Origen and the Holy Spirit

Origen of Alexandria conceives of the Holy Spirit as a divine person, inferior in nature to the Son and Father. He understands the Trinity as a hierarchy of divine persons, with the Spirit participating in the divine work of salvation and leading the saints to the Son and Father. The Spirit's primary role is to indwell and assist the saints, with two major actions: downward action and upward work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 10 April 2023
Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG

This book delves into the intricate pneumatology of Origen of Alexandria, a profound exploration of his understanding of the Holy Spirit. Justin J. Lee posits that Origen conceptualizes the Holy Spirit as a divine entity, albeit of a lesser nature in both person and work. This notion becomes evident through his interpretation of the Son and Father, as well as the influence of Middle Platonism on his theological and cosmological framework. Ontologically, Origen's understanding of the Trinity revolves around a hierarchical structure of divine persons, where the greater ministers to the existence of the lower. To comprehend Origen's pneumatology, it is crucial to examine his discourse on the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit actively engages in the divine work of salvation, embodying an economic Trinity of shared labor and will. Its primary role is to indwell and assist the saints, guiding them toward the Son and Father. The Holy Spirit's work encompasses two fundamental actions: (1) the downward action of God, where the Spirit distributes divine gifts and graces, and (2) the upward work of revelation and sanctification, leading the saints to the Son and Father. Thus, the Spirit serves as the practical and personal initiator of believers into the greater processes of salvation and deification.

Dimension: 245 x 175 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783525567364