"Monoteisma" Arguments Senās Baznīcas Apoloģētikā: Ieskats Origena Darbā "Pret Kelsu": Argument of Monotheism in Apologetics of Early Church: an Insight into Origen's Contra Celsum.
One of the most important characteristics of Christian apologetics in the early Church is its vehement denial of polytheistic cults of pagan society as well as emphasis on oneness of God. This rhetorical line continues the monotheistic tradition of Jews. However, culture of "pagans", as a...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | Latvian |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
LU Akadēmiskais apgāds
2016
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| In: |
Cel̜š
Year: 2016, Issue: 66, Pages: 148-159 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | One of the most important characteristics of Christian apologetics in the early Church is its vehement denial of polytheistic cults of pagan society as well as emphasis on oneness of God. This rhetorical line continues the monotheistic tradition of Jews. However, culture of "pagans", as a collective designation of non-Jewish and non- Christian religions in Late Antiquity, was permeated by the idea of oneness of God or singularity of the divine principle. It was present both in religious and philosophical thought. "So, was Christian apologetics wrong in contrasting Christian monotheism with Pagan polytheism?" asks Michael Frede. Was it based on deliberate misconception of their opponents? Were the Christian apologists not aware of their common "monotheistic" ground, after all? An answer to this question could be provided by an insight into Origen's Contra Celsum. With his profound knowledge both of the Christian Scriptures and pagan literature, Origen meets the challenge of Celsus' objections to Christianity and draws a line dividing the Christian doctrine and Celsus' eclectic religious views. Origen is far from accusing pagans of ignorance of oneness of God. He acknowledges the ambiguity of the word "god". There are many "gods" and "so-called gods" but only one Creator and Ruler of the world. The pagans, therefore, are right in postulating one divine cause of the world. What Origen rejects is plurality of cults and idea of "diplomatic" co-existence with different spiritual forces, proposed by Celsus. Thus Origen's argument is not based on contrasting Christian "monotheism" with pagan "polytheism". Instead, it is based on on the principle of worship of one God and communication with him through the sole mediator Jesus Christ. Hence the uniqueness of Christian worship lies not in its "monotheistic" nature but in rejection of many mediators between men and God. There is no evidence in Origen's apologetics of "monotheistic" argument. Moreover, the focus on "monotheism" might be misleading in understanding the principles of apologetics of the early Church in general. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Cel̜š
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