SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

After a transitional period, following the relocation of the Patriarchate from Alexandria to Cairo, there is no mention found of such a bishop, except for two special occasions which will be discussed further. ------------------------- Title: Wrestling with Principalities, Powers, and Rulers of Darkness (Eph. 6:12): Origen's Scriptural Exegesis on the Freedom of the Will Presenter: Mr. Samuel Youssef, (Los Angeles, CA) Abstract: When Origen embraced and revived the Catechetical School of Alexandria at the age of twenty–one in 203 AD, he fueled it with an unparalleled passion and vision for developing an institution devoted to uncovering and teaching the deep, hidden, spiritual truths of the Holy Scriptures. Origen, while in Alexandria and Caesarea, preached and taught dialectics, physics, ethics, and metaphysics – laying the foundation for his crowning synthesis of the sacred science of Christian theology. Origen’s Biblical exegesis concerning the nature of the freedom of will lies in Book 3 of his work, De Principiis, “On First Principles.” He embarks on a Scriptural analysis of passages which may seem to contradict each other and indirectly suggest Biblical authority against the nature of free will.

Origen brilliantly explicates verses such as (1) “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart…,” (2) “ …I will take away their stony hearts and will give them hearts of flesh, that they may walk in My precepts and keep My ways…,” and (3) “…that seeing they may not see; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest they should be converted and their sins be forgiven them…,” in the context of freedom of will. What follows this exegesis is a very practical commentary on the nature of free will, man’s use of it in the pursuance of his ultimate goal, and its position in light of temptation. Today’s presentation will analyze Origen’s use of natural phenomenon in his interpretation of Scripture, and animate the specific examples he uses in justifying the soundness of Biblical authority on the issue of the nature of free will. The focus will then shift to the practical exhortations he makes to the catechumens concerning the struggles they must endure in advocating to live a deep spiritual life, explaining to them how we “wrestle, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness.” This presentation will not offer a historical “critique” of Origen’s work and will not delve into the doctrines of “heresy” accrued to him in later centuries. Rather, my goal is to bring to your attention a valuable resource from one of the most distinguished Fathers of early Christianity concerning a Biblically sound interpretation of “free will” placed against a backdrop of philosophical ingenious.

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter The Seventh International Congress of Coptic Studies August 27-September 2, 2000, Leiden the Netherlands (by Dr. J. van der Vliet)

The following is the text of the address sent to the participants of the “Second St. Shenouda Conference of Coptic Studies” (Los Angeles, August 13-14, 1999) by the author. H.N.T Dear friends and colleagues,

This address must necessarily open on a sad note - for the following few words will certainly be unable to replace the living voice and the inspiring presence of Professor Paul van Moorsel who, quite unexpectedly, passed away on the 1st of July. May the Lord grant him rest in His Kingdom!

-10-