Universal Salvation and Freedom of Choice according to Origen of Alexandria

The 3rd century theologian Origen of Alexandria has traditionally been famous for his belief in universal salvation. Yet, Origen is also famous for his insistence on moral autonomy, the fact that God allows each creature to freely choose to move in the direction of good or evil. How can these two beliefs not result in a paradox or logical inconsistency in Origen’s theology, as many contemporary scholars suggest they do? This book explores the intersection between moral autonomy and God’s foreordained universal salvation in Origen’s writings. Origen was, in fact, aware of the apparent contradiction between these two ideas. He nevertheless stipulated that God can achieve universal salvation without violating a soul’s freedom of choice. God accomplishes this through his foreknowledge of future voluntary possibilities, which God then prearranges into a sequence leading to God’s desired outcome.

Be the first to review this product

Publisher: Gorgias Press LLC

SKU (ISBN): 978-1-4632-3950-3

Formats *
- Hardback (In Print) ISBN 978-1-4632-3950-3

Publication Status: In Print

Series: Gorgias Studies in Early Christianity and Patristics74

Publication Date: Nov 17,2020

Interior Color: Black

Trim Size: 6 x 9

Page Count: 226

Languages: English

ISBN: 978-1-4632-3950-3

Price: $143.00 (USD)

Your price: $85.80 (USD)

Qty:

Ship to

Shipping Method

Name

Estimated Delivery

Price

No shipping options

The 3^rd century theologian Origen of Alexandria has traditionally been famous for his belief in universal salvation. Yet, Origen is also famous for his insistence on moral autonomy, the fact that God allows each creature to freely choose to move in the direction of good or evil. How can these two beliefs not result in a paradox or logical inconsistency in Origen’s theology, as many contemporary scholars suggest they do? This book explores the intersection between moral autonomy and God’s foreordained universal salvation in Origen’s writings. Origen was, in fact, aware of the apparent contradiction between these two ideas. He nevertheless stipulated that God can achieve universal salvation without violating a soul’s freedom of choice. God accomplishes this through his foreknowledge of future voluntary possibilities, which God then prearranges into a sequence leading to God’s desired outcome.

REVIEWS

"...this is a welcome addition to our deepening understanding of Origen’s teaching regarding the apokatastasis in which God becomes ‘all in all’.

- John Behr, Augustiniana 2022.

Overview
Reviews
Contact Us
About the Author
Table Of Contents

REVIEWS

"...this is a welcome addition to our deepening understanding of Origen’s teaching regarding the apokatastasis in which God becomes ‘all in all’.

- John Behr, Augustiniana 2022.

Your name *

Your email *

Subject: *

Enquiry *

	Contributor	Biography
	LeeSytsma	Lee W. Sytsma received his Ph.D in Historical Theology at Marquette University, where he is a regular lecturer. His scholarship focuses on the intersection of divine grace and moral psychology in the pre-Augustinian church. He has also taught courses at Marquette University on the relationship between Christian faith, modern science, and the transhumanism movement. He currently works at Brookfield Christian Reformed Church.

Acknowledgments. vii

Abbreviations. ix

Introduction.. 1

Chapter One. The Context of Origen’s Moral Autonomy Polemics15

Introduction.. 15

Origen’s ‘Gnostic’ Opponents. 15

Early Christian Predestinarians23

Conclusion.. 31

Chapter Two. Origen’s Understanding of Moral Autonomy. 35

Introduction.. 35

Revelation and Philosophy: Origen’s Dual Supports for Moral Autonomy 35

Origen’s General Anthropology: the ‘Tripartite Person’ and the ‘Dual Nature’39

Greek Vocabulary and Expressions of Moral Autonomy. 48

Epictetus vs. Alexander of Aphrodisias. 51

Origen Adopts the Stoic Model of Impression and Assent. 56

Origen’s First Alteration to the Stoic Model of Free Choice: Tripartite Anthropology 60

Origen’s Second Alteration to the Stoic Model of Free Choice: Greater Potential for Moral Progress 65

Conclusion.. 70

Chapter Three. Origen’s Stages of Salvation-History. 73

Introduction.. 73

An Overview of Cosmic History: A Drama of 6 Acts. 74

Conclusion.. 97

Chapter Four. Origen’s Vision of the Apocatastasis99

Introduction.. 99

Origen’s Conflicting Statements Regarding a Final Restoration. 102

The Question of the (Im)Permanency of the Apocatastasis117

Universalism as Teleological Predetermination.. 131

Providence as Saving Grace. 135

Conclusion.. 142

Chapter Five. God’s Providential Arrangement of Future Voluntary Possibilities145

Introduction.. 145

God’s Ordering of Salvation-History. 147

Origen and Language of ‘Necessity’152

God’s Three Types of Foreknowledge. 159

God’s Foreknowledge of Hypothetical Voluntary Possibilities. 166

Synthesis: God Preselects and Prearranges Only the Set of Free Choices That Leads to the Apocatastasis172

Conclusion.. 185

Conclusion.. 187

Bibliography. 195

Critical Editions and Translations. 195

Other Sources. 197

Index 211

Customers who bought this item also bought

Syriac-English New Testament

After the success of the Antioch Bible, this publication is a new, historic edition of the Syriac-English New Testament in a single volume. The English translations of the New Testament Syriac Peshitta along with the Syriac text were carried out by an international team of scholars. NOTE: If you meant to order the beautiful gold gilded edition of this book, rather than the standard format, please see the link in the Overview text below.

From $30.00 (USD)

The Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek

A translation of Beatrix Potter's Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek, using only vocabulary found in the Greek New Testament and Septuagint (including the Apocrypha), and illustrated with Potter's original drawings.

$23.00 (USD)

Peshitta English New Testament

After the success of the Antioch Bible, this publication is a new translation of the Peshitta English New Testament in a single volume. The English translations of the New Testament Syriac Peshitta were carried out by an international team of scholars. The volume is also available in a beautiful gilded leather edition (ISBN 978-1-4632-4217-6).

From $25.00 (USD)

Jacob of Sarug's Homilies on Women Whom Jesus Met

Five homilies by Jacob of Sarug on women whom Jesus met: the Canaanite Woman, the Samaritan Woman, the Hemorrhaging Woman, the Woman Bent Double, and Jairus' Daughter.

$37.00 (USD) $22.20 (USD)

sdfb

Universal Salvation and Freedom of Choice according to Origen of Alexandria

Syriac-English New Testament

The Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek

Peshitta English New Testament

Jacob of Sarug's Homilies on Women Whom Jesus Met