Origen: Homilies on Joshua
Overview
These homilies were among the last Origen gave before his torture and death during the Decian persecution, around 254.
With the saga of the Israelites entering and possessing their promised land, Origen unfolds the story of the Christian life from baptism to resurrection. He exhorts his hearers to persevere in their own struggles to overcome the enemies of their souls and obtain their own inheritance. Their leader is Jesus, the Son of God, who is prefigured in Jesus (Joshua), the son of Nun. All battles, victories, and defeats happen within the individual; all aspects of the Law and temple become but shadows of the fulfilling work of God in Jesus Christ. The story brims with allegory and passion, a passion for the people and for their priests who, “standing near the blazing fire of the altar,” must illuminate the path for others.
As Origen exhorted, others wrote down his words, words he had asked the people to pray for and the Spirit to supply. Most of the original writings in Greek were lost during the centuries when Origen was officially defamed. What we have today is the Latin translation by Rufinus, the basis of the translation in this volume. In the Introduction, Barbara J. Bruce discusses and affirms the reliability of the Latin text, and briefly looks at Origen’s ministry, his concept of the nature of Scripture, and his method of interpretation.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
For more of the church fathers, check out the Fathers of the Church: Fathers of the Ante-Nicene Era (23 vols.).
Top Highlights
“that those who receive a portion through Moses were all firstborn” (Page 42)
“For she knew there was no salvation for anyone except in the blood of Christ.” (Page 49)
“So, too, Jesus grows stronger and conquers when Moses raises up his hands. When Moses, however, did not lift up his hands but let them sink downwards, the people were conquered by Amalek. Such people are those to whom Jesus said, ‘If you believed Moses, you would certainly believe me,’15 and, ‘Behold, do you seek to kill me, you who do not keep the Law?’16 Since the Law and the works of the Law are meaningless among those who ‘seek to establish their own righteousness and are not submissive to the righteousness of God,’17 the hands of Moses were lowered, disbelief prevailed, and the people were conquered.” (Pages 27–28)
“Understand, therefore, that Jesus destroyed the king of Jericho and the king of Ai and the king of Libnah and the king of Lachish and the king of Hebron, so that all those who previously under malicious kings used to honor the Law of sin, may now live under the laws of God.” (Page 126)
“You require nothing from without, beyond your own self; within you is the battle that you are about to wage; on the inside is that evil edifice that must be overthrown; your enemy proceeds from your heart.” (Pages 61–62)
- Title: Origen: Homilies on Joshua
- Author: Origen
- Series: The Fathers of the Church
- Volume: 105
- Publisher: Catholic University of America
- Print Publication Date: 2002
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 240
- Era: era:ante-nicene
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. Joshua › Sermons; Sermons, Latin › Translations into English
- Resource ID: LLS:HOMILIESJOSHUA
- Resource Type: text.monograph.sermons
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:00:28Z
Origen of Alexandria (ca. 182–ca. 251) was a Christian scholar and presbyter in the third century. He is thought to have been born at Alexandria, and died at Caesarea.