Homilies on Numbers

Origen of Alexandria (185-254), one of the most prolific authors of antiquity and arguably the most important and influential pre-Nicene Christian theologian, was a man of deep learning and holiness of life. Regrettably, many of his works are no longer extant, in part due to the condemnation of his ideas by the Fifth Ecumenical Council in 553. The condemnation, however, took little account of his historical circumstances and the tentative nature of his speculations. The anathemas were more likely directed toward sixth-century Origenist views than to the views of Origen himself, though clearly he expounded some views that would be judged unacceptable today.

Origen's numerous homilies provide the oldest surviving corpus of Christiansermons and shaped exegesis for succeeding centuries. With Jerome he was one of the early church's great critical and literal exegetes. Devoutly he sought to develop a spiritual exegesis of the Old Testament grounded in the revelation of Jesus Christ. The Homilies on Numbers presented here offer a splendid example of his spiritual interpretation of Old Testament texts. He asks, What foreshadowing, what warning, what instruction, what encouragement, reproof, correction or exhortation, dowe find in the narratives of Numbers for our benefit as Christians?

Here, based on Baehren's critical Latin text, is the first English edition of these homilies, ably translated with explanatory notes by Thomas P. Scheck.

Ancient Christian Texts are new English translations of full-length commentaries or sermon series from ancient Christian authors that allow you to study key writings of the early church fathers in a fresh way.

Origen was an early Christian scholar, theologian, and one of the most distinguished of the early fathers of the Christian Church.

Christopher A. Hall (PhD, Drew University) served as president of Renovaré from 2015–2022. Previously, he was director of academic spiritual formation and Distinguished Professor of Theology at Eastern University. He is the associate editor of The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, and his many authored books include Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, Learning Theology with the Church Fathers, Worshiping with the Church Fathers, and Living Wisely with the Church Fathers. Chris and his wife, Debbie, reside in Philadelphia. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Thomas P. Scheck (PhD, University of Iowa) is associate professor of theology at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida. He is the author of Origen and the History of Justification and Erasmus's Life of Origen. He is also theeditor of two volumes of Jerome's Commentaries on the Twelve Prophets and the translator for Origen's Homilies on Numbers in IVP's Ancient Christian Texts series as well as the translator of Origen: Commentary on the Epistle tothe Romans and St. Jerome: Commentary on Matthew in the Fathers of the Church series and Jerome's Commentaries on Isaiah and Ezekiel in the Ancient Christian Writers series.