Origen and Patristic Universalism

The Weidner Institute is hosting an upcoming seminar from Dr. Eric Phillips (Fellow of Historical Theology) titled Origen and Patristic Universalism, on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 8:00 to 10:00pm EST. If you are unable to attend live, you will be able to view the video after the live lesson. SIGN UP HERE

You can also sign up for the Weidner Institute on Skool to get access to this upcoming seminar along with our entire course catalogue, and a forum to discuss these topics with other students and the Weidner Institute fellows. BECOME A STUDENT

This presentation will explain the teaching that led to Origen's posthumous condemnation as a heretic: the Apokatastasis (Restoration) of all creatures to God. This doctrine that undermined and eventually overthrew his reputation in Late Antiquity has been one of the reasons for the resurgence of interest in Origen in the 20th century. We will compare his Universalist speculations to those of several other Patristic figures, both among his admirers (Didymus the Blind and Gregory of Nyssa) and his detractors (Theodore of Mopsuestia), and will evaluate the claim made by Universalists today that this was the generally-accepted teaching in large swathes of the Early Church via the test case of Athanasius of Alexandria.

---

---