Exegesis and Hermeneutics in Origen's Interpretation of Scripture
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Origen
1
Lecture 10: Origen
3 October 2019
Origen
2
Introduction
Some Points in
Exhortation to Martyrdom
Types of exegesis
How to Understand Scripture
Literal and Spiritual understanding
Antiochene vs. Alexandrian schools
Introduction to
On First Principles
Early Spirituality
Application in
Commentary on Song of Songs
Origen
3
Exhortation to Martyrdom
God referred to as The One
Like his contemporary Plotinus, founder of pagan
neoPlatonism
Vague references to ‘getting soul back’ (XII)
Origen speculated on apokatastasis, or restoration of all
things at end of time in God
Speculated on eternity of souls;
Seemed to believe in the ‘cooling’ of souls from heaven
God jealous like a bridegroom (IX)
References to his father and children of martyrs (XI,
XXXVIII)
Origen
4
Exegesis, Criticism and Hermeneutics
Exegesis from Greek,
,
explanation, full narrative
What does the text say
Criticism, from Greek,
to judge
Often relates to analysis of writer, what’s written, and/or the audience
(historical, literary, audience criticism)
Hermeneutics from Greek god Hermes, who interpreted the messages of
the gods
What does the text mean
Note that as used in contemporary Biblical analysis, these words tend to be
very fluid
I will use exegesis and hermeneutics synonymously;
What the text says is what it means
This is how the Fathers viewed the text
But what does the text say?
For Church Fathers, the Bible is ONE BOOK
Origen
5
Types of Exegesis
Textual
Analysis of texts, comparisons of multiple versions of same
text
Effort to determine which is the ‘real’ text; Origen’s Hexapla
Literal Sense CCC 116
Text as literally true; historically accurate; Irenaeus
Spiritual Sense CCC 117
Allegorical or typological: OT prefigures or is a type of
Christ (we read the OT this way almost every Sunday)
Moral: Scripture teaches how to follow The Way
Anagogical: Scripture leads us to our proper end
Spiritual: admits multiple levels of meaning (hermeneutics)
Origen
6
Typology and Allegory (Both Spiritual
Senses)
Almost all Christians who accept the OT (whether in
antiquity or now) use typology to understand the OT
Makes connection between OT and NT
Irenaeus and Tertullian
Fundamentalist Christians
Allegory goes beyond typology
Use signs and symbolism to make connections between
OT and philosophy
Philo, Clement, Origen
Catholics, Orthodox
Origen
7
Origen and Textual Analysis
Tried to determine the ‘correct’ text of the OT
Issue: multiple Greek and Hebrew versions in use
by different Christian and Jewish communities
Origen consulted with Jewish school in Ceasarea
Origen’s school most famous Christian school of his time
Developed Hexapla (now lost)
Six versions of Greek OT
Compared with Hebrew
Greatest textual critic of antiquity;
St. Jerome in the West being a close second.
Jerome seems to have used Origen’s Hexapla to translate
the OT into Latin (Vulgate)
Origen
8
Origen and Literal Exegesis
Reason for Origen’s extensive textual work
was to determine what was the correct literal
sense
Origen believed that the literal sense was the
starting place for understanding Scripture
Origen
9
Origen and Typology
Origen read the OT as leading to Jesus Christ;
preparing the way for God’s people to accept Jesus
Could not understand Jesus without properly
understanding the OT
Example: the sacrifice of Isaac. In his
Commentary
on Genesis
, Origen describes Isaac as a precursor
to Christ, Abraham as the Father
There was a lively exchange of exegetical analysis
between Origen and rabbis in Caesarea
NB: From the earliest Christian Fathers, we refer to
the story as the “Sacrifice” of Isaac, even though he
was not actually killed. In counterpoint, earliest
rabbis called it the “binding” of Isaac
Origen
10
Origen and Allegory
Need allegorical interpretation to resolve seeming
contradictions in Scripture
Need allegory to resolve philosophical
understanding of God (God is one, God is good,
God is eternal) with some Scriptural descriptions of
God, especially in the OT
Allegory can reveal multiple levels of meanings
Attaching symbolic meanings to numbers, names, colors,
etc.
Example: six days of Creation
Problem: how to make sure that allegory does not
become fanciful and false (gnostics)
Basis of Lectio Divina
Origen
11
Antiochene Exegesis
Name given to a group of 4
th
Century theologians
who were concerned about the extent of
Alexandrian allegory
Concerned especially about more fanciful Christological
interpretations
Key figures: Diodorus, Theodore of Mopsuestia,
John Chrysostom, Theodoret
Note that even though these exegetes focused on
literal and typological, they also used
theoria
to find
moral lessons in Scripture
Origen
12
Background
On First Principles
Often referred to as the first ‘systematic’ work
Background to refute Marcion and
Valentinus, and as an apology
But also a theological investigation
Most of original Greek is lost; preserved in
Latin translated by Rufinus (4
th
C)
Origen
13
Structure of
On First Principles
Written in Four Books
Preface sets out the Rule of Faith
Book I
Studies three realities:
Trinity, rational creatures, world
Books II and III
Detailed discussions the Rule of Faith
Book IV Reconsideration of Book I - III
Origen
14
Structure Book IV
Divine origin of Scripture;
Scripture tells the truth about God, His Son, the Holy Spirit
and
the relation of Trinity to world
Importance of prophecy
Proper way to understand Scripture;
Importance of apostolic succession
Some parts of OT can only be understood spiritually
Examples in Chapter III
Origen
15
Structure Book IV (cont.)
Relation between Father and Son;
Understanding what Origen meant caused much
grief in the next century: Arian controversy
“There was when he was not” 4.1
What does John 1:1-2 and Prov. 8:22-31 say? What do
they mean?
But he also uses
homoousia
Material, created world is always changing
Man in his rationality is like God; this is eternal
Pre-existence of souls?
Origen
16
The Idea of Spiritual Progress
Emphasis on how to follow the Way of Jesus
Development of approaches to spirituality
Biblically based, usually with a highly allegorical
interpretation
Intended to be accessible to everyone,
Frequently the basis for Patristic homilies
Well defined steps in approach to spiritual life
Origen
17
Types of Spirituality
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Origen
18
Major Elements to Spiritual Progress
Three Stages
Purgation
Illumination
Unity
In different authors, there may be several steps
within each stage
Origen (and many others, including Gregory of
Nyssa, rabbis, Bernard of Clairvaux)
Commentary
on Song of Songs
Proverbs first stage (purgation)
Ecclesiastes second stage (illumination)
Song of Songs third stage (unity)
Origen
19
Origen’s Legacy
Hugely influential on Cappadocians: St. Basil, St.
Gregory Nazianzus, St. Gregory of Nyssa (St.
Ambrose)
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus student of Origen
Philokalia
Hugely influential on theological developments in
Alexandria
St. Athanasius,
homoousia
Spiritual impact on Evagrius of Pontus
In fourth century
Theological and political rivalries between Constantinople
and Alexandria is phrased as those for and against Origen
Origen
20
Origen
21
Assignments
Read Book IV
On First Principles;
especially Chapters 1, 2, 4
Read
Commentary on Song of Songs
CCC 101-119
Benedict XVI, General Audience 25 April 2007,
Origen, Life and
Work
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/d
ocuments/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070425_en.html
Benedict XVI, General Audience 2 May 2007,
Origen and His
Thought
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/d
ocuments/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070502_en.html
Write short paper on Origen
Origen, a prominent early Christian theologian, delved into various types of exegesis to interpret scripture, including textual analysis, allegory, and moral teachings. His insights on the literal and spiritual understanding of scripture, along with his views on martyrdom and the restoration of all things, offer a unique perspective on biblical interpretation.
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Presentation Transcript
Lecture 10: Origen 3 October 2019 Origen 1
Introduction Some Points in Exhortation to Martyrdom Types of exegesis How to Understand Scripture Literal and Spiritual understanding Antiochene vs. Alexandrian schools Introduction to On First Principles Early Spirituality Application in Commentary on Song of Songs 2 Origen
Exhortation to Martyrdom God referred to as The One Like his contemporary Plotinus, founder of pagan neoPlatonism Vague references to getting soul back (XII) Origen speculated on apokatastasis, or restoration of all things at end of time in God Speculated on eternity of souls; Seemed to believe in the cooling of souls from heaven God jealous like a bridegroom (IX) References to his father and children of martyrs (XI, XXXVIII) 3 Origen
Exegesis, Criticism and Hermeneutics Exegesis from Greek, , explanation, full narrative What does the text say Criticism, from Greek, to judge Often relates to analysis of writer, what s written, and/or the audience (historical, literary, audience criticism) Hermeneutics from Greek god Hermes, who interpreted the messages of the gods What does the text mean Note that as used in contemporary Biblical analysis, these words tend to be very fluid I will use exegesis and hermeneutics synonymously; What the text says is what it means This is how the Fathers viewed the text But what does the text say? For Church Fathers, the Bible is ONE BOOK 4 Origen
Types of Exegesis Textual Analysis of texts, comparisons of multiple versions of same text Effort to determine which is the real text; Origen s Hexapla Literal Sense CCC 116 Text as literally true; historically accurate; Irenaeus Spiritual Sense CCC 117 Allegorical or typological: OT prefigures or is a type of Christ (we read the OT this way almost every Sunday) Moral: Scripture teaches how to follow The Way Anagogical: Scripture leads us to our proper end Spiritual: admits multiple levels of meaning (hermeneutics) 5 Origen
Typology and Allegory (Both Spiritual Senses) Almost all Christians who accept the OT (whether in antiquity or now) use typology to understand the OT Makes connection between OT and NT Irenaeus and Tertullian Fundamentalist Christians Allegory goes beyond typology Use signs and symbolism to make connections between OT and philosophy Philo, Clement, Origen Catholics, Orthodox 6 Origen
Origen and Textual Analysis Tried to determine the correct text of the OT Issue: multiple Greek and Hebrew versions in use by different Christian and Jewish communities Origen consulted with Jewish school in Ceasarea Origen s school most famous Christian school of his time Developed Hexapla (now lost) Six versions of Greek OT Compared with Hebrew Greatest textual critic of antiquity; St. Jerome in the West being a close second. Jerome seems to have used Origen s Hexapla to translate the OT into Latin (Vulgate) 7 Origen
Origen and Literal Exegesis Reason for Origen s extensive textual work was to determine what was the correct literal sense Origen believed that the literal sense was the starting place for understanding Scripture 8 Origen
Origen and Typology Origen read the OT as leading to Jesus Christ; preparing the way for God s people to accept Jesus Could not understand Jesus without properly understanding the OT Example: the sacrifice of Isaac. In his Commentary on Genesis, Origen describes Isaac as a precursor to Christ, Abraham as the Father There was a lively exchange of exegetical analysis between Origen and rabbis in Caesarea NB: From the earliest Christian Fathers, we refer to the story as the Sacrifice of Isaac, even though he was not actually killed. In counterpoint, earliest rabbis called it the binding of Isaac 9 Origen
Origen and Allegory Need allegorical interpretation to resolve seeming contradictions in Scripture Need allegory to resolve philosophical understanding of God (God is one, God is good, God is eternal) with some Scriptural descriptions of God, especially in the OT Allegory can reveal multiple levels of meanings Attaching symbolic meanings to numbers, names, colors, etc. Example: six days of Creation Problem: how to make sure that allegory does not become fanciful and false (gnostics) Basis of Lectio Divina 10 Origen
Antiochene Exegesis Name given to a group of 4th Century theologians who were concerned about the extent of Alexandrian allegory Concerned especially about more fanciful Christological interpretations Key figures: Diodorus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, John Chrysostom, Theodoret Note that even though these exegetes focused on literal and typological, they also used theoria to find moral lessons in Scripture 11 Origen
Background On First Principles Often referred to as the first systematic work Background to refute Marcion and Valentinus, and as an apology But also a theological investigation Most of original Greek is lost; preserved in Latin translated by Rufinus (4th C) 12 Origen
Structure of On First Principles Written in Four Books Preface sets out the Rule of Faith Book I Studies three realities: Trinity, rational creatures, world Books II and III Detailed discussions the Rule of Faith Book IV Reconsideration of Book I - III 13 Origen
Structure Book IV Divine origin of Scripture; Scripture tells the truth about God, His Son, the Holy Spirit and the relation of Trinity to world Importance of prophecy Proper way to understand Scripture; Importance of apostolic succession Some parts of OT can only be understood spiritually Examples in Chapter III 14 Origen
Structure Book IV (cont.) Relation between Father and Son; Understanding what Origen meant caused much grief in the next century: Arian controversy There was when he was not 4.1 What does John 1:1-2 and Prov. 8:22-31 say? What do they mean? But he also uses homoousia Material, created world is always changing Man in his rationality is like God; this is eternal Pre-existence of souls? 15 Origen
The Idea of Spiritual Progress Emphasis on how to follow the Way of Jesus Development of approaches to spirituality Biblically based, usually with a highly allegorical interpretation Intended to be accessible to everyone, Frequently the basis for Patristic homilies Well defined steps in approach to spiritual life 16 Origen
Types of Spirituality Both types include purgation, illumination and unity stages Spiritual masters suggested steps for both ways Apophatic (via negativa) Move toward God away from creation; God as transcendent; what God is not Discourages use of senses; Emotions suppressed Heart is only satisfied with God Bridal mysticism Example: Going into the desert (Monasticism) Kataphatic (via positiva) Approaching God through creation; incarnation and passion of Jesus; what God is Encourages use of senses; Emotions are excited God has a history in the world Service mysticism Example: Pilgrimages 17 Origen
Major Elements to Spiritual Progress Three Stages Purgation Illumination Unity In different authors, there may be several steps within each stage Origen (and many others, including Gregory of Nyssa, rabbis, Bernard of Clairvaux) Commentary on Song of Songs Proverbs first stage (purgation) Ecclesiastes second stage (illumination) Song of Songs third stage (unity) 18 Origen
Origens Legacy Hugely influential on Cappadocians: St. Basil, St. Gregory Nazianzus, St. Gregory of Nyssa (St. Ambrose) St. Gregory Thaumaturgus student of Origen Philokalia Hugely influential on theological developments in Alexandria St. Athanasius, homoousia Spiritual impact on Evagrius of Pontus In fourth century Theological and political rivalries between Constantinople and Alexandria is phrased as those for and against Origen 19 Origen
20 Origen
Assignments Read Book IV On First Principles; especially Chapters 1, 2, 4 Read Commentary on Song of Songs CCC 101-119 Benedict XVI, General Audience 25 April 2007, Origen, Life and Work http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/d ocuments/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070425_en.html Benedict XVI, General Audience 2 May 2007, Origen and His Thought http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/d ocuments/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070502_en.html Write short paper on Origen 21 Origen
