Origen 185 AD – 253 AD
Origen of Alexandria was an early Christian theologian and biblical scholar, the most important and most controversial of the Greek Fathers of the Church. He produced the Hexapla, a monumental six-column edition of the Hebrew Bible and its translations, and his On First Principles is the earliest systematic Christian theology. Drawing on Platonism and the allegorical method of Philo, he developed daring speculations about the pre-existence of souls, free will, and the eventual restoration of all rational creatures. He died from injuries sustained under torture during the Decian persecution.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Greek-Egyptian
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Christian, Platonism
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Origen:
“The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach of all.”
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Attributed to Origen:
“The soul is older than the body.”
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Attributed to Origen:
“Where there is sin, there is multiplicity.”
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Attributed to Origen:
“It is impossible for a man to receive any reward worthy of his merit save by his own free choice.”
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Attributed to Origen:
“The end is always like the beginning.”