The importance of Origen?

duolos

ὁ δοῦλος
Apr 7, 2015
302
28
✟8,073.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Origen, an ancient and early contributor to theology and the church, why was he important and why was he in error? What would we miss without him? What is he best work?

He is important because he was an influential theologian, hebraicist, and philosopher of the early Eastern traditions, a lot of Eastern theology from my understanding is done in either agreement with or reaction to his positions, he was condemned at a few ecumenical and local councils due to his affirmations of sheer transcendancy of the Father to a near exclusion of the Son from the godhead, despite this we probably wouldn't have the different orthodox formulations of the trinity if it weren't for his work. His best surviving work is probably the Hexapla, Against Celsus, or the fragments of his On First Principles
 
Upvote 0

Gnarwhal

☩ Broman Catholic ☩
Oct 31, 2008
20,373
12,069
36
N/A
✟423,673.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Libertarian
He was a great man and teacher. He had errors, and his followers went a little nuts in Alexandria.

It's too bad, it seems like some have a tendency to throw out the entirety of Origen's thought because of what he's most "infamous" for. Even his thoughts on apocatastasis are intriguing.
 
Upvote 0

FireDragon76

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Apr 30, 2013
30,478
18,456
Orlando, Florida
✟1,249,465.00
Country
United States
Faith
United Ch. of Christ
Marital Status
Legal Union (Other)
Politics
US-Democrat
It sounded like standard neoplatonic henosis to me. For my part, I do hope we don't end up merging into one subsistence!

Henosis makes sense given his beliefs in transmigration and his "soul building" theodicy.

He was basically a Neo-Platonist. And the reality is, so were many educated Jews of his time (Philo of Alexandria).
 
Upvote 0

Tzaousios

Αυγουστινιανικός Χριστιανός
Dec 4, 2008
8,504
609
Comitatus in praesenti
Visit site
✟19,229.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
It's too bad, it seems like some have a tendency to throw out the entirety of Origen's thought because of what he's most "infamous" for. Even his thoughts on apocatastasis are intriguing.

Yes, Origen has been vilified throughout history by both Apostolic and post-Reformation Christians. One can still see fundamentalists invoke Origen's name to use him as a rhetorical prop to try to "prove" that the Church became "pagan."

Obviously, he does have his downsides, such as the platonizing, but he also helped develop the allegorical method that he inherited from Philo and which became the preferred method of interpretation for the Church.

I can say that academic scholarship on Origen has moved in a different direction over the past few decades from a view that was decidedly negative to one that is a bit more tolerant and geared towards rehabilitating his image in patristics.
 
Upvote 0

Gnarwhal

☩ Broman Catholic ☩
Oct 31, 2008
20,373
12,069
36
N/A
✟423,673.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Libertarian
I can say that academic scholarship on Origen has moved in a different direction over the past few decades from a view that was decidedly negative to one that is a bit more tolerant and geared towards rehabilitating his image in patristics.

That sounds promising, I'm glad to hear that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tzaousios
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
37,342
26,788
Pacific Northwest
✟728,246.00
Country
United States
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others
Henosis makes sense given his beliefs in transmigration and his "soul building" theodicy.

He was basically a Neo-Platonist. And the reality is, so were many educated Jews of his time (Philo of Alexandria).

I have heard it said many times that Origen taught transmigration, but everything I've read by Origen has Origen condemning and rejecting the doctrine of transmigration. And I've thus far never been able to find a single statement by Origen which is in support for a doctrine of transmigration.

-CryptoLutheran
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

FireDragon76

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Apr 30, 2013
30,478
18,456
Orlando, Florida
✟1,249,465.00
Country
United States
Faith
United Ch. of Christ
Marital Status
Legal Union (Other)
Politics
US-Democrat
I have heard it said many times that Origen taught transmigration, but everything I've read by Origen has Origen condemning and rejecting the doctrine of transmigration. And I've thus far never been able to find a single statement by Origen which is in support for a doctrine of transmigration.

So, is the claim he believed in henosis bogus as well?
 
Upvote 0