Church History
7/15/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter IX. Theological Controversies, and Development of the Ecumenical Orthodoxy." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2327-2561). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 117-160).
"§133. The Origenistic Controversy in Palestine. Epiphanius, Rufinus, and Jerome, A.D. 394-399." (pp. 2411-2415).
Schaff depicts the disputes which led to Origen's eventual condemnation as frequently petty and personal in nature (Schaff 2014, p. 2412). In Schaff's view, the move of a great mind, such as Origen's, often provokes further attempts to determine whether ideas are orthodox. An idea may appear unorthodox or even heretical at first glance. Further testing of the idea leads to acceptance or rejection.
In the case of Origen, "independent followers of Origen drew from his writings much instruction and quickening, without committing themselves to his words, and, advancing with the demands of the time, attained a clearer knowledge of the specific doctrines of Christianity than Origen himself, without thereby losing esteem for his memory and his eminent services" (Schaff 2014, p. 2413). Others followed Origen but blindly, assuming he was right regardless of evidence which could be brought to the contrary. Similar in approach, but opposite in outlook, some opposed any idea articulated by Origen, and also condemned any discussion and debate about the ideas. Schaff finds the polemics from this perspective to be quite forceful (Schaff 2014, p. 2414). We note that these polemics, in large part, occurred after the death of Origen.
"§134. The Origenistic Controversy in Egypt and Constantinople. Theophilus and Chrysostom A.D. 399-407." (pp. 2415-2418).
In Egypt, the bishop Theophilus of Alexandria, originally a supporter of Origen's views, after a dispute with other supporters of Origen, rejected Origen in forceful terms (Schaff 2014, p. 2415). This controversy eventually led to Chrysostom being drawn into the dispute, though he was not a philosophical theologian in any way. The dispute then came to be one between Theophilus and Chrysostom (Schaff 2014, p. 2416). Amid political intrigue, Chrysostom was banished and eventually was compared with John the Baptist in his death (Schaff 2014, p. 2417).
After these controversies, Schaff finds theological inquiry and development in the Greek church to have come to a halt (Schaff 2014, p. 2418). The Christological controversies progressed no more in the East.
7/15/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter IX. Theological Controversies, and Development of the Ecumenical Orthodoxy." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2327-2561). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 117-160).
"§133. The Origenistic Controversy in Palestine. Epiphanius, Rufinus, and Jerome, A.D. 394-399." (pp. 2411-2415).
Schaff depicts the disputes which led to Origen's eventual condemnation as frequently petty and personal in nature (Schaff 2014, p. 2412). In Schaff's view, the move of a great mind, such as Origen's, often provokes further attempts to determine whether ideas are orthodox. An idea may appear unorthodox or even heretical at first glance. Further testing of the idea leads to acceptance or rejection.
In the case of Origen, "independent followers of Origen drew from his writings much instruction and quickening, without committing themselves to his words, and, advancing with the demands of the time, attained a clearer knowledge of the specific doctrines of Christianity than Origen himself, without thereby losing esteem for his memory and his eminent services" (Schaff 2014, p. 2413). Others followed Origen but blindly, assuming he was right regardless of evidence which could be brought to the contrary. Similar in approach, but opposite in outlook, some opposed any idea articulated by Origen, and also condemned any discussion and debate about the ideas. Schaff finds the polemics from this perspective to be quite forceful (Schaff 2014, p. 2414). We note that these polemics, in large part, occurred after the death of Origen.
"§134. The Origenistic Controversy in Egypt and Constantinople. Theophilus and Chrysostom A.D. 399-407." (pp. 2415-2418).
In Egypt, the bishop Theophilus of Alexandria, originally a supporter of Origen's views, after a dispute with other supporters of Origen, rejected Origen in forceful terms (Schaff 2014, p. 2415). This controversy eventually led to Chrysostom being drawn into the dispute, though he was not a philosophical theologian in any way. The dispute then came to be one between Theophilus and Chrysostom (Schaff 2014, p. 2416). Amid political intrigue, Chrysostom was banished and eventually was compared with John the Baptist in his death (Schaff 2014, p. 2417).
After these controversies, Schaff finds theological inquiry and development in the Greek church to have come to a halt (Schaff 2014, p. 2418). The Christological controversies progressed no more in the East.
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