Biblical and Hellenistic Double Vision: Origen the Person and His Theological Thought

Author: Zhang Xuefu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The author presents a comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth exploration of the life, theological thought, and intellectual legacy of Origen with a classical sensibility. Throughout the book, the dual influences of Christianity and Greek culture form the polyphony of Origen's life and thought. The book speaks through historical facts, supplemented by the author's commentary, presenting a real Origen and the he created to the readers. Origen is one of the most important theologians in the history of Christian thought during his time. Due to the various debates in church history and doctrine about his orthodoxy, his image has always been ambiguous, distorted, and even deliberately portrayed as a negative theologian. However, this is far from fair. Origen was not only the founder of Greek (Eastern) Christian theology but also extended his influence to Latin (Western) Christians through the establishment of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. His lifelong loyalty to the Christian faith was unparalleled even in the era of persecution and martyrdom. He was also seen as a critic of the church, which may have been one of the main reasons for the long-standing doubts about his orthodoxy. Against this backdrop, the book is more of a defense, aiming to fully portray the image of a knowledgeable Christian intellectual with a passionate heart, a life filled with suffering, and theology brimming with creativity.