The Early Church Fathers on the Scriptures: These Words are the Word of God [Ecumenical]

RC.net ^ | Origen, c. 185-254 websote 1994 | Origen, c. 185-254 websote 1994

[Salvation]

The Early Church Fathers on the Scriptures

These Words are the Word of God
by Origen, c. 185-254

The Scriptures that prophesy about Christ, the words that announce his coming and his teaching are inspired by God.  They were proclaimed with power and authority and it is for this reason they have conquered so many people's hearts.

However, only with the coming of Christ have the divine character of the prophetic writings and the spiritual meaning of the books of the Mosaic Law become apparent.  Before Christ it was not possible t produce decisive arguments for the inspiration of the Old Testament.  The coming of Jesus persuaded even the doubtful that those pages were written under the influence of grace.

Whoever reads the Prophets carefully will be convinced that they are no human achievement.  The reader will understand the meaning of divine inspiration.

As far as the books of the Mosaic Law are concerned, a veil has been drawn between their brightness and people's understanding.  The coming of Jesus has made that light shine in such a way that I has become possible to recognize clearly those future benefits at which the literal meaning of those books only hinted. (Cf. 2 Cor. 3:12-18; Heb. 10:1).

It would take a long time to review the ancient prophecies of events that would be realized int he future.  But someone in doubt who did this would be struck by their divine character.  He would give up all his uncertainty and dedicate himself to he Word of God with all his soul.

(Translation by Thomas Spidlik, Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Cistercian Publications, Kalamazoo, MI - Spencer, MASS, 1994)

[Salvation]

“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” 
Jerome, c. 347-420

[Salvation]

Guidelines for Ecumenical Threads

[Salvation]

Early Church Fathers and Scripture Ping.

[teppe]

I believe that Origen taught a Christ-God relationship more closely to the Arius (somewhat similar to LDS theology) than to Athenasius (or the Nicene Creed).

How’s that Jive ... was Origen inspired or not?

[oc-flyfish]

You have to be careful when it comes to Origen. He pioneered an allegorical (spiritualizing the text) hermeneutic versus the literal hermeneutic. You can “discover” all kinds of “interesting” things in the Bible when everything is allegorical.

[Salvation]

I’m aware of the doubts about Origen. Just going through the series.

Next is Augustine, Isidore and Jerome, OK?

[Gil4]

I see the guidelines posted, but don't see it labeled as ecumenical. Either I'm blind or this thread needs a tweak.

[donmeaker]

When the soldiers captured Jesus, the Apostles all fled. That was the last time there was Episcopal unity.

[donmeaker]

The point is, we are allowed to respectfully disagree.

[dartuser]

Origin's allegorical interpretive method allowed him to see all kinds of mystical meanings in the text and there were some areas of doctrine where he was clearly heretical.

Schaffs book highlights that he didn't believe in physical resurrection, and he was a universalist; believing in salvation for all human beings and fallen angels.

When you reject the literal-historical-grammatical meaning of the text, you can make it say whatever you want.

[Religion Moderator]

The thread now has the intended label.