Origen of Alexandria (Full Script)

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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.