Institute for Colossians Studies

Origen

Origen (c. 185 – c. 253) composed a significant number of commentaries, a number of which are lost to us. This translation is of a fragment of Origen’s commentary on Colossians, likely commenting on Colossians 1:16.

Text

[PAGE 273] But the law was given to Moses through angels in the hand and power of the mediator, Christ, who, since He was in the beginning the Word of God, and was with God, and the Word was God, ministered to the Father in all things. “For all things were made through him,” that is, not only creatures, but also the law, and the prophets; and he himself is the “mediator of God and men.” This Word indeed was made man at the end of the ages, [274] Jesus Christ, but before this manifest advent in the flesh he was indeed the mediator of men, but he was not yet man. Nevertheless, he was even then the mediator of God and men: whence also the law given through angels is said to have been given in the hands of the mediator himself, so that it might be “a holy law, and a holy, and just, and good commandment,” and all these things might be sanctified by Christ.

FOOTNOTES

Page 273 Footnotes

  1. This fragment exists, taken from the Apology for Origen by Pamphilus the Martyr, ed. Routh, Tom. IV. p. 692. Cf. works relating to Origen in the edition of Routh, Tom. IV. p. 37. coll. edd. Merlini Tom. IV., and indeed from ed. M. I. fol. CLXVIII, but from ed. M. II. fol. CLXVII.
  2. Galatians 3:19.
  3. The editions of Merlin read: “in the hand of the mediator Christ, and by the power, who etc.”.
  4. “of God” is missing in the editions of Merlin. Cfr. Gospel of John 1:1-2.
  5. Gospel of John 1:3.
  6. Ed. M. I: “and he himself the mediator,” ed. M. II: “and he himself is the mediator.” 1 Timothy 2:5.
  7. The editions of Merlin read: “indeed at the end of the ages etc.”.

Page 274 Footnotes

  1. Ed. M. I: manifeste (manifestly).
  2. Ed. Routh p. 37. in the notes: “Our manuscripts read: ‘of all’; but it seems it should be read with the published editions as: ‘of men.’”.
  3. 1 Timothy 2:5.
  4. Ed. Routh p. 692. and p. 37. in the text: “is not said to have been given without him,” yet the same p. 37. in the notes: “the published editions,” (e.g. the editions of Merlin,) “and the Sorbonne manuscript: ‘is said to have been given in him.’ But the other manuscripts as in the text.”.
  5. Romans 7:12.
  6. “and” is missing in ed. M. I.
Latin Source

Source Link: https://archive.org/details/operaomniaquaegr05orig/page/272/mode/2up

[PAGE 273]

TERTIO LIBRO ORIGENIS IN EPISTOLAM AD COLOSSENSES.

Data1 est2 autem lex Mosi per angelos in3 manu et virtute mediatoris, Christi, qui cum esset in principio Verbum Dei,4 et apud Deum esset, et Deus esset Verbum, Patri in omnibus ministravit. “Omnia5 enim per ipsum facta sunt,” id est, non solum creaturae, sed et lex, et prophetae; et6 ipse est “mediator Dei et hominum.” Quod Verbum7 in fine quidem saeculorum homo

[PAGE 274]

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factus est, Jesus Christus, sed ante hunc manifestum1 in carne adventum mediator quidem erat hominum,2 sed nondum erat homo. Erat tamen et tunc mediator3 Dei et hominum: unde et data lex per angelos, in4 ipsius mediatoris manibus data esse dicitur, ut esset “lex5 sancta, et6 mandatum sanctum, et justum, et bonum,” et omnia haec sanctificarentur a Christo.

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FOOTNOTES

[Footnotes Page 273]

1. Exstat hoc fragmentum, desumtum ex Apologia Pamphili martyris pro Origene, ed. Runei Tom. IV. pag. 692. Cf. opera ad Orig. spectantia in ed. Ruaei Tom. IV. pag. 37. coll. edd. Merlini Tom. IV., et quidem ex ed. M. I. fol. CLXVIII, ex ed. autem M. II. fol. CLXVII.

2. Galat. III, 19.

3. Edd. Merlini: in manu mediatoris Christi, et virtute, qui etc.

4. Deest „Dei” in edd. Merl. Cfr. Ev. Joann. I, 1. 2.

5. Ev. Joann. I, 3.

6. Ed. M. I: “et ipsemet mediator,” ed. M. II: “et ipsemet est mediator.” I Tim. II, 5.

7. Edd. Merlini: quidem in fine saeculorum etc.

[Footnotes Page 274]

1. Ed. M. I: manifeste.

2. Ed. Ruaci p. 37. in notis: „Mss. nostri: omnium; sed legendum videtur cum editis: hominum.”

3. I Tim. II, 5.

4. Ed. Ruaei p. 692. et p. 37. in textu: “sine ipsius data esse non dicitur,” eadem tamen p. 37. in notis: editi,” (e. c. edd. Merlini,) et Msc. Sorbonicus: in ipsius data esse dicitur. Caeteri vero Mss. ut in textu.”

5. Rom. VII, 12.

6. Desideratur “et” in ed. M. 1.