CWR Blog www.catholicworlreport.com
June
14, 2012 12:38 EST
A spectacular discovery was recently
made in the Bavarian State Library, in the process of cataloguing the Greek
manuscripts from the collection of Johann Jakob Fuggers. While cataloguing a
manuscript, Philologist Marina Molin Pradel identified numerous texts of sermons
on the Psalms by Origen of Alexandria (AD 185 – 253/54), the most important
theologian of the early Christian church before Augustine–sermons which until
now had not been known in the original. The importance of this find cannot be
overestimated. The attribution to Origen was confirmed, with the highest
degree of certainty, by internationally recognised Origen expert Lorenzo
Perrone from the University of Bologna.
Origen is regarded as the founder of the
allegorical interpretation of Scripture. His works, which are numerous, yet are
often no longer extant or only found in Latin translation, are fundamental for
Christian thought. As a philosopher, theologian, philologist and preacher,
Origen has made a deep impression on the intellectual history from late
antiquity to today. His sermons and interpretations of the Psalms were, until
now, only fragmentary and only extent in Latin translation. The
inconspicuous-looking, extensive Greek manuscript, whose true contents have now
been identified, comes from the 12th century.
“The find is extremely important–both in
terms of its age and its extent. It will trigger lively discussion in scholarly
and research circles, and will even allow new insights into the text of the
Greek version of the Bible. All of the church Fathers had read Origen and
received his work in depth. The discovery allows us now to deal directly with
hitherto unknown original texts”, said General Director Rolf Griebel.
Read the entire post, which includes links to photos of the
manuscripts (ht: CF). Origen holds a very significant (if heavily debated)
place in early Christian theology. In his April 25, 2007, general audience,
Pope Benedict XVI said the following about Origen:
Origen of Alexandria truly was a figure
crucial to the whole development of Christian thought. ... He was a true
"maestro", and so it was that his pupils remembered him with
nostalgia and emotion: he was not only a brilliant theologian but also an exemplary
witness of the doctrine he passed on. Eusebius of Caesarea, his enthusiastic
biographer, said "his manner of life was as his doctrine, and his doctrine
as his life. Therefore, by the divine power working with him he aroused a great
many to his own zeal" (cf. Church History, 6, 3, 7).
...
Theology to him was essentially
explaining, understanding Scripture; or we might also say that his theology was
a perfect symbiosis between theology and exegesis. In fact, the proper hallmark
of Origen's doctrine seems to lie precisely in the constant invitation to move
from the letter to the spirit of the Scriptures, to progress in knowledge of
God. Furthermore, this so-called "allegorism", as von Balthasar
wrote, coincides exactly "with the development of Christian dogma,
effected by the teaching of the Church Doctors", who in one way or another
accepted Origen's "lessons".
Thus, Tradition and the Magisterium, the
foundation and guarantee of theological research, come to take the form of
"scripture in action" (cf. Origene: Il mondo, Cristo e la
Chiesa, Milan, 1972, p. 43). We can therefore say that the central nucleus
of Origen's immense literary opus consists in his "threefold
interpretation" of the Bible.
About
the Author
The CWR Blog
Carl E. Olson
Carl E. Olson is editor of Catholic World Report and Ignatius Insight.
Note: The manuscript has been digitised
by the BSB and can be accessed via the internet:
