“And yet the Mystery of the Resurrection, not being understood, is made a subject of ridicule among unbelievers.  In these circumstances, to speak of the Christian doctrine as a secret system is altogether absurd.  But that there should be certain doctrines, not made known to the multitude, which are divulged after the exoteric ones have been taught, is not a peculiarity of Christianity alone, but also of philosophic systems in which certain truths are exoteric and others esoteric.  Some of the hearers of Pythagoras were content with his ipse dixit; while others were taught in secret those doctrines which were not deemed fit to be communicated to profane and insufficiently prepared ears.  Moreover, all the Mysteries that are celebrated everywhere throughout Greece and barbarous countries, although held in secret, have no discredit thrown upon them, so that it is in vain he endeavors to calumniate the secret doctrines of Christianity, seeing that he does not correctly understand its nature.”

“I have not yet spoken of the observance of all that is written in the Gospels, each one of which contains much doctrine difficult to be understood, not merely by the multitude, but even by certain of the more intelligent, including a very profound explanation of the parables, which Jesus delivered to ‘those without’ while reserving the exhibition of their full meaning for those who had passed beyond the stage of exoteric teaching, and who came to Him privately in the house.  And when he comes to understand it, he will admire the reason why some are said to be ‘without’ and others ‘in the house.’” (Origen against Celsus.)

In the same work Origen considers the story of the Syria-Phoenician woman (Matt.  Chap. 15) and says concerning it: 

“And perhaps, also, of the words of Jesus there are some loaves which it is possible to give to the more rational, as to the children, only; and others as it were crumbs from the great house and table of the well-born, which may be used by some souls like dogs.”

And, again,

“He whose soul has, for a long time, been conscious of no evil, especially since he yielded himself to the healing of the Word, let such a one hear the doctrines which were spoken in private by Jesus to His genuine disciples.”

And, again,

“But on these subjects much, and that of a mystical kind, might be said:  in keeping with which is the following:  ’It is good to keep close to the secret of a king,’ in order that the doctrine of the entrance of souls into bodies may not be thrown before the common understanding, nor what is holy given to the dogs, nor pearls be cast before swine.  For such a procedure would be impious, being equivalent to a betrayal of the mysterious declaration of God’s wisdom.  It is sufficient, however, to represent in the style of a historic narrative what is intended to convey a secret meaning in the garb of history, that those who have the capacity may work out for themselves all that relates to the subject.”

He also says, in the same work: