On First Principles

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Summary: " A Sublime Masterwork"
Review: 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

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Summary: A critical edition of Origen's central work
Review: 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.