1. Lecture 10: Origen
8 October 2015
Origen

2. Introduction Some Points in Exhortation to Martyrdom Types of exegesis
How to Understand Scripture
Literal and Spiritual understanding
Antiochene vs. Alexandrian schools
Introduction to On First Principles
Early Spirituality
Application in Commentary on Song of Songs
Origen

3. Exhortation to Martyrdom
God referred to as The One
Like his contemporary Plotinus, founder of pagan neoPlatonism
Vague references to ‘getting soul back’ (XII)
Origen speculated on apokatastasis, or restoration of all things at end of time in God
Speculated on eternity of souls;
Seemed to believe in the ‘cooling’ of souls from heaven
God jealous like a bridegroom (IX)
References to his father and children of martyrs (XI, XXXVIII)
Origen

4. Exegesis, Criticism and Hermeneutics
Exegesis from Greek, , explanation, full narrative
What does the text say
Criticism, from Greek, , to judge
Often relates to analysis of writer, what’s written, and/or the audience (historical, literary, audience criticism)
Hermeneutics from Greek god Hermes, who interpreted the messages of the gods
What does the text mean
Note that as used in contemporary Biblical analysis, these words tend to be very fluid
I will use exegesis and hermeneutics synonymously;
What the text says is what it means
This is how the Fathers viewed the text
But what does the text say?
For Church Fathers, the Bible is ONE BOOK
exhghsis
krinein
Origen

5. Types of Exegesis Textual Literal Sense CCC 116
Analysis of texts, comparisons of multiple versions of same text
Effort to determine which is the ‘real’ text; Origen’s Hexapla
Literal Sense CCC 116
Text as literally true; historically accurate; Irenaeus
Spiritual Sense CCC 117
Allegorical or typological: OT prefigures or is a type of Christ (we read the OT this way almost every Sunday)
Moral: Scripture teaches how to follow The Way
Anagogical: Scripture leads us to our proper end
Spiritual: admits multiple levels of meaning (hermeneutics)
Origen

6. Typology and Allegory (Both Spiritual Senses)
Almost all Christians who accept the OT (whether in antiquity or now) use typology to understand the OT
Makes connection between OT and NT
Irenaeus and Tertullian
Fundamentalist Christians
Allegory goes beyond typology
Use signs and symbolism to make connections between OT and philosophy
Philo, Clement, Origen
Catholics, Orthodox
Origen

7. Origen and Textual Analysis
Tried to determine the ‘correct’ text of the OT
Issue: multiple Greek and Hebrew versions in use by different Christian and Jewish communities
Origen consulted with Jewish school in Ceasarea
Origen’s school most famous Christian school of his time
Developed Hexapla (now lost)
Six versions of Greek OT
Compared with Hebrew
Greatest textual critic of antiquity;
St. Jerome in the West being a close second.
Jerome seems to have used Origen’s Hexapla to translate the OT into Latin (Vulgate)
Origen

8. Origen and Literal Exegesis
Reason for Origen’s extensive textual work was to determine what was the correct literal sense
Origen believed that the literal sense was the starting place for understanding Scripture
Origen

9. Origen and Typology Origen read the OT as leading to Jesus Christ;
preparing the way for God’s people to accept Jesus
Could not understand Jesus without properly understanding the OT
Example: the sacrifice of Isaac. In his Commentary on Genesis, Origen describes Isaac as a precursor to Christ, Abraham as the Father
There was a lively exchange of exegetical analysis between Origen and rabbis in Caesarea
NB: From the earliest Christian Fathers, we refer to the story as the “Sacrifice” of Isaac, even though he was not actually killed. In counterpoint, earliest rabbis called it the “binding” of Isaac
Origen

10. Origen and Allegory
Need allegorical interpretation to resolve seeming contradictions in Scripture
Need allegory to resolve philosophical understanding of God (God is one, God is good, God is eternal) with some Scriptural descriptions of God, especially in the OT
Allegory can reveal multiple levels of meanings
Attaching symbolic meanings to numbers, names, colors, etc.
Example: six days of Creation
Problem: how to make sure that allegory does not become fanciful and false (gnostics)
Basis of Lectio Divina
Origen

11. Antiochene Exegesis
Name given to a group of 4th Century theologians who were concerned about the extent of Alexandrian allegory
Concerned especially about more fanciful Christological interpretations
Key figures: Diodorus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, John Chrysostom, Theodoret
Note that even though these exegetes focused on literal and typological, they also used theoria to find moral lessons in Scripture
Origen

12. Background On First Principles
Often referred to as the first ‘systematic’ work
Background to refute Marcion and Valentinus, and as an apology
But also a theological investigation
Most of original Greek is lost; preserved in Latin translated by Rufinus (4th C)
Origen

13. Structure of On First Principles
Written in Four Books
Preface sets out the Rule of Faith
Book I
Studies three realities:
Trinity, rational creatures, world
Books II and III
Detailed discussions the Rule of Faith
Book IV Reconsideration of Book I - III
Origen

14. Structure Book IV Divine origin of Scripture; Importance of prophecy
Scripture tells the truth about God, His Son, the Holy Spirit and
the relation of Trinity to world
Importance of prophecy
Proper way to understand Scripture;
Importance of apostolic succession
Some parts of OT can only be understood spiritually
Examples in Chapter III
Origen

15. Structure Book IV (cont.)
Relation between Father and Son;
Understanding what Origen meant caused much grief in the next century: Arian controversy
“There was when he was not” 4.1
What does John 1:1-2 and Prov. 8:22-31 say? What do they mean?
But he also uses homoousia
Material, created world is always changing
Man in his rationality is like God; this is eternal
Pre-existence of souls?
Origen

16. The Idea of Spiritual Progress
Emphasis on how to follow the Way of Jesus
Development of approaches to spirituality
Biblically based, usually with a highly allegorical interpretation
Intended to be accessible to everyone,
Frequently the basis for Patristic homilies
Well defined steps in approach to spiritual life
Origen

17. Types of Spirituality
Both types include purgation, illumination and unity stages
Spiritual masters suggested steps for both ways
Apophatic (via negativa)
Move toward God away from creation; God as transcendent; what God is not
Discourages use of senses; Emotions suppressed
Heart is only satisfied with God
Bridal mysticism
Example: Going into the desert (Monasticism)
Kataphatic (via positiva)
Approaching God through creation; incarnation and passion of Jesus; what God is
Encourages use of senses; Emotions are excited
God has a history in the world
Service mysticism
Example: Pilgrimages
Origen

18. Major Elements to Spiritual Progress
Three Stages
Purgation
Illumination
Unity
In different authors, there may be several steps within each stage
Origen (and many others, including Gregory of Nyssa, rabbis, Bernard of Clairvaux) Commentary on Song of Songs
Proverbs first stage (purgation)
Ecclesiastes second stage (illumination)
Song of Songs third stage (unity)
Origen

19. Origen’s Legacy
Hugely influential on Cappadocians: St. Basil, St. Gregory Nazianzus, St. Gregory of Nyssa (St. Ambrose)
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus student of Origen
Philokalia
Hugely influential on theological developments in Alexandria
St. Athanasius, homoousia
Spiritual impact on Evagrius of Pontus
In fourth century
Theological and political rivalries between Constantinople and Alexandria is phrased as those for and against Origen
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20. Origen

21. Assignments
Read Book IV On First Principles; especially Chapters 1, 2, 4
Read Commentary on Song of Songs
CCC
Benedict XVI, General Audience 25 April 2007, Origen, Life and Work
Benedict XVI, General Audience 2 May 2007, Origen and His Thought
Write short paper on Origen
Origen