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Lecture 11: Origen

Lecture 11: Origen. 8 October 2013. 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

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Lecture 11: Origen

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  1. Lecture 11: Origen 8October 2013 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 • 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; • 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 Origen

  20. Origen

  21. Assignments • Read Book IV On First Principles; especially Chapters 1, 2, 4 • Read Commentary on Song of Songs • CCC 101-119 • Benedict XVI, General Audience 25 April 2007, Origen, Life and Work http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070425_en.html • Benedict XVI, General Audience 2 May 2007, Origen and His Thought http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070502_en.html • Write short paper on Origen Origen

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