Origen Quotes on Mind
Origen of Alexandria, the early Christian theologian and biblical scholar, gave the rational mind a central place in his bold theological system, and the quotes gathered here reflect it. Origen held reason to be a divine endowment, conferred through a special ministry of Christ, by which well-being is bestowed on rational creatures beyond mere existence. With that gift comes responsibility: every rational being that transgresses its proper limits is involved in sin by swerving from rectitude and justice. Among his most controversial speculations, marked here as attributed, was the pre-existence of souls, the claim that the soul is older than the body. Origen also insisted that the mind, however far it reaches, must hold God to be incomprehensible and far better than anything it perceives. Drawn largely from On First Principles, these passages present the mind as a divine gift, freely exercised and accountable.
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