Of all the great Origen's works, his "On First Principles" was the most monumental. It was the first attempt to formulate a coherent system of Christian philosophy, and it also is the best expression of the theologian's general opinions. The work is divided into four parts: book one essentially deals with God and creation, book two with creation (rational and irrational natures), providence, and redemption, and book four with the interpretation of Holy Scripture. Origen's views are based upon the authority of the Scriptures and Church tradition, and his theology is grounded upon the tenets of Neoplatonism. In "On First Principles" many erudite and sublime maxims are given as to the nature of the Trinity, the person of Christ, and man's free will under the hand of Providence, most of which are considered Orthodox teachings. On the other hand, the principles found in this work, which engendered controversy and were later condemned (Fifth Ecumenical Council 553), are the pre-existence and transmigration of souls, and universal salvation at the consummation of the world. So, it will be safe to say that this Christian, the most original and influential thinker until St Augustine, is always sincere in his faith and strictly orthodox wherever reason and curiosity failed to take him too far. This edition, being Koetschau's English text translated from Rufinus' definitive Latin volume, contains selected fragments of St Jerome's rendition and the meager remains of the original Greek texts in order furnish a more comprehensive view of Origen's writings. Also included are in-depth introductions to Origin's life and works by the scholar G. W. Butterworth and the eminent Henri Cardinal de Lubac, the French Jesuit theologian and Church historian. This work is highly recommended for anyone interested in patristic studies

This is the definitive English traslation of Koetschau's (please, Amazon, note the spelling!) edition of Origen's central work. Because the orginal Greek has been lost, it is necessary to reconstruct the original from fragments from all kinds of sources. This Koetschau does, although his use of these sources is a little too liberal in spots. Nevertheless it is helpful in recovering the original, especially in view of Rufinus' defective translation. As a work, it has few peers in Patristic literature. It represents Origen at the start of his career as a theologian and Christian teacher. Many of his speculations are very daring, so much so that in at least one case (the transmigration of souls) he changes his position in later years. (He may have on others, but most of his work is lost today.) But his insistence on free will as the driving force behind the fall of man was revolutionary in his fatalistic time and, to some extent, still is. A fascinating and very controversial work.

Intense study of Origen's thought, with probing chapters on how he viewed the beginning and the end, education, spiritual growth, the devil, the Fall, all of which is documented from primary sources. The first book in English to consider the whole range of Origen's thought through the concept of spiritual transformation. Though well documented and indexed, the scholarly depth does not affect the style, which is quite smooth and can be read by someone without knowledge of the field. Would be useful to those interested in ancient Christian thought, the Bible, Christian philosophy and, especially, spiritual transformation.

It has been nearly a century since Books 1-10 of Origen's Commentary in John have been published. Heine's translation of the last extant books is clear and readable, an achievement given Origen's propensity for dense prose. In any case the Commentary in John shows Origen at his best, digging deeply into the text, trying to make the Gospel relevant to his contemporaries. Since less than 200 years passed between Gospel and Commentary, he has insights that, in spite of his much critized method of interpretation, we tend to lose today. Origen, for the weaknesses of his system, still deserves Jerome's moniker as "the greatest teacher since the Apostles."

This little gem by Henry Chadwick is a clear and concise introduction to three early Christian thinkers who addressed the question of how Christianity should interact with philosophy: Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. All three were optimistic about the project of stating Christian faith in terms of the philosophy dominant in their culture. Chadwick's knowledge of the period is both wide and deep, but these essays assume little or no prior knowledge on the part of the reader. They are a lucid and informative introduction to a question which continues to trouble many thoughtful people of faith.

CUANDO UNO LEE UN LIBRO Y SE DIVIERTE COMO EN EL CASO DE ESTE, HAY QUE RECOMENDARLO Y YO LO HARE. INDICANDO LO COMPREN CON USTEDES. YA QUE CONSIDERO SU PROMOCION DE LO MAS AVANZADO EN EL MERCADO CIBERNETICO. CONSIDERARE SU OFERTA PARA MIS REGALOS DE NAVIDAD.

If you want to learn about Typography in Brazil, read this book!

As usual, Von Balthasar did a wonderful job in the compilation of this collection. The thematic organization is very helpful, as is the entirety of the book, in allowing the reader to get quickly to the meat so to speak. This book is a very good prompt for further study and research into Origen and other early Christian thinkers. Robert Daly should also be commended for a very smooth translation that reads extremely well. In addition, the introduction does a good job in highlighting Origen's thought and importance. One of the most powerful comments I've ever read regarding Origen is included therein:

"The voice of the Alexandrian [Origen] is more like that glowing, rainless desert wind that sometimes sweeps over the Nile delta, with a thoroughly unromantic passion: pure, fiery gusts. Two names come to mind in comparison: Heraclitus and Nietzsche. For their work too is, externally, ashes and contradiction, and makes sense only because of the fire of their souls which forces their unmanageable material into a unity and, with a massive consumption of fuel, leaves behind a fiery track straight across the earth. Their passion, however, stems only from the Dionysian mystery of the world. But here, in Origen, the flame shoots out and darts upward to the mystery of the super-worldly Logos-WORD [. . .]"

But the best comments are reserved for Origen himself, as in the Epigraph where he says:

"I want to be a man of the Church. I do not want to be called by the name of some founder of a heresy, but by the name of Christ, and to bear that name which is blessed on the earth. It is my desire, in deed as in spirit, both to be and to be called a Christian.

If I, who seem to be your right hand and am called Presbyter and seem to preach the Word of God, If I do something against the discipline of the Church and the Rule of the Gospel so that I become a scandal to you, The Church, then may the whole Church, in unanimous resolve, cut me, its right hand, off, and throw me away."

Truly a man of steel, too many have thrown Origen away and he needs to be reclaimed by many, many more. This book is a step in the right direction. TBTG.

This is the first English translation of Origen's most important work of exegesis, his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. The translation is of Rufinus's Latin version of the original Greek work. It is Origen's longest and possibly most important work, his only commentary to survive in a coherent form from beginning to end. Among other things what strikes the reader is Origen's amazing, nearly word-perfect knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. Many of his insights seem to penetrate to the heart of the apostle and his general understanding of Romans seems to be correct. Origen rightly sees that Romans is not so much Paul's attempt to dethrone human merit or to teach a doctrine of predestination but rather the Epistle is concerned with the question of the relation of Jews and Gentiles in the Church, in light of the coming of Christ. Origen perceptively observes that Paul is concerned with the transfer of religion from Judaism to Christianity, from the letter to the Spirit, from shadows to reality, both in terms of salvation history and in terms of the transformation of the individual. All of this comes to fruition through the Incarnation, death and resurrection of the Son of God. Moreover, Origen rightly sees that Paul was on the side of freedom of the will, not determinism and that Paul's doctrine of justification entails the equal necessity of faith and good works in the salvation process. This commentary is an extremely interesting read and hopefully it will have a good reception in the English-speaking world.

This volume completes the first English translation of Origen's Commentary on Romans, the first patristic commentary on Romans. It contains Origen's detailed exegesis of Romans 6:12-16:27. Origen continues his consistent program of defending the Church against Gnostic or predestinarian interpretations of Paul. The schools founded by the heretics Marcion, Valentinus and Basilides are Origen's chief opponents. They had interpreted Paul in a way that denied human freedom and asserted the men are saved according to the nature he receives at birth, whether good or evil. In response to this Origen constructs a coherent and unified biblical theology. Origen stresses the role of God's free grace in salvation, and yet he views human beings as chosen or rejected by God deservedly, according to their merits. Everyone has free will, he says. That is, everyone has it within his own power whether he becomes a servant of God or of sin, a vessel of wrath or of mercy.

Origen's interpretation of Romans will no doubt infuriate Calvinists, who will dislike his interpretation of predestination based upon divine foreknowledge; and Lutherans who will be stunned by the dramatic contrast between Origen's interpretive categories and those of Luther. On the other hand the work will probably be well-received among Catholics, Orthodox, and Arminian/Wesleyan-oriented Protestants. The work contains extremely interesting discussions of all the important theological themes of Romans: faith, hope, love, sin, death, flesh, law, Israel, Gentiles, Church, body, glory, foreknowledge, predestination, etc. This commentary was productive in its Latin translation throughout the history of the church, in writers such as Pelagius, Augustine, Abelard, Aquinas, Erasmus, and the Council of Trent. This enhances the significance of its first appearance in English translation.

This volume contains a good overview of the works of Origen, including "An Exortation to Martyrdom," "On Prayer," and selections from "On First Principles," "The Homily on Numbers," and more. The Translation is in clear, contemporary English. The introductory material is well writen and thorough, with plentiful notes. The text is annotated with cross references and biblical citations. This volume is exelently produced, as is the entire series.

Origen was one of the most carefully observant and meticulous interpreters of biblical scripture ever to have lived. This book provides profound, fascinating, and deep insights into the inner subtleties of religious scripture. Origen pays attention to the most minute details in scripture, and reminds us of the importance of these precise interpretations into the exact wording of the scripture. The existence of a writer like Origen all but disproves some sceptic's theories that the bible was actually written much later than previously supposed. If, for instance, it is true that the bible was not written until the 1400's or 1500's, the writings of Origen would also have to have been fabricated, and would therefore be some kind of fraud. Origen, along with writers such as St. Thomas, St. Augustine, and Clement of Alexandria, are important because they give us valuble insights into the minds of the earliest Christian mystics, as well as shed light on the dynamics of the initial spread of Christianity. But these early Christians are also important because they help us put our religion into proper historical perspective, and give us clear evidence as to when the bible was written and by whom. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Christianity, and especially those interested in the early mystical Christian neo-prophets. However, people with little or no familiarity with the New Testament might not like this, because Origen has a somewhat narrow focus devoted almost entirely to the interpretation of the precise wording of scripture. But every serious Christian thinker should eventually take a look at this book.