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Lecture 10: Origen

8 October 2015

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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)

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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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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

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