Origen, the Philosophical Theologian

How did Origen, one of the major Patristic thinkers, construct his philosophical theology? What are his main innovations in metaphysics, protology, Trinitarian Theology and Christology? How did he view the relation between philosophy and theology? This is a collection of over twenty essays, mostly from world-leading journals and books from outstanding publishers, besides two new ones, from Professor Ilaria L.E. Ramellis life-long, and always continuing, research on Origen. This coherent setof studies is grouped around Origens metaphysics, protology, Trinitarian theology and Christology, and the relation between theology and philosophy, with reception aspects. The essays address Origens towering figure in Patristic philosophy, Christian Platonism, and the Platonic tradition, facets of his reception of Platonism, reflections concerning the Christianization of Hellenism (vs. the Hellenization of Christianity) and the relation between philosophy and theology and between pagan and Christian Platonism; Origens philosophical theology and connections to Platonism; the question of Origen's conversion and his lexicon ofepistroph; a comparison between the imperial Platonist Atticus and Origens theories on the soul of God the Creator; Alexander of Aphrodisias as a source of Origens philosophy and the birth of the eternity formula in reference to the Son; the problem of Origens "subordinationism", which must be nuanced; Origens major contribution to Trinitarian theology in the notion of hypostasis and its foundation in Scripture and philosophy; the reciprocal indwelling of the Father in the Son and its implications against Origens "subordinationism"; Origens influence on Augustine as paradoxical and a Christological case study; the divine as inaccessible object of knowledge in ancient and Patristic Platonism; the reception of Origens ideas in the West; the notion of divine power in Origen: sources and aftermath; Platonist exemplarism in Origen and Plotinus; Pauls notion of nous in Origen and Evagrius; the reception of Origen in Ps.Dionysius, and Origens heritage in the concept of matter in the Dialogue of Adamantius. The volume is rounded off by theoretical reflections on philosophy of religion and philosophical theology. This book is very relevant to the study of Origen, the foundations of Christian thought, and ancient and late antique philosophy, theology and culture.