Origen
In 202, a seventeen-year-old named Origen stood in the city of Alexandria and watched his father Leonides be dragged away to execution. The Roman Emperor Septimius Severus had ordered the death of all Christians who openly practiced their faith. Origen wanted to follow his father into prison but his mother hid his clothes so he could not leave the house naked. When Leonides was beheaded, the state confiscated the family's entire property and left nine children without money or home. Origen became the eldest son responsible for providing food for his siblings. He sold his small library of Greek literary works inherited from his father for four obols daily income. This sum allowed him to continue studying the Bible while teaching at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. He adopted an ascetic lifestyle that included going barefoot and owning only one cloak. He fasted for long periods and ate a simple diet without drinking alcohol.
Eusebius wrote decades after Origen died claiming the scholar castrated himself based on Matthew 19:12. Jesus said there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. Eusebius stated Origen either did this act himself or had someone else perform it to ensure respectability as a tutor. No surviving writing by Origen mentions self-castration anywhere in his extensive corpus. In his Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew written near the end of his life he condemned literal interpretation of that verse calling it foolish. Some scholars like Joseph Wilson Trigg believe Eusebius would not have recorded such a damaging story unless it was true. Others including John Anthony McGuckin dismiss the account as deliberate fabrication to distract from orthodoxy questions. Henry Chadwick suggests Eusebius may have reported malicious gossip retailed by Origen's many enemies. William Placher theorizes if true it followed an episode where Origen received raised eyebrows while tutoring a woman privately.
In 215 Roman Emperor Caracalla visited Alexandria and ordered troops to kill protesters who mocked him for murdering his brother Geta. He commanded teachers and intellectuals be expelled from the city. Origen fled to Caesarea Maritima where bishops Theoctistus and Alexander became devoted admirers. They asked him to deliver discourses on scripture even though he was not formally ordained. This allowed Origen to preach despite lacking official church status but infuriated Bishop Demetrius of Alexandria. Demetrius sent deacons demanding Origen return to Alexandria immediately. He issued a decree chastising Palestinian hierarchs for allowing unordained preaching. The Palestinian bishops accused Demetrius of jealousy regarding Origen's fame. In 231 Demetrius sent Origen on a mission to Athens. During the stop in Caesarea Theoctistus ordained him as priest without Alexandria's permission. Demetrius declared this ordination invalid since eunuchs were forbidden from becoming priests under Roman law. Origen decided not to return to Alexandria and took permanent residence in Caesera instead.
Emperor Decius issued a persecution decree in 250 believing Christians caused the Plague of Cyprian by failing to recognize his divinity. Origen did not escape this time unlike previous persecutions. Eusebius recorded how Origen suffered bodily tortures under an iron collar and in a dungeon. His feet were stretched four spaces in stocks for many days. The governor gave specific orders that Origen must publicly renounce Christ before being killed. Origen endured two years of imprisonment and torture while obstinately refusing to deny his faith. Decius was killed fighting Goths at the Battle of Abritus in June 251. Origen was released from prison but his health remained broken by physical torments. He died less than a year later at age sixty-nine from injuries sustained during interrogation. A later legend places his death and burial at Tyre though little value attaches to that account.
Origen produced the Hexapla which contained six columns side by side comparing Hebrew text with Greek translations. Columns included original Hebrew, Hebrew transliterated into Greek characters, Septuagint, and three other Greek versions by Theodotion Aquila and Symmachus. This massive comparative study became cornerstone of Great Library of Caesarea he founded. Origen introduced critical markers adapted from scholars of Great Library of Alexandria. An obelus marked passages found in Septuagint but absent from Hebrew text. An asterisk marked passages present in other Greek translations but missing from Septuagint. For Book of Psalms he included eight Greek translations creating section known as Enneapla. Although original work lost fragments survive including Syriac translation made by seventh-century bishop Paul of Tella. Emperor Constantine ordered fifty complete Bibles transcribed using Hexapla as master copy for Old Testament. Eusebius used it extensively when compiling his Ecclesiastical History decades later.
On First Principles written between 220 and 230 laid out foundations of Christian theology systematically for first time ever. Book One described heavenly world including oneness of God Trinity relationship divine spirit reason angels. Book Two covered human world incarnation Logos soul free will eschatology. Book Three dealt with cosmology sin redemption while Book Four addressed teleology scripture interpretation. Vast majority text survived only through heavily abridged Latin translation produced by Tyrannius Rufinus in 397. Fragments from Books 3.1 and 4.1-3 preserved in Origen's Commentary on John. Fewer smaller quotations exist within Justinian's Letter to Mennas. The treatise proposed preexistence of souls before material creation where spiritual intelligences contemplated Creator until love cooled off. Those whose love diminished most became demons moderately became humans least became angels. One soul remained perfectly devoted becoming fused with Word born Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ.
Against Celsus written about 248 served as final major apologetic work defending orthodox Christianity against pagan philosopher attacks. In 178 Celsus wrote polemic On True Word making numerous arguments opposing Christianity. Church initially ignored these attacks but patron Ambrose brought matter to Origen's attention. One claim stating no self-respecting Platonic philosopher would become Christian provoked rebuttal writing. Origen systematically refuted each argument point by point arguing rational basis for faith existed. He drew heavily on Plato teachings showing compatibility between Greek philosophy and Christian scriptures. Bible contained far greater wisdom than anything Greek philosophers could grasp. Origen responded to accusations Jesus performed miracles using magic rather divine power asserting miracles reformed audiences not showmanship. Before this book Christianity seen merely folk religion illiterate uneducated people. Origen raised it level academic respectability through rigorous intellectual engagement. Eusebius declared Against Celsus provided adequate rebuttal all criticisms church would ever face.
In 543 Emperor Justinian I condemned Origen heretic ordering all writings burned. Second Council Constantinople in 553 may have anathematized him or only condemned certain heretical teachings derived from his ideas. Church rejected doctrine pre-existence souls despite centuries of veneration as Church Father. First Origenist Crisis began late fourth century when Cyprian bishop Epiphanius attacked Origen anti-heretical treatises compiled list deemed heretical. Epiphanius particularly objected subordinationism excessive allegorical hermeneutic proposing ideas speculatively exercises dogmatically. John bishop Jerusalem refused condemn Origen retroactively after death. By 395 Jerome allied anti-Origenists begging John condemnation again denied request. In 397 Rufinus published Latin translation On First Principles convinced many followers accepted Origen theology. Athanasius Basil Gregory Nyssa Gregory Nazianzus Cappadocian Fathers deeply influenced by Origen yet Arius also traced roots to Origen's thought. Despite initial reverence later eras criticized under standard orthodoxy rather than lifetime standards. Origen remains one most influential Christian theologians whose legacy spans millennia across East and West.
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Common questions
When did Origen die and what caused his death?
Origen died less than a year after 251 from injuries sustained during interrogation. He endured two years of imprisonment and torture under Emperor Decius before being released but dying at age sixty-nine.
Did Origen castrate himself based on the script text?
No surviving writing by Origen mentions self-castration anywhere in his extensive corpus. Eusebius claimed decades later that Origen either performed the act or had it done to him, though some scholars dismiss this as deliberate fabrication.
What is the Hexapla written by Origen and how many columns did it contain?
The Hexapla contained six columns side by side comparing Hebrew text with Greek translations. It included original Hebrew, Hebrew transliterated into Greek characters, Septuagint, and three other Greek versions by Theodotion Aquila and Symmachus.
Why was Origen condemned by Emperor Justinian I in 543?
Emperor Justinian I condemned Origen heretic ordering all writings burned due to doctrines like preexistence of souls. The Second Council Constantinople in 553 may have anathematized him or only condemned certain heretical teachings derived from his ideas.
Where did Origen flee after Roman Emperor Caracalla expelled teachers from Alexandria in 215?
Origen fled to Caesarea Maritima where bishops Theoctistus and Alexander became devoted admirers. He took permanent residence there instead of returning to Alexandria after Bishop Demetrius declared his ordination invalid.