Origen: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, Books 1-5 (Fathers of the Church, Vol 103)

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Summary: Origen as a Biblical Theologian
Review: 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.