62. Origen: Homilies 1-14 on Ezekiel (Ancient Christian Writers) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0809105675 ISBN 13: 9780809105670

Publisher: The Newman Press, 2010

Synopsis

Before he launched into his own career as an interpreter of Scripture, St. Jerome (345-420) was encouraged by St. Gregory Nazianzen to immerse himself in the writings of the Greek Fathers and especially in those of Origen of Alexandria (185-254), considered to be the most important ancient exegete. Jerome strove to assimilate Origen s hermeneutical perspective and make it his own, translating several of Origen s works into Latin. The Homilies on Ezekiel were among the most important of St. Jerome s translations.

In these homilies Origen endeavors to show his audience in the church of Caesarea how the text of Ezekiel points to and prefigures Jesus Christ and the church. Following in the footsteps of St. Paul (Rom 15.4: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction... ) and Hebrews (10.1: For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come... ), Origen looks for the reality of Christ symbolized in the shadowy words of the prophet Ezekiel. The result is a deeply moving, reverent, and edifying exposition of the Old Testament prophet in a manner that doubtless would have been received with pleasure by St. Paul himself.

The homilies are of intrinsic interest on important Christian themes such as persecution and martyrdom, purification, justification, progress, Church unity, God s passionate love for humanity, Catholic versus heretical doctrine, and freedom of the will. The present volume offers the first published English translation of the fourteen homilies, along with Jerome s preface.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"A significant contribution to studies of Origen and the history of Pauline exegesis. . . . The work provides an excellent introduction to Origen's theology, presenting a wide range of themes which are central for him in his doctrine of God, anthropology, mystical theology, and eschatology. . . . Scheck's introduction provides an excellent outline of the textual issues surrounding the Latin version of the Commentary. . . . [An] admirable translation. . . . [It] provides an invaluable service in making available a text which adds much to our understanding of Origen both as a Christian exegete and as a theologian."--Maureen Beyer Moser, Journal of Early Christian Studies

"The Commentary contains material of interest to many kinds of scholars. Feminists will be delighted to find statements that women were reckoned among the clergy. Ethicists and moral theologians will find a wealth of explanations and particularizations of the Christian virtues mentioned in Romans 12 and 13. Protestants interested in the Calvinist doctrines of unconditional election, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints, should look at Origen's thoughts on these beliefs. Other readers will want to take in Origen's discussion and study of the several meanings of `law' and `spirit' in Paul and the Old Testament, while others may wish to examine his harmonizing of gospel and law. Also of interest are Origen's definitions of many words in Scripture and explanations of the differences between them. . . . Mr. Scheck's erudition makes him a worthy translator. The footnotes reveal his impressive intensive and extensive grasp of the Bible (including the Septuagint and the Old Latin Version), his thorough knowledge of the correspondence between the Greek and Latin meanings of several words and phrases, and his great acquaintance with other writings of Origen and of other early church fathers. . . . "--Churchman

"Scheck has done the republic of letters a great service in producing this first published English translation of Origen's seminal commentary. . . . Scheck's introduction is excellent. It is based on an impressive array of Origen scholarship from the past century to the present."--Alan Reese, Erasmus of Rotterdam Society Yearbook Twenty-Three

"Origen's Commentary on Romans is a work that deserves careful reading and Scheck's translation makes this much easier for English speakers."--Ronald E. Heine, Adamantius

About the Author:

Thomas P. Scheck, a graduate student at the University of Iowa, is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Religion and Classics.

About this edition

• Publisher: The Newman Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0809105675
• ISBN 13: 9780809105670
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224