Origen was the most prolific and controversial Greek scholar of his age. A first-rate Christian and a profound student of the Scripture, he was born in Alexandria (185-254) and spent the first half of his career there. His teachings were especially influential in the East, with Athanasius of Alexandria, the chief defender of Trinitarianism, and the three Cappadocian Fathers (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus) being among his most devoted followers.
This 3rd century "religious fanatic" gave up his job, slept on the floor, ate no meat, drank no wine, fasted twice a week, owned no shoes, and reportedly castrated himself for faith. His reported self-mutilation in response to Matthew 19 was condemned as a drastic misinterpretation of the text: "Jesus left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. Some Pharisees came to Him and tried to stop Him by asking, "Does our Law (of Sin) allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?" Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the Scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? And God said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.' So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate them, what God has joined together. ... His disciples said to Him, 'If this is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.' Jesus answered, 'This teaching does not apply to everyone, but only to those to whom God has given it. For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so.' (Matthew 19: 1-12)
Origen Adamantius was the oldest of 7 children in a Christian home, he grew up learning the Scripture and the meaning of commitment. In 202 CE when his father, Leonidas, was beheaded for his beliefs in the outbreak of the persecution during the reign of Septimus Severus. Origen wanted to turn himself in to the authorities and die as a martyr, too. His mother prevented him from even leaving the house by hiding his clothes. The death of his father left the family impoverished when their property was taken and confiscated.
Origen studied at a school of Christians theologians and priests in Alexandria. The teachers were very influential in many of the early theological controversies of the Christian doctrine. He quickly earned a reputation as a prodigy. To support his family, the 18-year-old, opened a grammar school, copied texts, and instructed those seeking to become members of the church. Clement of Alexandria was forced to flee from the city due to persecution and the school of Alexandria needed a new principal, Origen was asked to take on the position. In Palestine he preached without being ordained and was so condemned by his bishop, Demetrius. Despite such condemnation, Origen said,"I want to be a man of the church ... to be called ... of Christ."
The condemnation was never lifted and was recognized by Rome but rejected in the provinces of Palestine, Phoenicia, Arabia, and Achaia. His teachings of the pre-existence of souls and the final reconciliation of all creatures were rejected by the church.Time later, in 250 CE the emperor Decius had Origen imprisoned and tortured. He was deliberately kept alive in the hope that he would renounce his Faith. But Decius died first and Origen went free for about 4 years and died in 254 CE.
Origen described the Trinity as a hierarchy, not as an equality of Father, Son, and Spirit, and rejected the goodness of material creation. He himself studied under Ammonius Saccas in order to better defend his faith against non-Christian arguments. Other of his teachings was that all spirits were created equal, existed before birth, and then fell from grace. Furthermore, "those rational beings who sinned and on account fell from the state in which they were, in proportion to their particular sins, were enslaved in bodies as punishment"-some demos, some men, some angels. "The power of choosing between good and evil is within the reach of all," he said. Also, when answering the charge that Christians, by refusal of military service, fail the test of good citizenship, he wrote: "We who by our prayers destroy all demons which stir up wars, violate oaths, and disturb the peace are more help to emperors than those who seem to be doing the fighting."
Origen worked for 20 years on his analysis of the Old Testament, a massive work (Hexapla) written to answer Jewish and Gnostic critics questions about the interpretation of Christianity. The work has 6 parallel columns: one in Hebrew, and the other 5 in various Greek translations, including one he found at Jericho in a jar. The work became an important step in the development of the Christian doctrine, but unfortunately it was destroyed. So massive it was that scholars doubt anyone ever copied it entirely.
Origen was the first in analyzing the Scripture on 3 levels: literal, moral, and allegorical. As he put it, "for just man consists of a body, soul, and spirit, so in the same way does the Scripture." He, in fact, preferred the allegorical not only because it allowed for more spiritual interpretation, but many passages Origen found impossible to read literally.
Three centuries after his death, the Council of Constantinople (553 CE) pronounced him a heretic. Some contend that Origen was merely trying to frame Faith in the ideas of his day; still his works were suppressed following his condemnation, so modern judgment is impossible.
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