Abstract

In his writings De oratione and Contra Celsum Origenes is firmly opposed to the idea, that God is knowable by means of philosophy. Although Origenes, as far asphilosophy is concerned, feels most familiar with Platonism, his ideas about knowing God differ from Plato and the Middle Platonists and from the Greek Apologists as well. According to Origenes God is only to be known by way of the faith. Knowing (ginèskein, gnwr…zein, e„dšnai) God is equal to seeing (blšpein, Ðr©n) or beholding (qewre‹n, qe©sqai) God. In Origenes’ De principiis, a work he wrote in an earlier period, we see a different view on this subject: God, being invisible, cannot be seen and, therefore, seeing God means knowing God. In regard of the idea that God is only knowable through the Christian faith, Origenes agrees with his predecessor Clement of Alexandria. The vigour by which he expresses his conviction obviously represents a reaction to the violent attack on Christianity by Celsus.