τόπου εἰς τόπον εἰς ἕψησιν καὶ ὄπτησιν παντοδαπῶν κρεῶν, ἔτι δὲ καὶ νεκρῶν σωμάτων. φθείρεται δὲ καὶ κατὰ πολλοὺς τρόπους ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων σβεννύμενον. διὸ οὐκ ἐνδέχεται τὸ πῦρ εἶναι θεὸν ἀλλ' ἔργον θεοῦ. οἱ δὲ νομίζοντες τὴν τῶν ἀνέμων πνοὴν εἶναι θεὰν πλανῶνται. φανερὸν γάρ ἐστι ὅτι δουλεύει ἑτέρῳ καὶ χάριν τῶν ἀνθρώπων κατεσκεύασται ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ πρὸς μεταγωγὴν πλοίων καὶ συγκομιδὰς τῶν σιτίων καὶ εἰς λοιπὰς αὐτῶν χρείας. αὔξει τε καὶ λήγει κατ' ἐπιταγὴν θεοῦ. διὸ οὐ νενόμισται τὴν τῶν ἀνέμων πνοὴν εἶναι θεὰν ἀλλ' ἔργον θεοῦ.