On First Principles by Origen of Alexandria, written around 220-230 AD, is one of the most important and contentious works of early Christianity. It provoked controversy when written, provoked further debate when translated into Latin by Rufinus in the fourth century, and was the subject, together with its author, of condemnation in the sixth century. As a result, the work no longer survives intact in the original Greek. We only have the complete work in the Latin translation of Rufinus,
Introduction 1: Origen and his On First Principles I: Origen in Alexandria II: On First Principles 2: The structure of On First Principles I: The Two Cycles II: The Division into Chapters III: Theology and Economy IV: The Apostolic and the Ecclesiastical Preaching V: Scripture, Book Four, and the Purpose of On First Principles VI: Conclusion and the Context of On First Principles 3: Theology I: An Eternal Creation? II: The 'Foundation' of the World 4: Economy I: Incarnation II: The 'Pre-existence' and Incarnation of Christ 5: 'In My End is My Beginning' Text and Translation Origen, On First Principles Manuscripts and Other Sources, Abbreviations and Sigla 1: Rufinus' Translation I: Manuscripts II: Insalest Witnesses III: Editiocs 2: The Philocalia I: Manuscripts II: Editions 3: Abbreviations and Sigla Rufinus' Preface Preface Part I: Theology I: The Apostolic Preaching II: The Church's Preaching Part II: Economy I: The Apostolic Praching II: The Church's Preaching Part III: The Inspired Scripture Recapitulation Appendix I Chapter Titles in the Latin Manuscripts Appendix II Koetschau's Fragments Bibliography Index of Ancient Sources Index of Modern Authors Cited
John Behr is the Dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and Professor of Patristics and Metropolitan Kallistos Chair in Orthodox Theology at Vrije Universiteit. His previous publications include John the Theologian and his Paschal Gospel: A Prologue to Theology (2019), Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement (2000), The Case Against Diodore and Theodore: Texts and Their Contexts (2011), and Irenaeus of Lyons: Identifying Christianity (2013). He is also the co-editor of The Role of Life in Death: A Multidisciplinary Examination of Issues pertaining to Life and Death (Wipf and Stock, 2015; with C. Cunningham).
Reviews for Origen: On First Principles
Stirring and profound. -- M. J. Edwards, Journal of Ecclesiastical History This translation should now be the point of departure for readers who seek to consult Origen's On First Principles in English ... This is a translation that can be used with students, and on which scholars uncertain in their Latin can rely. This is then a worthy replacement for that by Butterworth which has been the staple for generations of English-speaking readers ... In sum, this is an excellent translation, and a beautifully laid out text. Behr's vision of the work's structure is insightful. -- Lewis Ayres, International Journal of Systematic Theology
