Mornings with Origen

"And just as God 'set a bow in the cloud' (Gen. 9:13-16), in order that he might stop the storm and that it not become a flood, so too, with respect to the opposing power, the wicked one uses a bow, not in order to stop the storm, but in order that he might keep calm from the soul and quench peace and stir up war and make a storm. For, if you see someone troubled and disturbed by the passions, do not hesitate to say that the devil placed his bow: he released an arrow to such a person, in order that he might wound 'the upright of heart' (Ps. 10:2c), but those who have armed themselves with the armour of God (Cf. Eph. 6:13) will not be wounded." Origen, Hom. 3.3 in Ps. 36 (GCS 19:143.11-18)

Here we see Origen apply a trademark principle of exegesis Christians shared with their pagan contemporaries: interpreting scripture by means of scripture. A common practice, especially for the Stoics was "interpreting Homer by means of Homer." In this case, Origen turns to Ps. 10:2 in order to explain the meaning of Ps. 36:14, providing a brilliant interpretation of the "bows." Of course, considering his previous discussion, the imagery of spiritual combat in Ephesians 6:10-...17 is informing much of Origen's discourse. "So then, 'the sinners drew a sword, they stretched their bow' (Ps. 36:14ab). The apostle does not call them bows, but in describing the armour of God he did not mention bows (Cf. Eph. 6:13), in order that from the opposites as we considered it previously we might come upon the bows of sinners. Let me inquire into what resources scripture provides me for an explanation of the verse 'they stretched their bow' (Ps. 36:14b). I find such an expression from the Psalms: behold, 'the sinners stretched their bow, they prepared arrows in the quiver to shoot on a moonless night the upright of heart' (Ps. 10:2). Therefore, the heart of the ungodly is filled like a quiver of poisonous arrows. For, each person, in accordance with one’s own sin, prepared arrows: moreover, the sinner possesses a bow corresponding to these arrows and he bends a bow, preparing 'arrows in the quiver to shoot.' When? 'On a moonless night' (Ps. 10:2c). For, these archers are not in the light, but in the darkness. And whom do they shoot? 'The upright of heart' (Ps. 10:2c). But maybe it can be shown that the passage is not about human sinners, but about the [spiritual] powers. For, they want 'to shoot on a moonless night the upright of heart' (Ps. 10:2). Therefore, whosoever wants to be upright of heart, let them be vigilant night and day, since those [spiritual] powers 'prepared to shoot', and 'they prepared to shoot' bows and arrows, and let them guard their heart with all care." Origen, Hom. 3.2 in Ps. 36 (GCS 19:141.11-29).

Origen loved imagery of spiritual warfare. "'The sinners drew their sword, they stretched their bow to strike down poor and needy' (Ps. 36:13a-c). For not all sinners have bodily swords, but perhaps just as there is an 'armour of God' (Eph. 6:11,13) and a 'breastplate of righteousness' (Eph. 6:14), and there is said to be a 'sword of the Spirit' (Eph. 6:17) and a 'shield of faith' (Eph. 6:16), so too there is an armour of the devil, which the human sinner wears. But knowing t...he 'armour of God,' compare each weapon of the armour of God with the opposite, so that you know the armour of the devil, and comprehending both soldiers, the soldier of God and [the soldier] of the devil, the 'breastplate of righteousness' is put on. The 'breastplate of righteousness' is from the 'armour of God': but there is also a breastplate of unrighteousness [and of the sinner]. There is also a 'helmet of salvation' (Eph. 6:17; 1 Thess. 5:8), but the sinner wears a helmet of perdition. There is also a 'readiness of the gospel' (Eph. 6:15), and there is also [a readiness] of the opposite. Their feet run in unrighteousness and it is clear that their sandal is ready for sin. There is a 'shield of faith' and there is a shield of a faithlessness. So thus, there is a 'sword of the Spirit,' and there is a sword of the wicked spirit: these are what 'the sinners drew' (Ps. 36:14). Let us throw away the weapons of sin, as the apostle calls them somewhere 'weapons of unrighteousness' (Rom. 6:13), and take up the weapons of righteousness with the right and left hand. Origen, Hom. 2.8 in Ps. 36 (GCS 19:137.1-20)

"'But the meek shall inherit the land' (Ps. 36:11a). This is said for those from the Valentinians and some other heresies who suppose that the Saviour did not say what is written in the ancient writings, and we learned this from some presbyters who brought their teaching forward for refutation. Because they saw how the saying in the Gospel 'Blessed are the meek,' was uttered first through David by the same spirit that was in Christ. For, the Holy Spirit was also of old, and l...ater he was in our Saviour. He says, 'but the meek shall inherit the earth' (Matt. 5:5). But the prophecy adds to what is written in the Gospel: for, not only 'shall the meek inherit the earth,' but also 'will take delight in the fullness of peace' (Ps. 36:11b). So then, the bodily and earthly and fleshly men shall take delight acting drunkenly, and shall take delight in foods that waste away in the stomach that wastes away not wanting to waste away themselves, but the saints shall take delight, instead of in such self-indulgence which they despise, but [will take delight] 'in the fullness of peace' (Ps. 36:11b). For, peace is a delight and not only a little peace, but an abundance of peace, which the Logos proclaims to be in the days of Christ. For, there will be full peace in the days of Christ, 'until the time when the moon vanishes' (Ps. 71:7). Therefore, 'they shall also take delight in the fullness of peace' (Ps. 36:11b, those who hear the verse 'cease from anger and abandon wrath' (Ps. 36:8a): for, 'the meek shall inherit the land and will take delight in the fullness of peace' (Ps. 36:11). And it must be known that meekness and anger are diametrically opposed to each other. When there is anger, there is no meekness whatsoever, and where there is meekness, there is no anger whatsoever: so then, where there is meekness, there is delight from 'the fullness of peace' (Ps. 36:11b). For, 'the meek who will take delight,' are those who inherit peace, and 'the meek who take delight' are those who inherit the land 'in the fullness of peace' (Ps. 36:11b)." Origen, Hom. 2.6 in Ps. 36 (GCS 19:135.1-26).

In this passage, Origen articulates his notion of "participation." Christ, indeed God, is Virtue itself, including all the virtues by definition. Humans only possess virtues as accidental qualities, by virtue of our participation in God/Christ, who is Virtue. "But who inherits the land? 'Those who wait for the Lord' (Ps. 36:9). We wait [for the Lord] who is, perhaps, Endurance itself. For, it is written: 'and now, what is my endurance? Is it not the Lord (Ps. 38:8)?' And just... as the Saviour is Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24, 30), and is Word (John 1:1), is Peace (Eph. 2:14), is Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30), so too he is Endurance. By participation in him we become righteous, by participation in him we become peace, by participation in him we become wise: so too also by participation in him we become endurance. So then, we have the participation of all of Christ who saves, from whom is drawn and received endurance and righteousness and wisdom and everything that the Christ of God is called in the scriptures. Therefore, here it says: 'but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land' (Ps. 36:9). Origen, Hom. 2.4 in Ps. 36 (GCS 19:133.1-11).