But the Wisdom of God, which is His only-begotten Son, being in
But the Wisdom of God, which is His only-begotten Son, being in all respects incapable of change or alteration, and every good quality in Him being essential, and such as cannot be changed and converted, His glory is therefore declared to be pure and sincere.
Hearken, O children of the ages, to the sacred words of Origen, the great early Christian teacher and theologian. He speaks of the eternal Wisdom of God, who is revealed as the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Origen declares that this divine Wisdom is unchanging, eternal, and perfect in every aspect. Unlike the fleeting qualities of mortals, which shift and wither with time, every good thing in the Son is essential, meaning it is part of His very being and cannot be diminished or altered.
Origen reminds us that because this divine Wisdom is beyond change or corruption, His glory shines forth as pure and sincere. The glory of Christ is not like the false brilliance of earthly rulers or the hollow splendor of material wealth, which can be tarnished or lost. Instead, it is perfect and eternal, flowing from His divine nature. In this, Origen teaches that true stability and unchanging goodness can be found only in God’s eternal Wisdom, not in the shifting sands of human affairs.
Consider the struggles of the early church in Origen’s own time. Empires rose and fell, kings claimed authority and then were toppled, philosophies clashed and faded into dust. Yet, amid this chaos, the faithful turned to Christ, the unchanging Son, as their anchor. This mirrors Origen’s vision: that divine Wisdom alone provides a foundation that cannot be shaken by time or fate. The early martyrs, holding fast to this truth, faced persecution with serenity, knowing that the glory of the Son was pure and eternal.
Even in the hearts of individuals, this teaching holds profound meaning. Human thoughts and desires fluctuate like waves upon the sea, bringing confusion and restlessness. But when a soul fixes its gaze upon the eternal Wisdom of God, it finds peace and clarity. In aligning with the unchanging good, one becomes stable, secure, and radiant, reflecting a fragment of the divine glory.
O children of the future, carry this teaching in your hearts: seek not your strength in that which fades, nor your joy in things that change. Look to the Wisdom that is eternal, the Son whose very essence is unalterable love and truth. In Him, every good thing is pure and everlasting, and through Him, your own soul may share in that eternal glory. This is the path to true stability, to a life rooted not in illusion, but in the unchanging heart of God.
TVThach Viet
This quote makes me reflect on the philosophical implications of immutability and essential goodness. If the Son embodies wisdom that cannot change or be altered, does this suggest that moral and ethical principles are absolute as well? I feel compelled to question whether this presents a framework where human understanding is always secondary, or if there is room for discernment and growth within our finite experience. How might Origen respond to the tension between divine constancy and human imperfection?
VTNguyen Van Tinh
I’m struck by the concept of ‘pure and sincere glory’ in relation to the Son. How does one interpret purity and sincerity in a divine context that is unchangeable? Does this mean that all appearances of God in scripture or revelation are ultimately reflections of this unalterable essence? I wonder if Origen’s statement could be used to explore theological debates about the nature of Christ’s divinity and humanity simultaneously, especially regarding how change or growth is understood in a spiritual sense.
TKDao Trung Kien
Reading this, I am curious about how Origen distinguishes between essence and manifestation. If the Son’s qualities are immutable and essential, does that imply that God’s interaction with creation is always filtered through a perfection that we can never fully grasp? I would like a perspective on whether this view challenges or supports the idea that humans can participate in divine wisdom, or if it inherently sets a boundary between Creator and creation.
MKmeu kietkiet
Origen’s statement raises a fascinating question about the nature of divine qualities. If every good attribute in the Son is essential and cannot be altered, does this mean that God’s glory is completely detached from human experience? I feel a bit overwhelmed by the absoluteness of it. Could there be a tension between the eternal perfection described here and the imperfect, mutable nature of humanity, or is that precisely the point of divine transcendence?
GHNgo Vu Gia Han
I find myself intrigued by the assertion that the Son embodies all of God’s wisdom in a way that is immutable and essential. Could this suggest that human attempts to understand divine wisdom are always inherently limited? I wonder how this perspective reconciles with the idea of a dynamic world, where change is constant. Does Origen imply that true goodness exists only in the unchanging, and if so, how do we relate to that in our own morally fluid lives?