Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-5r2nc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-05T15:54:31.643Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

3 - Origen on Participation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2024

By
Daniel J. Tolan
Edited by
Douglas Hedley  and
Daniel J. Tolan
Douglas Hedley
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Daniel J. Tolan
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Get access

Summary

Origen’s metaphysical vision hinges upon the notion of participating in God, who is the good. Like many theists, Origen maintains that God is a non-contingent being; created being, on the other hand, is, by definition, contingent upon its creator. The category of participation enables Origen to explain the relationship between contingent and non-contingent being. This chapter, therefore, has four objectives: first, we will establish the distinction between contingent and non-contingent being in Origen’s thought; second, we will consider this distinction in relation to divine being; third, we will consider this distinction in relation to non-divine being; fourth, we will discuss different sorts of participation.

Type
Chapter
Information
Participation in the Divine
A Philosophical History, From Antiquity to the Modern Era
 , pp. 71 - 85
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Primary Sources

Burnet, J. (ed.). Platonis opera, vol. 5. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.Google Scholar
des Places, É. Numénius: Fragments. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1974.Google Scholar
Baehrens, W. A. ‘Homiliae in Isaiam’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 8, 242–289. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1925.Google Scholar
Blanc, C. Origène: Commentaire sur saint Jean, 5 vols. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1: 1966; 2: 1970; 3: 1975; 4: 1982; 5: 1992.Google Scholar
Borret, M. Origène: Contre Celse, 4 vols. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1: 1967; 2: 1968; 3–4: 1969.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H. and Simonetti, M.. Origène: Traité des Principes. Paris: Cerf, 1978–84.Google Scholar
Görgemanns, H. and Karpp, H.. Origenes vier Bücher von den Prinzipien. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1976.Google Scholar
Gregg, J. ‘Documents: The commentary of Origen upon the epistle to the Ephesians’, Journal of Theological Studies 3 (1902): 234–44, 398–420, 554–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koetschau, , P. ‘Exhoratio ad martyrium’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 1, 1–47. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1899.Google Scholar
Migne, J.-P. (ed.). ‘Scholia in Lucam’, in ΟΡΙΓΕΝΟΥΣ ΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΟΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ. Paris: Imprimerie Catholique, 1857.Google Scholar
Nautin, P. Origène: Homélies sur Jérémie, vols. 1–2. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1976, 1977.Google Scholar
Preuschen, E. ‘Fragmenta in evangelium Joannis’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 4, 481–576. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1903.Google Scholar
Henry, P. and Schwyzer, H.-R. (eds.). Plotini opera, 3 vols. Leiden: Brill, 1: 1951; 2: 1959; 3: 1973.Google Scholar
Dodds, E. R. The Elements of Theology. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971.Google Scholar
Kotter, P. B. (ed.). ‘Expositio fidei’, in Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos, vol. 2. Berlin: De Gruyter, 1973.Google Scholar
Bostock, G. 1980. ‘Quality and Corporeity in Origen’. In Origeniana Secunda, edited by Crouzel, H. and Quacquarelli, A., 323–37. Rome: Edizioni dell’Ateneo.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H. 1956. Theologie de l’image de Dieu chez Origène. Paris: Aubier.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H 1991. Origène et Plotin: Comparaisons doctrinales. Paris: Téqui.Google Scholar
Dupuis, J. 1967. ‘L’esprit de l’homme’: Étude sur l’anthropologie religieuse d’Origène. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer.Google Scholar
Faye, E. de. 1928. Origène, sa vie, son œuvre, sa pensée, 3 vols., vol. 3. Paris: E. Leroux.Google Scholar
Fürst, A. 2017. Origenes: Grieche und Christ in römischer Zeit. Stuttgart: Anton Hiersemann.Google Scholar
Hanson, R. 1959. Allegory and Event: A Study of the Sources and Significance of Origen’s Interpretation of Scripture. London: SCM Press.Google Scholar
Hengstermann, C. 2016. Origenes und der Ursprung der Freiheitsmetaphysik. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Jacobsen, A.-C. 2015. Christ. The Teacher of Salvation: A Study on Origen’s Chrstiology and Soteriology. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Kenney, J. 2010. Mystical Monotheism. 2nd ed. Eugene, WA: Wipf and Stock.Google Scholar
Koch, H. 1932. Pronoia und Paideusis: Studien über Origenes und sein Verhältnis zum Platonismus. Berlin: W. de Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieske, A. 1938. Die Theologie der Logos-Mystik bei Origenes. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Markschies, C. 2007. Origenes und sein Erbe: Gesammelte Studien. Berlin: De Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martens, P. 2012. Origen and Scripture: The Contours of the Exegetical Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martens, P 2019. ‘Response to Edwards’. Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 23 (2): 186–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramelli, I. 2018. ‘Origen’. In A History of Mind and Body in Late Antiquity, edited by Marmodoro, A. and Cartwright, S., 245–66. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Russell, N. 2009. The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Schibli, H. S. 1992. ‘Origen, Didymus, and the Vehicle of the Soul’. In Origeniana Quinta, edited by Daly, R. J., 381–91. Louvain: Tyrolia.Google Scholar
Tzamalikos, P. 2007. Origen: Philosophy of History and Eschatology. Leiden: Brill.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, R. 1981. ‘Origen on the Soul of Jesus’. In Origeniana Tertia, edited by Lies, L., 131–7. Rome: Edizioni dell’Ateneo.Google Scholar
Williams, R 1987. ‘The Son’s Knowledge of the Father in Origen’. In Origeniana Quarta: Die Referate Des 4. Internationalen Origeneskongresses (Innsbruck, 2.-6. September 1985), edited by Lies, L., 146–53. Innsbruck: Tyrolia.Google Scholar
Williams, R 2018. Christ the Heart of Creation. London: Bloomsbury Continuum.Google Scholar

Secondary Sources

Burnet, J. (ed.). Platonis opera, vol. 5. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.Google Scholar
des Places, É. Numénius: Fragments. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1974.Google Scholar
Baehrens, W. A. ‘Homiliae in Isaiam’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 8, 242–289. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1925.Google Scholar
Blanc, C. Origène: Commentaire sur saint Jean, 5 vols. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1: 1966; 2: 1970; 3: 1975; 4: 1982; 5: 1992.Google Scholar
Borret, M. Origène: Contre Celse, 4 vols. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1: 1967; 2: 1968; 3–4: 1969.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H. and Simonetti, M.. Origène: Traité des Principes. Paris: Cerf, 1978–84.Google Scholar
Görgemanns, H. and Karpp, H.. Origenes vier Bücher von den Prinzipien. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1976.Google Scholar
Gregg, J. ‘Documents: The commentary of Origen upon the epistle to the Ephesians’, Journal of Theological Studies 3 (1902): 234–44, 398–420, 554–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koetschau, , P. ‘Exhoratio ad martyrium’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 1, 1–47. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1899.Google Scholar
Migne, J.-P. (ed.). ‘Scholia in Lucam’, in ΟΡΙΓΕΝΟΥΣ ΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΟΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ. Paris: Imprimerie Catholique, 1857.Google Scholar
Nautin, P. Origène: Homélies sur Jérémie, vols. 1–2. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1976, 1977.Google Scholar
Preuschen, E. ‘Fragmenta in evangelium Joannis’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 4, 481–576. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1903.Google Scholar
Henry, P. and Schwyzer, H.-R. (eds.). Plotini opera, 3 vols. Leiden: Brill, 1: 1951; 2: 1959; 3: 1973.Google Scholar
Dodds, E. R. The Elements of Theology. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971.Google Scholar
Kotter, P. B. (ed.). ‘Expositio fidei’, in Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos, vol. 2. Berlin: De Gruyter, 1973.Google Scholar
Bostock, G. 1980. ‘Quality and Corporeity in Origen’. In Origeniana Secunda, edited by Crouzel, H. and Quacquarelli, A., 323–37. Rome: Edizioni dell’Ateneo.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H. 1956. Theologie de l’image de Dieu chez Origène. Paris: Aubier.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H 1991. Origène et Plotin: Comparaisons doctrinales. Paris: Téqui.Google Scholar
Dupuis, J. 1967. ‘L’esprit de l’homme’: Étude sur l’anthropologie religieuse d’Origène. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer.Google Scholar
Faye, E. de. 1928. Origène, sa vie, son œuvre, sa pensée, 3 vols., vol. 3. Paris: E. Leroux.Google Scholar
Fürst, A. 2017. Origenes: Grieche und Christ in römischer Zeit. Stuttgart: Anton Hiersemann.Google Scholar
Hanson, R. 1959. Allegory and Event: A Study of the Sources and Significance of Origen’s Interpretation of Scripture. London: SCM Press.Google Scholar
Hengstermann, C. 2016. Origenes und der Ursprung der Freiheitsmetaphysik. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Jacobsen, A.-C. 2015. Christ. The Teacher of Salvation: A Study on Origen’s Chrstiology and Soteriology. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Kenney, J. 2010. Mystical Monotheism. 2nd ed. Eugene, WA: Wipf and Stock.Google Scholar
Koch, H. 1932. Pronoia und Paideusis: Studien über Origenes und sein Verhältnis zum Platonismus. Berlin: W. de Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieske, A. 1938. Die Theologie der Logos-Mystik bei Origenes. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Markschies, C. 2007. Origenes und sein Erbe: Gesammelte Studien. Berlin: De Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martens, P. 2012. Origen and Scripture: The Contours of the Exegetical Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martens, P 2019. ‘Response to Edwards’. Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 23 (2): 186–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramelli, I. 2018. ‘Origen’. In A History of Mind and Body in Late Antiquity, edited by Marmodoro, A. and Cartwright, S., 245–66. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Russell, N. 2009. The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Schibli, H. S. 1992. ‘Origen, Didymus, and the Vehicle of the Soul’. In Origeniana Quinta, edited by Daly, R. J., 381–91. Louvain: Tyrolia.Google Scholar
Tzamalikos, P. 2007. Origen: Philosophy of History and Eschatology. Leiden: Brill.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, R. 1981. ‘Origen on the Soul of Jesus’. In Origeniana Tertia, edited by Lies, L., 131–7. Rome: Edizioni dell’Ateneo.Google Scholar
Williams, R 1987. ‘The Son’s Knowledge of the Father in Origen’. In Origeniana Quarta: Die Referate Des 4. Internationalen Origeneskongresses (Innsbruck, 2.-6. September 1985), edited by Lies, L., 146–53. Innsbruck: Tyrolia.Google Scholar
Williams, R 2018. Christ the Heart of Creation. London: Bloomsbury Continuum.Google Scholar
Burnet, J. (ed.). Platonis opera, vol. 5. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.Google Scholar
des Places, É. Numénius: Fragments. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1974.Google Scholar
Baehrens, W. A. ‘Homiliae in Isaiam’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 8, 242–289. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1925.Google Scholar
Blanc, C. Origène: Commentaire sur saint Jean, 5 vols. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1: 1966; 2: 1970; 3: 1975; 4: 1982; 5: 1992.Google Scholar
Borret, M. Origène: Contre Celse, 4 vols. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1: 1967; 2: 1968; 3–4: 1969.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H. and Simonetti, M.. Origène: Traité des Principes. Paris: Cerf, 1978–84.Google Scholar
Görgemanns, H. and Karpp, H.. Origenes vier Bücher von den Prinzipien. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1976.Google Scholar
Gregg, J. ‘Documents: The commentary of Origen upon the epistle to the Ephesians’, Journal of Theological Studies 3 (1902): 234–44, 398–420, 554–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koetschau, , P. ‘Exhoratio ad martyrium’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 1, 1–47. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1899.Google Scholar
Migne, J.-P. (ed.). ‘Scholia in Lucam’, in ΟΡΙΓΕΝΟΥΣ ΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΟΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ. Paris: Imprimerie Catholique, 1857.Google Scholar
Nautin, P. Origène: Homélies sur Jérémie, vols. 1–2. Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1976, 1977.Google Scholar
Preuschen, E. ‘Fragmenta in evangelium Joannis’, in Origenes Werke, vol. 4, 481–576. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1903.Google Scholar
Henry, P. and Schwyzer, H.-R. (eds.). Plotini opera, 3 vols. Leiden: Brill, 1: 1951; 2: 1959; 3: 1973.Google Scholar
Dodds, E. R. The Elements of Theology. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971.Google Scholar
Kotter, P. B. (ed.). ‘Expositio fidei’, in Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos, vol. 2. Berlin: De Gruyter, 1973.Google Scholar
Bostock, G. 1980. ‘Quality and Corporeity in Origen’. In Origeniana Secunda, edited by Crouzel, H. and Quacquarelli, A., 323–37. Rome: Edizioni dell’Ateneo.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H. 1956. Theologie de l’image de Dieu chez Origène. Paris: Aubier.Google Scholar
Crouzel, H 1991. Origène et Plotin: Comparaisons doctrinales. Paris: Téqui.Google Scholar
Dupuis, J. 1967. ‘L’esprit de l’homme’: Étude sur l’anthropologie religieuse d’Origène. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer.Google Scholar
Faye, E. de. 1928. Origène, sa vie, son œuvre, sa pensée, 3 vols., vol. 3. Paris: E. Leroux.Google Scholar
Fürst, A. 2017. Origenes: Grieche und Christ in römischer Zeit. Stuttgart: Anton Hiersemann.Google Scholar
Hanson, R. 1959. Allegory and Event: A Study of the Sources and Significance of Origen’s Interpretation of Scripture. London: SCM Press.Google Scholar
Hengstermann, C. 2016. Origenes und der Ursprung der Freiheitsmetaphysik. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Jacobsen, A.-C. 2015. Christ. The Teacher of Salvation: A Study on Origen’s Chrstiology and Soteriology. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Kenney, J. 2010. Mystical Monotheism. 2nd ed. Eugene, WA: Wipf and Stock.Google Scholar
Koch, H. 1932. Pronoia und Paideusis: Studien über Origenes und sein Verhältnis zum Platonismus. Berlin: W. de Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieske, A. 1938. Die Theologie der Logos-Mystik bei Origenes. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.Google Scholar
Markschies, C. 2007. Origenes und sein Erbe: Gesammelte Studien. Berlin: De Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martens, P. 2012. Origen and Scripture: The Contours of the Exegetical Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martens, P 2019. ‘Response to Edwards’. Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 23 (2): 186–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramelli, I. 2018. ‘Origen’. In A History of Mind and Body in Late Antiquity, edited by Marmodoro, A. and Cartwright, S., 245–66. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Russell, N. 2009. The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Schibli, H. S. 1992. ‘Origen, Didymus, and the Vehicle of the Soul’. In Origeniana Quinta, edited by Daly, R. J., 381–91. Louvain: Tyrolia.Google Scholar
Tzamalikos, P. 2007. Origen: Philosophy of History and Eschatology. Leiden: Brill.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, R. 1981. ‘Origen on the Soul of Jesus’. In Origeniana Tertia, edited by Lies, L., 131–7. Rome: Edizioni dell’Ateneo.Google Scholar
Williams, R 1987. ‘The Son’s Knowledge of the Father in Origen’. In Origeniana Quarta: Die Referate Des 4. Internationalen Origeneskongresses (Innsbruck, 2.-6. September 1985), edited by Lies, L., 146–53. Innsbruck: Tyrolia.Google Scholar
Williams, R 2018. Christ the Heart of Creation. London: Bloomsbury Continuum.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×