Origen

to bring the goddess’ good will to them though the practice. Several early Christian writers connect these verses in Romans to the goddess cult rather than homoeroticism, including Hippolytus, in Philosophumena (Townsley 58). Other arguments also suggest that Romans 1:26-27 is more prominent in an argument about freewill versus determinism, as it was used by Tatian, rather than an argument against homosexuality. As the earliest known reference to Paul’s letter to the Romans, Tatian in his Oratio questions “how humans can be judged”, or handed over, “for evil if all acts are fated” (Townsley 65). Eusebius follows Tatian’s train of though concerning Romans 1:26-27, also arguing for free will over determinism, in his work Preparations. Origen also uses Romans in three of his separate works which were Commentary on the Epistle of the Romans, On Prayer, and Against Celsus. He makes three separate cases using Romans 1:26-27 and none of them relate to homoeroticism; the first is idolatry, the second his defense of free will, and third his direct reference to the goddess cult. If, in fact, this passage in Romans does refer to temple prostitution and male castration, instead of homoeroticism, it does alter the ways in which one can read and presume views about homoeroticism and early Christianity simply based on the passage itself. Given the knowledge that Paul did not promote sexual relations at all, and being part of the Jewish people it could be presumed that he did not…

such as Origen of Alexandria would leave a lasting impact on the church as it continued to develop theological dogmas and methods of the interpretation of Scripture. The method of Scriptural interpretation introduced by Origen addressed the questions and heresies of his time, resulting in an impact not just in his present cultural context, but the future methods of critical thinking as well. The conquests of Alexander the Great opened Asia Minor and parts of Northern Africa to the influence of…

Origen, who is arguably the greatest biblical scholar, was a great teacher, leader, and apologist for Christianity. Although Origen was a great biblical scholar, like all people, he was flawed. Origen often denied the history of the Scripture. He believed in universalism, which is the idea that all people would eventually be saved. Origen also believed in the preexistence of the soul, rather than creationism, and he often overlooked the literal truths of the bible. While Origen had many…

In Contra Celsum, Origen responds to the many criticisms presented by Celsus, an early opponent of Christianity. In Chapter 47, Origen highlights Celsus’ argument that Christianity and its beliefs, practices, and ideology, are no different than the prevailing beliefs of his time. Celsus goes on to describe Christian practices as derivative of pagan, Jewish, and other foreign cultures. Yet he further criticizes Christian practices as alien, and by extension, a threat to traditional Roman culture.…

can learn from. Christians will never fully be able to understand the concept of evil until the day it is revealed to them by God; however, the willingness and commitment to understand shows a great commitment to Christianity. Another one of Origen’s great works is his Doctrine of the Soul, in which he focuses on soul division, embodiment, and dual souls. Origen believed the soul suffered “from a moral crisis, the confrontation of its transcendent spiritual vocation with its current fleshly…

content when he could study, analyze, and comment upon a written text,” and his works have influenced preachers and philosophers for decades after his death. Even those that disagree with some of his beliefs, his works have influenced many, and some would suggest he influenced the New Testament. Many people have wondered why The Father, would create a world with evil, and even Origen pondered why God allows some to suffer more than others, or why “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on…

it is reconciled through Christ. The Eastern Fathers speak on the work of Christ’s historical events as having an impact on man’s salvation, but they also introduce mysticism into their theories. Their main focus tends to focus on the redemption of man as a whole and his deification. This overarching theme is apparent in the theories provided by the Eastern Fathers such as Clement, Origen and Methodius. The aspect of Christ that most fascinated Clement is Christ as the teacher of all true…

Origen ultimately believed that evil exists because the soul is on a voyage to get back to God and Holiness. Sin, suffering, evil, and injustice are merely obstacles on the soul’s journey to purification. Furthermore, Origen presumed that because God is the Creator and the soul is supposed to journey back to the creator, God allows evil so that it causes the soul to return to Him. Or, as the author states, “[Origen] characterizes God as a Father, Teacher, and Physician who providentially…

of famous religious figures within the early Christian community, figures such as Justin Martyr of Nablus, Celsus the Greek Philosopher and Origen of Alexandria and how through their influence and power in society created a new spiritual world of thinking in the early…

Eusibius records the learly life of Origen in glowing terms, describing his great piety and intellectual ability. He portrays a youth so zealous he longed for martydom (6:2). He goes on tto describe his vast accomplishments in learning and his devout and simple life style (6:3). He desribes the mysteries Origen unlocked and the secrets he found, even mastering the Hebrew language and compliing the massive Hexapla (6:18). Eusibius endorsement of Origen makes sense, considering his conection to…