Origen, Introd.

ORIGEN of Alexandria
Introduction to the
LATIN HOMILIES

Origen, Master Bertram, St. Peter's Church, Hamburg,1383.

ORIGEN preached, taught, and wrote exclusively in the Greek language. His condemnation resulted in the loss of most of his huge literary output; however, a few texts survive in the original Greek and many more had been translated into Latin, chiefly by Rufinus. Rufinus’ “translations” are, in fact, paraphrases; but current scholarly consensus is that they are accurate paraphrases, communicating the thought, if not the words of Origen.

THEMES RELEVANT to EVAGRIUS’ KEPHALAIA GNOSTICA

Homily 28.2(3) on Numbers: Spiritual (eschatological?) Cities of Refuge are prepared for us: “There, I believe, for a certain period, those of us who have committed involuntary sins must dwell; provided, that is, we are found clean and free from sins which have been committed deliberately.”

Homily 9 on Exodus: symbols of High Priesthood, Altar of Incense, Jar of Manna, Rod of Aaron, Ark, Vestments, Nous, and Sacrifice; logion, petalus, faith in Trinity

Homily 13 on Exodus 3-4. red color; 5. twisted linen, 7 The (logion - oracular) breastplate of the high priest Is the rational understanding within us.

Homily 7 on Numbers: 7 Days Creation; Paul's Armor of Spirit: Breastplate, Helmet; Sword, shield, arrows/darts

Homily 20 on Numbers: Paul's Armor of Spirit: Breastplate, Helmet; Sword, shield, feet shod

Homily 6 on Judges: Heavenly Bread; Paul's Armor of Spirit: Breastplate, Helmet; Sword, shield,

Homily 26 on Joshua, The Knife of Stone is the Word of God by which Jesus effects a second circumcision

Let the table also which has the twelve loaves of setting forth be placed in the northern part looking to the south. Let the apostolic word, in number as in power, be those loaves on it. By using it incessantly—for it is commanded that they be put "before the Lord" daily—one may again look to the south whence the Lord comes, "For the Lord will come from The-man,^"39 as it is written, which is from the south. Let him have an altar of incense in his innermost heart also, that he too may say, "We are a good odor of Christ.^"40 And let him have an ark of

[343] the covenant in which are the tables of the Law, that "he may meditate on the Law of God day and night."" And let his memory become an ark and library of the books of God because the prophet also says those are blessed who hold his commands in memory that they may do^. them.⁴² Let there be put back within him also a jar of manna, a fine and sweet understanding of the word of God; and let there be a rod of Aaron within him, a priestly teaching and a blooming sternness of discipline.

But over and above all this splendor let him wear the adornment of the high priest. For that part which is the most precious in man can hold the office of high priest. Some call it the overseer of the heart,⁴³ others, rational understanding, or intellectual substance, but whatever it is called, it is that part of us in which we can have a capacity for God. Let that part in us, therefore, as a kind of high priest, be adorned with garments and costly jewels, with a long linen priestly garment. This is the kind of garment which reaches the feet, covering the whole body. This signifies that first of all the whole man be clothed with chastity. Let him afterwards receive also the cape adorned with jewels in which the splendor of works is arranged, "that men seeing your works may magnify the father who is in heaven."⁴⁴ And let him also receive on his breast the logion, which can be called the oracular breastplate, which is adorned with four rows of stones. But also let the golden plate which is called ρetalus shine brightly on his forehead. "Truth" and "manifestation" are said to have been placed on both of these. In these objects which are said to be placed on the breast, I perceive the message of the Gospel which, in its fourfold order, sets out to us the truth of the faith and the manifestation of the Trinity, referring all things to the head, that is to say, to the nature of the one God. [see Evag. KG 14.52] There is in these objects, therefore,

Let the high priest also have his coverings on his inner parts; let him have his private parts covered "that he may be holy in body and spirit^"4' and pure in thoughts and deeds. Let him also have bells around the hem of his garment so that, Scripture says, "when he enters the sanctuary he may give a sound and not enter with silence. ^"46 And these bells, which ought always to sound, have been placed on the fringe of the garment. The purpose of this, I think, is that you might never keep silent about the last times and the end of the world, but that you might always ring forth and dispute and speak in accordance with him who said: "Remember your last end and you will not sin.""' In this manner, therefore, our inner man is adorned as high priest to God that he may be able to enter not only the sanctuary, but also the Holy of Holies; that he may be able to approach the mercy seat where the cherubim are and thence God may appear to him. The sanctuary can be those things which a holy way of life can have in the present world. But the Holy of Holies, which is entered only once, is, I think, the passage to heaven, where the mercy seat and the cherubim are located and where God will be able to appear to the pure in heart, or because the Lord says: "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.^"48

Fat and lobe of the liver Lev 7.28–34; Hom. On Leviticus, 12.1;, 3-5; pp. 111-113

12.(3) Therefore, he brings "the fatty parts which are above the breast and the lobe of the liver,"¹⁶⁰ which are placed upon the altar. We have spoken often of the fatty parts already. But when it says, "the fatty parts which are above the breast," understand your "breast" to be your heart, from which all "evil thoughts"¹⁶¹ must be taken away by you, for they proceed from that place. And they must be delivered to the fire of the

altar that your heart, made pure, may see God.¹⁶² But it also instructed you to offer "the lobe of the liver."¹⁶³ We spoke also before to explain that part of the liver is the place of wrath and cupidity. Therefore, he brings "the lobe of the liver" who cuts out of himself all vices of passion and fury.

Homilies on Numbers/Origen translated by Thomas P. Scheck; edited by Christop/!er A. Hall. ISBN 978-0-8308-2905-7 ser. Ancient Christian Texts, Inter Varsity Press 2009

Homily 7 Numbers 12:1~15J 13:18~33J 14:1~8 6.1 […] p. 31 He says, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies."88 This is why he musters spiritual weapons and invisible arrows for the combatants of this spiritual and invisible combat and says: "Put on the breastplate of love and the helmet of salvation, and take up the shield of faith by which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."89 Moreover, he says: "Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."90

Homily 7 Numbers 12:1~15J 13:18~33J 14:1~8 4.4. p. 29 We have already said above that these seven days indicate the week of this world;⁵⁶ for in seven days the substances of the entire visible creation seem to have been produced.⁵⁷ For at that time things that did not exist came into being. In fact, in the week of the whole world the secrets will also be explained’

Homily 20 Numbers 25:1~10 [ p.210:] 1.5. Even in these things there are certain mysteries and things that are hidden away in the interior meaning; but first we should let ourselves be edified by the text of the historical narrative. Let us learn from it, since fornication is waging war against us and the javelins ofluxury are being hurled at us. But if we do not lack the weapons with which the apostle commands us to be armed, such javelins will be unable to pierce us, if we have at our disposal the "breastplate of justice," the "helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit," and above all the "shield of faith"; and if our "feet are shod with the readiness of the Gospel of peace."¹⁴ These are the arms that defend us in such wars. But if we throw such weapons away, at once we are giving the devil an opportunity to wound us and a whole band of demons will "lead us as captives."¹⁵ And on this account the anger of God will rise against us and we will be punished, not only" in the present age," but also" in the future:'16 So then, in these battles that the devil incites against us, it is chastity, justice, prudence, piety and the other virtues that give us the victory. But it is luxury and lust, avarice and impiety and all evil that will cause us to be defeated. So these are the things that the text of the historical narrative has taught us.

Homily 25 Numbers 31:1~54 [Five senses p. 156] 3.5. After all, those who are reigning in the vices are said to be "five kings." Thus we are most plainly taught that every vice that reigns in the body is dependent on the five senses. So these five senses must be destroyed from the kingdom of the Midianites, so that vices may no longer reign through them, but justice; nor should what they see look to a stumbling block, but to edification. For among the Midianites these senses that were inclined toward stumbling were reigning in order to cause stumbling blocks and to seduce.

[p. 159] 6.1. So this is why it says: "This is the ordinance ⁶⁹ of the law, which the Lord appointed for Moses. Beside the gold and silver and brass and iron and lead and tin, every thing that passes through fire, have it pass through fire and it will be cleansed; moreover they will be purified with the water of purification; everything, whatsoever does not pass through fire shall pass through water. And on the seventh day you shall wash your garments, and you will be clean; and after this you will enter into the camp."70 You see how everyone who has gone forth from the combat of this life requires purification. But if this is so, allow me to be bold in saying something in accordance with the authority of Scripture: no one who goes forth from this life can be clean.