Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• HAUCK, ROBERT JOHN

Titel

INSPIRATION AS APOLOGETIC: THE DEBATE OVER TRUE PROPHECY IN THE "CONTRA CELSUM" OF ORIGEN

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations Publishing

Erscheinungsjahr

1985

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• In the debate between pagan and Christian apologists of the second and third centuries the point at issue was not whether prophecy and inspiration were helpful or necessary in the quest for divine truth, but which side in the debate possessed true and inspired prophets. While it is apparent in the Christian texts that they defended their reliance upon the Old Testament prophets by pointing to their antiquity and the fulfillment of their predictions, the argument was carried on at a deeper level as well, as both sides focused on the character and trustworthiness of their opponents' claims to inspiration. This dissertation, using the Contra Celsum of Origen, seeks to determine what the disputants' concept of prophecy and inspiration was, which facets of the prophetic experience were considered telling in the apologetic context, and upon what justification each rejected the inspiration claims of his opponent. Contemporary hellenistic understandings of prophecy, particularly in apologetic settings, and the second century Christian apologists provide the backgound for examining this issue in the Contra Celsum. This examination shows that prophecy was central to the apologetic struggle. The Christian apologists argued that, for the most part, Greek culture was the result of perverting and restraining inspiration of earthly daemons, who attempted to prevent humanity from knowing God. Celsus similarly uses this argument against the Christians. While he holds a more positive view of the daemons, he argues that inordinate concern for the lower daemons traps the soul in the material world, and prevents its rise to the intelligible, heavenly realm. Origen responds by focusing on soul of the Old Testament prophets. He acknowledges the danger of daemonic entrapment, but argues that the soul of Moses and others was so virtuous that it rose above the restraining influence of the daemons. At issue then in the apologetic struggle are the questions of spiritual power and freedom. Celsus and Origen were motivated by the pressing issue of their age, that is, the fortunes of the soul and its freedom from the influences which attempted to restrain it.