Animals

The animals are called wild beasts because they are hunted, not as if they had been made evil or venomous from the first. For nothing was made evil by God. But all things were made good—in fact, very good. But the sin in which man was entangled brought evil upon them. For when man transgressed, the animals also transgressed with him. For example, if the master of the house himself acts rightly, the domestics also of necessity conduct themselves properly. However, if the master sins, the servants also sin with him. In like manner, it came to pass, that in the case of man’s sin—he being master—all who were subject to him sinned with him. When, therefore, man again shall have made his way back to his natural condition, and no longer does evil, those creatures also shall be restored to their original gentleness. Theophilus (c. 180, E), 2.101.