OrigenOrigen

1. Origen’s multiple “hats”.2. What are Origen’s “first

principles”?3. Prolegomena to his theodicy.

Pastor, Preacher, “Man of the Pastor, Preacher, “Man of the Church”Church”

““The greatest teacher of The greatest teacher of the Church after the the Church after the apostles.”apostles.”

--Jerome, --Jerome, Praef. in Hom. Orig. Praef. in Hom. Orig. in Ezechin Ezech..

Biblical ExegeteBiblical Exegete

HexaplaHexapla Three Three

levels of levels of meaning:meaning: LiteralLiteral MoralMoral allegoricalallegorical

Polimpsest of Origen’s Hexapla.

HereticHeretic

Preexistence & Preexistence & transmigration of transmigration of soulssouls

ApokatastasisApokatastasis

Speculative Philosopher & TheologianSpeculative Philosopher & Theologian

3rd c. Christian sarcophagus. Lateran Museum, Rome.

Church Fathers on philosophy:Church Fathers on philosophy:

Tertullian: “the mother of all heresies”Tertullian: “the mother of all heresies” Clement Alex.: “the handmaid of theology”Clement Alex.: “the handmaid of theology”

“It is perhaps fortunate for the Church that Clement and Tertullian never met. If they had, or if the view of Clement and Origen had been propagated in Africa and Italy, the schism between East and West might have occurred in the third and not in the eleventh century.”

--W. H. C. Frend, Martyrdom and Persecution, pp. 360-61.

What are Origen’s “first principles”?What are Origen’s “first principles”?

““Everyone therefore who is desirous of constructing out Everyone therefore who is desirous of constructing out of the foregoing a connected body of doctrine must use of the foregoing a connected body of doctrine must use points like these [apostolic teaching enshrined in the points like these [apostolic teaching enshrined in the proto-creed] as proto-creed] as elementary and foundation principleselementary and foundation principles… … Thus by clear and cogent arguments he will discover the Thus by clear and cogent arguments he will discover the truth about each particular point and so will produce, as truth about each particular point and so will produce, as we have said, a single body of doctrine, with the aid of we have said, a single body of doctrine, with the aid of such illustrations and declarations as he shall find in the such illustrations and declarations as he shall find in the holy scriptures and of such conclusions as he shall holy scriptures and of such conclusions as he shall ascertain to follow logically from them when rightly ascertain to follow logically from them when rightly understood.” understood.” PrincPrinc. I. Praef. 10.. I. Praef. 10.

Essential/ accidental goodness Essential/ accidental goodness distinctiondistinction

““EssentialEssential goodness is found solely in Christ and goodness is found solely in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and of course in the Father also. the Holy Spirit, and of course in the Father also. […] [T]he position of every created being is the […] [T]he position of every created being is the result of his own work and his own motives.” result of his own work and his own motives.” PrincPrinc. I. v. 3.. I. v. 3.

““But if any other nature is holy, it is so because it But if any other nature is holy, it is so because it is made holy by the reception or inspiration of is made holy by the reception or inspiration of the Holy Spirit; the possession of this quality the Holy Spirit; the possession of this quality does not arise from its own nature, but is an does not arise from its own nature, but is an accidental accidental addition to it, and being an addition it addition to it, and being an addition it can also become separated and lost.” can also become separated and lost.” PrincPrinc. I. . I. viii. 3.viii. 3.

Metaphysics of diversity: Metaphysics of diversity:

Origen: “Since the world is so very varied Origen: “Since the world is so very varied and comprises so great a diversity of and comprises so great a diversity of rational beings, what else can we assign rational beings, what else can we assign as the cause of its existence except the as the cause of its existence except the diversity in the fall of those who decline diversity in the fall of those who decline from unity in dissimilar ways?” from unity in dissimilar ways?” PrincPrinc. (Gr.) . (Gr.) II. i. 1.II. i. 1.

Compare Athanasius of Alexandria:Compare Athanasius of Alexandria:

““For if, as [the Epicureans] say, everything has For if, as [the Epicureans] say, everything has had its beginning of itself, and independently of had its beginning of itself, and independently of purpose, it would follow that everything had purpose, it would follow that everything had come into being come into being alike and not distinctalike and not distinct… On the … On the contrary, we see a contrary, we see a distinctiondistinction of sun, moon, and of sun, moon, and earth; and again, in the case of human bodies of earth; and again, in the case of human bodies of foot, hand and head. Now, such separate foot, hand and head. Now, such separate arrangement as this tells us that they did not arrangement as this tells us that they did not come into being of themselves, but shows that a come into being of themselves, but shows that a cause preceded them; from which cause it is cause preceded them; from which cause it is possible to apprehend God also as the Maker possible to apprehend God also as the Maker and Orderer of all.” and Orderer of all.” Inc. Inc. 2. 2.2. 2.