Origen

[billcu1]

I have read that some consider Origen a heretic and others say they wouldn’t go so far as to say that because he was essentially Catholic and heretics by definition have faith in christ. They’re not apostates. Origen was also considered a father of the Church. Would anyone like to chime in?

 

[1ke]

it’s a complex tale:

newadvent.org/cathen/11306b.htm

 

[KrazyKat]

it’s a complex tale:

newadvent.org/cathen/11306b.htm

A great web page, the explanation is quite thorough .

 

[po18guy]

In Benedict XVI’s 2-part work entitled The Fathers, he lists Origen as a Church father, but notes that he is not a Saint in either the Catholic or the Orthodox Churches. And, it certainly is complex.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

I have read that some consider Origen a heretic and others say they wouldn’t go so far as to say that because he was essentially Catholic and heretics by definition have faith in christ. They’re not apostates. Origen was also considered a father of the Church. Would anyone like to chime in?

Are you suggesting that outstanding theological/intellectual insight is not possible in anyone who went to heaven via purgatory ?

All the Fathers (and Doctors) can be accused of error if you look hard enough.
Of more concern is stubborness in error/disobedience.

I don’t know of anyone who was knighted in the Commonwealth by upsetting the powers that be (except posthumously, long after those “powers” had also died).

 

[billcu1]

Are you suggesting that outstanding theological/intellectual insight is not possible in anyone who went to heaven via purgatory ?

All the Fathers (and Doctors) can be accused of error if you look hard enough.
Of more concern is stubborness in error/disobedience.

I don’t know of anyone who was knighted in the Commonwealth by upsetting the powers that be (except posthumously, long after those “powers” had also died).

I agree. There are several “heretical doctrines” I know were correct but with Constantine the tide went in favor of the church. I can’t help what I see. Jesus said he had sheep in many folds.

 

[jimmy]

I have read that some consider Origen a heretic and others say they wouldn’t go so far as to say that because he was essentially Catholic and heretics by definition have faith in christ. They’re not apostates. Origen was also considered a father of the Church. Would anyone like to chime in?

Origen was a faithful Christian and was never in contention with the Church during his life. He is generally not considered a church father though because after his death there was a lot of controversy about his writings. Some of them were condemned by the fifth council. But he was still extremely influential. Many fathers like Jerome, Rufinus, Gregory of Nyssa and etc. were influenced by his writings. Meister Eckart said, ‘I’d rather have one page of Origen than ten of Augustine.’

 

[sirach2v4]

I have several volumes of the Ancient Christian Commentary Series at home (not here at a public library) and I recall reading something about Origen being one of the most prolific commentators on scripture in the early Church. He is very important from a historical perspective.

 

[jimmy]

I have several volumes of the Ancient Christian Commentary Series at home (not here at a public library) and I recall reading something about Origen being one of the most prolific commentators on scripture in the early Church. He is very important from a historical perspective.

He was basically the first textual critic. He had several Greek translations, he had a Syriac New Testament, Hebrew OT. He compared the different texts.

Supposedly he wrote like 3000 books.

 

[jimkhong]

Origen was technically not a Church Father although he was listed in most lists, but, together with Tertulian, there will be a qualification against these two names if listed.

I believe Origen died in communion with Church, but some of his writings were posthumously condemned at a Church Council at Ephesus. For instance, he wrote about the pre-existence of souls whereas Catholic-Orthodox belief is that souls only existed from conception.

Nevertheless, both he and Tertulian are much quoted in our theology and they continue to be present in our textbooks, at least those parts that were not condemned.