Too lazy to read? Watch the video!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFz-c7ETYg
Origen of Alexandria
Post-Apostolic Church
INTRO
Origen
Adamantius was an overseer in Alexandria, Egypt and later in Caesarea, Palestine (also called Caesarea Maritima). He wrote between AD 230-250.
Origen
was a brilliant student of Clement of Alexandria. He probably heard Hippolytus preach. Firmilian, Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Dionysius
of Alexandria were some of Origen's students.
LIFE
He grew up in a Christian home. Origen's deep and difficult questions and
curiosity led Leonides, his father, to rebuke him on a few occasions but he thanked
God for the genius of his son. At the start of the persecutions
under Emperor Septimius Severus when Origen was 17 (AD 202), Leonides was imprisoned
for his faith. Origen decided to stand
on trial with his father and die with him.
But before the trial, Origen's mother hid all his clothes so that he
could not leave the house. When Leonides was killed, the
government took their land which left Origen, his mother, and his six brothers
in need. During this time of Christian
persecution, Origen became famous in Alexandria
because of the love he showed to the suffering Christians.
In order to support his family, Origen
taught grammar and literature as a private tutor. Even at his young age, he was regarded as so
brilliant that pagan parents brought their children to be taught by him. Many of these students became Christians
because of Origen. One of them, Heraclas, later became bishop of Alexandria.
According to Origen's student, Gregory
Thaumaturgus, his evangelism style was one of theological and emotional
persuasion rather than logical reasoning.
Clement of Alexandria was the head teacher
of the catechetical school of new converts in Alexandria.
Because of the persecutions under Severus, he was forced to flee the
city and continue the Lord's work elsewhere.
So when Origen was 18 years
old (AD 203), Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria,
assigned Origen to be the new
head teacher of the catechetical school.
In response, Origen sold his Greek books on credit in order to receive a
small income. Though he was head
teacher, he refused all other income.
After he taught all day, he would study the Scriptures far into the
night.
Years later, Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria, became jealous
of Origen's fame and expelled him from the city. So he moved to Caesarea, Palestine and became an overseer there.
During the persecutions under Emperor Decius
(AD 250-251), when Origen was around 65 years old, Origen was captured and
tortured. It appears that he was
released, but the wounds inflicted upon him later killed him.
LEGACY
Origen was nothing short of a genius. In order to respond to Jewish critics of
Christianity, Origen became the
first Gentile Christian to learn Hebrew.
Origen compiled the
Hexapla, the first parallel Old Testament containing six versions. It contained (1) the Hebrew, (2) the Secunda
(which is a transliteration of the Hebrew into Koine Greek letters), (3) the
Greek translation by Aquila of Sinope, (4) the Greek translation by Symmachus
the Ebionite, (5) the Septuagint with his notes on where the Septuagint differs
from the Hebrew, and (6) the Greek translation by Theodotion. Origen gave a commentary on nearly every book of the New Testament. Many people believe Origen produced more written works than any human before
his time, either Christian or non-Christian.
These number more than 2000 works, written through dictation. Origen was the first true Christian
theologian.
But most importantly, Origen personified
Jesus' teaching of the Christian life from the Sermon on the Mount. He chose to live in poverty and treated both Christians
and enemies with love and humility.
Origen said about Christianity,
You will observe the
difference between the crowds, who simply "followed" Christ, and
Peter and the others who "gave up everything and followed." (Origen.
AD 248. ANF, vol 9, page 505.)
CANONIZATION
Many people have heard that Origen was a
heretic. Was he? He was not labeled a heretic during his
lifetime. Eusebius records that Origen was expelled from Alexandria because his
bishop, Demetrius, was jealous of Origen's brilliance and fame. Upon hearing of Origen's expulsion from Alexandria, the churches in Caesarea
Palestine and Jerusalem wanted Origen to come be an overseer for their
churches. When Origen died, he was an
overseer in good standing with the church.
It wasn't until about 300 years after his
death at the Second Council of Constantinople (AD 553) when Emperor Justinian I
and an assembly of church leaders declared a number of Origen's beliefs to be heretical. Three of these probably included his beliefs about the pre-existence of souls
(though he specifically taught against the transmigration of souls, that is,
reincarnation), the eventual
universal reconciliation of ALL beings, possibly including the devil (though after
untold eons of repentance; now this is not to be confused with universal
salvation, which is the belief that God will automatically save everyone), and the three ways to interpret Scripture--historical,
moral, and spiritual (which correspond to our body, soul, and spirit). Yes, Origen did believe these things and he
was the only pre-Nicene Christian who wrote about them. He even provided Scriptures to support
them. However, about the idea of universal reconciliation, he said
that he inferred this from Scripture and that this belief is open for
dispute. After reading Origen’s
arguments for these beliefs, though they are fascinating, I disagree with Origen on the first two and agree with him on
the third. But I don’t believe any of
these beliefs make Origen a heretic at all.
Ever since the sixth century, there has
existed a strong dislike of Origen, and this has caused a lot of misinformation
about him to become popular over the following centuries. For example, there is a belief that Origen
corrupted many copies of the Scriptures.
This belief is usually similar to the following:
Origen
corrupted many copies of the Scriptures to fit his personal beliefs, and these corrupted Scriptures
became what we know today as the Alexandrian family of New Testament
manuscripts [Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, 4th century manuscripts]. The
true, uncorrupted Scriptures became the Byzantine family of New Testament
manuscripts [also called the Majority Text; Textus Receptus].
Usually,
this belief is held by those who use the King James Version to the exclusion of
all other translations because the King James Version and the New King James Version were translated from the
Byzantine family while nearly all other versions have been translated from the
Alexandrian family. Because the
supporters of the King James Version dislike the Alexandrian family, they point
to Origen of Alexandria as the one who corrupted the other NT manuscripts.
However,
if one looks at Origen’s writings, one would see that Origen did not corrupt
any Scripture. In fact, when one
examines the very few differences between the Alexandrian texts and the
Byzantine texts, one would
see that Origen tends to agree with the Byzantine more often! Therefore, Origen's writings actually help
support the Byzantine text and, thus, the King James Version. How ironic that centuries of misinformation about
Origen have caused many to accuse him of corrupting the Scriptures when, in
fact, Origen is one of their biggest supporters. So when someone accuses Origen of corrupting
the Scriptures, this only proves that this person has not read Origen's
writings.
Because of the misinformation about and
dislike of Origen, as of today, not a single group of Christianity, including
Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, or Anglicanism, has canonized, or
honored, Origen or given him a feast day.
But because of
Origen’s unquestionable genius, his innumerable contributions to the Lord’s
church, and his unequaled commitment to Jesus Christ, it is my opinion that it
is a great disservice not to give Origen the honor he deserves.
Timeline of Origen's Life
202. Persecution which killed his dad.
203. Assigned head of the Catechetical School.
211-212. Traveled to Rome and saw Zephyrinus.
212. Gives his student Plutarch authority over
catechumens while Origen focused on exegesis and Hebrew.
212-213. Origen converts Ambrose of Alexandria (a
former Valentinian).
213-214. Origen visits the prefect in Petra,
Arabia.
214-215. An Alexandrian uprising sends Ambrose to Caesarea. Origen
joins him and spends much time traveling and preaching in Caesarea.
216. Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria, calls Origen back.
218. Ambrose pays for Origen's books and Origen
dedicates all his works to Ambrose.
218-228. Origen writes many, many commentaries on
books of the Bible.
228. Origen travels to Greece
and Caesarea.
He is appointed as a presbyter in Caesarea.
230. Origen returns to Alexandria.
231. Demetrius's jealousy of Origen causes Origen
to move to Caesarea.
235. Origen flees Caesarea to Cappadocia
because of persecution. He is welcomed
by Firmilian.
238. Origen returns to Caesarea.
240. Converts Beryllus, bishop of Bostra, from Gnosticism. Spend much time defending his works with
Fabian, bishop of Rome.
?. Origen went to Arabia
to battle the doctrine of soul sleep.
251. Origen is captured during the Decian
persecution and tortured.
254. Origen dies from wounds.
