Origen Quotes

Powerful Origen for Daily Growth

About Origen

Origen of Alexandria (circa 185-circa 254 AD), a prominent early Christian theologian, was born in Alexandria, Egypt, to a wealthy Christian family. He received an extensive education in Greek philosophy, particularly Platonism, which significantly influenced his religious thought. At a young age, Origen became a catechist (religious instructor) and by 204 AD, he was recognized as the head of the Alexandrian school of theology. Known for his prolific writing, Origen produced numerous commentaries on the Bible, philosophical works, and homilies. Some of his most notable contributions include "On First Principles," a systematic theology that laid the foundation for Christian philosophy, and commentaries on several books of the Old and New Testaments, which were influential in shaping early Christian biblical interpretation. Origen's teachings emphasized the importance of scripture study, asceticism, and spiritual growth. He is credited with introducing the concept of purgatory as a place where souls undergo purification before entering heaven. However, his belief in the pre-existence of souls led to controversies with some church leaders. In 230 AD, Origen traveled to Palestine and was ordained a presbyter by Bishop Alexander of Jerusalem. Returning to Alexandria, he founded a school that attracted numerous students from around the empire. However, his teachings on the pre-existence of souls and other doctrines led to criticism from some church leaders. In 250 AD, during the reign of Emperor Decius, Origen was exiled to Palestine due to his refusal to sacrifice to Roman gods. He continued his scholarly pursuits but eventually died in Tyre around 254 AD. Despite criticisms and controversies during his lifetime, Origen's contributions to early Christian theology and philosophy have left a lasting impact on Christianity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Scripture is a living being, breathing, speaking, and always active."

This quote by Origen emphasizes the dynamic nature and relevance of Scripture. He suggests that just as a living being is not static or dead, but alive and evolving, so too is Scripture. It's more than just words on a page; it speaks, breathes, and is always active in our lives. This view encourages an ongoing exploration and engagement with the text, recognizing its applicability to various times, places, and situations.

"The soul is unable to think without words, but it understands and perceives through thoughts."

This quote by Origen suggests that while our minds cannot generate thoughts without using language (words), we still comprehend and grasp concepts through the formation of thoughts within us. In other words, language serves as a tool for thinking, but understanding and perception come from the internal processing of those linguistic elements into thoughts or ideas. This view underscores the importance of both language and thought in the process of learning and intellectual growth.

"God created Adam and Eve not that they might die, but that they might be immortal."

This quote suggests that God's intention for creating humans was to grant them eternal life, rather than destining them for death. It implies a view that humanity was meant to live forever in the garden of Eden, but due to their disobedience (as detailed in the biblical story), they were banished and subjected to mortality. The quote can be seen as expressing a belief in the innate immortality of human beings before the fall from grace, emphasizing God's love and desire for humanity's eternal life.

"The Scripture, therefore, is a living creature, breathing, active, vivifying, enkindling, instructing, and filling all with grace."

This quote by Origen suggests that the Bible is not just a static, inert text, but a dynamic, alive entity. He sees it as a source of life, inspiration, education, and grace. In other words, the Scripture has the power to breathe new meaning, actively engage readers, ignite spiritual passion, instruct us, and fill our lives with God's grace. This perspective underscores the profound impact and importance that scripture holds in Christian theology.

"It does not follow because God forgives sins, that He therefore commands them."

This quote by Origen highlights the distinction between God's capacity to forgive sins and His will for human actions. It suggests that just because God can pardon sins doesn't mean He desires or encourages people to commit them. Instead, God commands love, compassion, and righteousness, emphasizing moral behavior over sinful acts. In essence, Origen is stating that the power of forgiveness should not be seen as a license for sinning but as a means of redemption and growth towards holiness.

But Paul, in his preaching of the Gospel, is a debtor to deliver the word not to Barbarians only, but also to Greeks, and not only to the unwise, who would easily agree with him, but also to the wise.

- Origen

Deliver, Preaching, Also, Unwise

But the Wisdom of God, which is His only-begotten Son, being in all respects incapable of change or alteration, and every good quality in Him being essential, and such as cannot be changed and converted, His glory is therefore declared to be pure and sincere.

- Origen

Good, Him, Pure, Essential

Now the true soldiers of Christ must always be prepared to do battle for the truth, and must never, so far as lies with them, allow false convictions to creep in.

- Origen

Faith, Always, Allow, Convictions

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.

- Origen

Measured, Notion, According, Incapable

For if the mystery concealed of old is made manifest to the Apostles through the prophetic writings, and if the prophets, being wise men, understood what proceeded from their own mouths, then the prophets knew what was made manifest to the Apostles.

- Origen

Old, Through, Writings, Prophetic

But God, who is the beginning of all things, is not to be regarded as a composite being, lest perchance there should be found to exist elements prior to the beginning itself, out of which everything is composed, whatever that be which is called composite.

- Origen

Beginning, Which, Lest, Composite

Then, in the next place, we must know that every being which is endowed with reason, and transgresses its statutes and limitations, is undoubtedly involved in sin by swerving from rectitude and justice.

- Origen

Reason, Next, Which, Endowed

The physical voice we use in prayer need not be great nor startling; even should we not lift up any great cry or shout, God will yet hear us.

- Origen

Voice, Will, Need, Lift

If all things were made through Him, clearly so must the splendid revelations have been which were made to the fathers and prophets, and became to them the symbols of the sacred mysteries of religion.

- Origen

Through, Which, Became, All Things

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.

- Origen

Reflection, Which, Obtain, Perception

This also is a part of the teaching of the Church, that there are certain angels of God, and certain good influences, which are His servants in accomplishing the salvation of men.

- Origen

Part, Which, Accomplishing, Servants

To him who, though by no means near the end, is yet advancing, He is the way; to him who has put off all that is dead He is the life.

- Origen

Dead, Means, Though, Advancing

When a house is being built which is to be made as strong as possible, the building takes place in fine weather and in calm, so that nothing may hinder the structure from acquiring the needed solidity.

- Origen

Strong, May, Which, Structure

This also is a part of the Church's teaching, that the world was made and took its beginning at a certain time, and is to be destroyed on account of its wickedness.

- Origen

Beginning, Wickedness, Took, Account

We must believe what is good and true about the prophets, that they were sages, that they did understand what proceeded from their mouths, and that they bore prudence on their lips.

- Origen

Believe, Understand, About, Bore

The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach of all.

- Origen

Good And Evil, Reach, Within, Evil

We are obliged, therefore, to say that whoever speaks that which is foreign to religion is using many words, while he who speaks the words of truth, even should he go over the whole field and omit nothing, is always speaking the one word.

- Origen

Obliged, Whole, While, Therefore

Now our whole activity is devoted to God, and our whole life, since we are bent on progress in divine things.

- Origen

Activity, Devoted, Whole, Bent

This opinion, however, is held by most, that the devil was an angel, and that, having become an apostate, he induced as many of the angels as possible to fall away with himself, and these up to the present time are called his angels.

- Origen

Away, However, Held, Angels

When Jesus then is with the multitudes, He is not in His house, for the multitudes are outside of the house, and it is an act which springs from His love of men to leave the house and to go away to those who are not able to come to Him.

- Origen

Love, Away, Which, Multitudes

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