Origen of Alexandria’s On the First Principles (Περὶ Ἀρχῶν / Peri Archon; Latin: De Principiis) represents the earliest known attempt to construct a comprehensive and systematic exposition of Christian doctrine. Written circa 220–230 CE, this seminal treatise marked a significant departure from the more occasional or polemical theological writings of Origen’s predecessors. Instead, it sought to present a coherent theological framework grounded in both Scripture and philosophical reasoning (Trigg, 1998).
At approximately forty-five years of age, Origen temporarily set aside his intensive work in biblical commentary to compose Peri Archon. His aim was to provide clarity and cohesion to Christian teachings amidst the theological pluralism and interpretative confusion present in Alexandria during the early third century (Crouzel, 1989). The treatise was conceived as a pedagogical tool, enabling readers to engage critically with the rule of faith (regula fidei) and to evaluate divergent scriptural interpretations (Heine, 2011).
The original Greek text of On the First Principles survives only in fragments, most notably within Books 3.1 and 4.1–3, as preserved in Origen’s Philocalia. Additional small excerpts may be found in the sixth-century Letter to Mennas by Emperor Justinian. The bulk of the extant text is known through a Latin translation completed by Rufinus of Aquileia in 397 CE. Rufinus, convinced that heretical interpolations had corrupted the Greek original, took the liberty of modifying certain passages to align more closely with what he perceived as Origen’s authentic intentions (Rufinus, Preface to De Principiis). This editorial intervention has fueled centuries of scholarly debate regarding the reliability of the Latin text and the authenticity of various theological positions attributed to Origen. Jerome of Stridon, a contemporary of Rufinus, strongly opposed these revisions and announced plans for an alternative Latin translation. Unfortunately, Jerome’s version has been lost (Clark, 1992).
The structure of On the First Principles reflects a methodical theological progression. An introductory essay addresses the purpose and methodology of theology. Book One engages with metaphysical themes, including the unity of God, the Trinitarian relationship, the nature of divine reason (Logos), and angelology. It is within this section that Origen articulates his controversial doctrine of apokatastasis—the eventual restoration of all rational beings to their original, pure state—which was later deemed heterodox at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in 553 CE (Daley, 2002).
Book Two focuses on anthropological and Christological issues, including the incarnation of the Logos, the nature of the soul, human freedom, and eschatological expectations. Book Three explores cosmology, the origin and nature of evil, and the process of salvation. Book Four is dedicated to hermeneutics, addressing the principles and challenges of interpreting Scripture in light of divine revelation and theological truth.
Despite the controversies that later surrounded Origen’s theology, On the First Principles remains a foundational text in the history of Christian thought. It demonstrates an early effort to reconcile faith with reason, Scripture with philosophy, and theological unity with interpretative diversity. As such, it exerted a profound influence on both Eastern and Western Christian traditions, shaping the contours of subsequent theological development for centuries to come.
References:
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Clark, Elizabeth A. The Origenist Controversy: The Cultural Construction of an Early Christian Debate. Princeton University Press, 1992.
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Crouzel, Henri. Origen. T&T Clark, 1989.
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Daley, Brian E. The Hope of the Early Church: A Handbook of Patristic Eschatology. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
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Heine, Ronald E. Origen: Scholarship in the Service of the Church. Oxford University Press, 2011.
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Trigg, Joseph W. Origen: The Bible and Philosophy in the Third Century Church. John Knox Press, 1998.
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Rufinus of Aquileia. Preface to his Latin translation of De Principiis.
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