Some bishops, “particularly in the largest cities,” make themselves as inaccessible as tyrants in order to overawe their congregations.1639 Origen comments on the behavior of Joshua who received his lot of inheritance after all the tribes and after Caleb, saying, “Why do you think he wanted to be ‘last of all’? Doubtless so that he might be ‘first of all’ (Matt.
1635 R. Cadiou, Origen (Herder Book Co., 1944): p. 315.
1636 Ernest Latko, Origen’s Concept of penance (Laval, 1949): p. 70.
1637 Ernest Latko, Origen’s Concept of penance (Laval, 1949): p. 102.
1638 Origen, Homilies on Joshua 21.1 (FOTC 105:184–185; PG 12:928); Ernest Latko, Origen’s Concept of penance (Laval, 1949): p. 102.
1639 Origen, The Commentary of Origen on the Gospel of St. Matthew. Vol. 2 , trans., Ronald E. Heine (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2018) 16.8: pp. 484–486. See also Joseph W. Trigg, “The Charismatic Intellectual: Origen’s Understanding of Religious Leadership.” Church History 50, no. 1 (1981): 5–19: p. 14.
19:30). And he did not presume for himself a portion of the inheritance, but he received it from the people. The people gave him an inheritance from that which they themselves had received. For thus it is written, ‘And the sons of Israel gave Jesus the son of Nun a portion’ (Josh. 19:49). But ‘these things happened figuratively to them’ (1 Cor. 10:11) … it is said, ‘The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself, and you will find favor before the Lord’ (Sir. 3:16); and again, that which is written, ‘If they appoint you leader, do not be lifted up, but be among them as one of them’ (Sir. 32:9).”1640
“Accordingly, if we do alms before men … we receive the reward from men (cf. Matt. 6:1–4); and universally, everything done with an eye on being glorified by men has no reward from Him who … renders the reward to those who are pure, in secret. So, too, those influenced by thoughts of vain glory or love of gain act with sullied motives. The teaching which is thought to be the teaching of the church, if it becomes servile through words of flattery, either when it is used as a pretext for avarice, or when one seeks human glory because of one’s teaching, it is no longer the teaching of those ‘who have been set up in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers’ (1 Cor. 12:28). And you will say the same with regard to one who seeks the office of bishop for the sake of human esteem, or for the sake of gain received form converts to the word who give in the name of piety; a bishop of that sort assuredly does not ‘aspire to a noble task’ (1 Tim. 3:1), nor can he be ‘irreproachable, temperate, self-controlled,’ as he is intoxicated with glory and intemperately puffed up with it. The same is also applicable to presbyters and deacons.”1641
In his homilies and exegetical works, Origen presents an image of humility, for clergymen and teachers alike:
- He always attributed his understanding and knowledge of the scriptures to God’s grace, not to himself.
- He would often ask those who attended his sermons to listen to those who were more wise than him and had attained more grace of understanding from God; for example: “It is likely, therefore, that a person wiser than us, and judged by God to be worthy of a clearer and richer gift in a word of wisdom through the Spirit of God, and a gift of knowledge in the word according to the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8), will discover with full apprehension things loftier and greater … But we … ask leniency from our readers … Perhaps, because of our eagerness and lack of hesitation, we will appear to have something worthy of acceptance.”1642 and, “May God grant to whom He wills a richer word of wisdom and a more distinct word in the light of knowledge so that these words
1640 Origen, Homilies on Joshua 24.2 (FOTC 105:206).
1641 Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew 11.15 (ANF 10:444). See also Thomas Halton, The Church (Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 4) (Wilmington, Del.: M. Glazier, 1985): p. 21.
1642 Origen, The Commentary of Origen on the Gospel of St. Matthew. Vol. 1 , trans., Ronald E. Heine (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2018) 15:37: pp. 228–229.
of ours, in comparison with those proceeding from such great gifts, may be found to be like a lamp beside the sun.”1643
- Origen modestly concludes his exposition, saying, “These are the things we have perceived in relation to this passage at the present. But let the person who is able and who possesses a greater grace in relation to this passage speak greater and better things.”1644 “(None can fully interpret) unless Jesus, who privately explained everything to His own disciples (Mark 4:34), has made His dwelling in his mind and opens all the dark, hidden unseen, treasure-chambers in the parable … Now I have not yet received a mind sufficient and capable of being mingled with the mind of Christ and thus able to attain to such things.”1645