A particularly racy lecture today from Dr. McCartney, including several stories about Origen’s ‘personal’ life.
At the age of 17, Origen’s father was martyred, beheaded by the Romans during one of their periodic bouts of Christian persecution. Apparently, Origen was keen to join his father in the cause. His mother, rather more practical about the whole thing, took the sensible step of confiscating all of Origen’s clothes. Although willing to die, he was not, it seems, willing to parade himself naked in front of the city. I imagine he sulked for a while afterwards at being treated like a child!
Legend also has it that Origen, on reading Matthew 19, took the rather drastic step of self-castration. There is no certain evidence of this (though one wonders at this date what exactly would constitute such evidence) but Dr. McCartney suggests that Origen’s later commentary on Matthew would suggest either that the rumour is false, or that Origen regretted taking such a drastic step and wanted to dissuade others from following his example.
I think there was a third story too but it’s late at night and I’ve forgotten it. I’ll check my notes and maybe you’ll check in tomorrow for the final episode!
Stumble It!
3 Comments
Why did Garry never tell us this?
It amuses me that two things are commonly known about Origen: (1) that practised an allegorical method of interpreting scripture; and (2) that he castrated himself in obedience to Jesus’ saying in Mt. 19.
Surely an allegorist could have come up with a less drastic interpretation?!
*grins*
I think Dr McCartney suggested that Origen’s embrace of the allegorical interpretation of Matt 19 may have been an attempt to prevent others following his example…