Origen on demonic executioners and the problem of evil / Ky Heinze.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heinze, Ky, author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in early Christian literature

Cambridge elements. Elements in early Christian literature, 2977-0327

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Origen.

Theodicy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2026.

Summary:

"Origen believed that God's providence makes good use of everything, including the actions of wicked demons, which serve to discipline sinners and test the righteous. This Element, which focuses on the disciplinary function of demons, will show that Origen's position was the synthesis and development of a long Jewish and early Christian tradition — a fact not recognized in most scholarship. Disciplinary demons were an important part of Origen's theodicy. According to him, the suffering sinners experience is not the direct action of supposed divine anger, but the wicked attack of demons that is directed (but not caused) by God. Origen's belief that even rebel demons do not escape from fulfilling the divine purpose avoids dualism. This contradicts the frequently expressed view that early Christian intellectuals (particularly Origen) overemphasized Satan's autonomy and endangered the supremacy of God"-- Cambridge Core.

Contents:

Origen, demons, and theodicy

Traditions of punishing agents

Punishing agents in Origen.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed January 16, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version: Heinze, Ky. Origen on demonic executioners and the problem of evil

ISBN:

9781009543750

100954375X

9781009543729

1009543725

OCLC:

1564131888

Publisher Number:

CIPO000317223

CIPO000320427

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license