SOURCE: "The Meaning of Dogma in Origen," in Jewish and Christian Self-Definition, Vol 1. Fortress Press, 1980, pp. 201-16.

In this essay, O'Cleirigh examines the teaching of Origen over against the teachings of Christian orthodoxy with a view to answering the question much in debate among scholars: Did Origen write from a comprehensive view of Christian theology or did he merely apply his philosophical mind to mystical ends?

The distinct shape of Origen's achievement is a ground of debate among scholars. It is generally agreed, however, that his work established a model of Christian theology which was to predominate in later centuries.¹ He accomplished this by applying to the scripturies the methods of analysis and demonstration and, some would say, the systematic consistency which he learned from Greek philosophy. In conformity with general philosophical usage he calls each of his conclusions dogma. The nature of this dogma is a question...