Origen Quotes on Mind
Origen of Alexandria was an early Christian theologian and biblical scholar, the most important and most controversial of the Greek Fathers of the Church. This page collects quotes attributed to Origen on the topic of mind, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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Attributed to Origen:
“The soul is older than the body.”
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“Having refuted, then, as well as we could, every notion which might suggest that we were to think of God as in any degree corporeal, we go on to say that, according to strict truth, God is incomprehensible, and incapable of being measured. For whatever be the knowledge which we are able to obtain of God, either by perception or reflection, we must of necessity believe that He is by many degrees far better than what we perceive Him to be.”
On First Principles , Bk. 1, ch. 1; par. 5 -
“There is also a special ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ towards those on whom he confers the natural gift of reason by means of which well-being is bestowed upon them in addition to mere existence. There is yet another grace of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon such as are worthy. a grace ministered indeed through Christ. but put into operation by the Father in proportion to the merits of those who become capable of receiving it. This is most clearly pointed out by the apostle Paul”
On First Principles , Bk. I, Chapter III -
“Every being which is endowed with reason , and transgresses its statutes and limitations, is undoubtedly involved in sin by swerving from rectitude and justice .”
On First Principles | On First Principles , Bk. 1, ch. 5; vol. 1, p. 45. -
“And it may not be amiss, as bearing on this point, to recall a beautiful saying in the writings of Sextus, which is known to most Christians: “The eating of animals,” says he, “is a matter of indifference; but to abstain from them is more agreeable to reason.””
Against Celsus | Against Celsus , Book 8 , Chapter 30 -
“But the majority of those who are accounted believers are not of this advanced class; but from being either unable or unwilling to keep every day in this manner, they require some sensible memorials to prevent spiritual things from passing altogether away from their minds.”
Against Celsus | Against Celsus , Book 8 , Chapter 23