Origen's commentary on Matthew (for Andrew Criddle)

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Ben C. Smith
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Origen's commentary on Matthew (for Andrew Criddle)

Post by Ben C. Smith »

Subject: Pseudo-Hegesippus and the TF
andrewcriddle wrote: Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:33 pmI think it definitely unlikely that Hegesippus had access to the Demonstratio Evangelica (which seems to have had little or no circulation in the West). Origen on Matthew (popular in the West) would be more likely than the DE as a source for Hegesippus.
Hi, Andrew.

Might you expand on Origen's commentary on Matthew being popular in the West? During what time period(s) was it popular? Beginning when? Ending when? (I assume his popularity waned after he was deemed a heretic, but perhaps you can go further than this or even correct this assumption of mine.) Perhaps relatedly, at what point was On Matthew first translated into Latin?

Also, what is the evidence behind the claim that Eusebius' Demonstration had little or no circulation in the West?

Thanks.
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Re: Origen's commentary on Matthew (for Andrew Criddle)

Post by andrewcriddle »

Hi Ben

Sorry for the delay.

I said that the Demonstratio had little circulation in the west because it does not appear to have been translated into Latin and the Latin fathers show little knowledge of it. Jerome mentions it briefly in Illustrious Men
Eusebius bishop of Caesarea in Palestine was diligent in the study of Divine Scriptures and with Pamphilus the martyr a most diligent investigator of the Holy Bible. He published a great number of volumes among which are the following: Demonstrations of the Gospel twenty books Preparations for the Gospel fifteen books, Theophany five books, Church history ten books, Chronicle of Universal history and an Epitome of this last. Also On discrepancies between the Gospels, On Isaiah, ten books, also Against Porphyry, who was writing at that same time in Sicily as some think, twenty-five books, also one book of Topics, six books of Apology for Origen, three books On the life of Pamphilus, other brief works On the martyrs, exceedingly learned Commentaries on one hundred and fifty Psalms, and many others. He flourished chiefly in the reigns of Constantine the Great and Constantius. His surname Pamphilus arose from his friendship for Pamphilus the martyr.
Origen's Commentary on Matthew was translated into Latin probably in the sixth century the Latin is a witness for parts of the commentary not surviving in Greek. See https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/201 ... n-matthew/

Jerome appears to claim that Hilary of Poitiers used Origen's commentary on Matthew
Hilary, a bishop of Poitiers in Aquitania, was a member of the party of Saturninus bishop of Arles. Banished into Phrygia by the Synod of Beziérs he composed twelve books Against the Arians and another book On Councils written to the Gallican bishops, and Commentaries on the Psalms that is on the first and second, from the fifty-first to the sixty-second, and from the one hundred and eighteenth to the end of the book. In this work he imitated Origen, but added also some original matter. There is a little book of his To Constantius which he presented to the emperor while he was living in Constantinople, and another On Constantius which he wrote after his death and a book Against Valens and Ursacius, containing a history of the Ariminian and Selucian Councils and To Sallust the prefect or Against Dioscurus, also a book of Hymns and mysteries, a commentary On Matthew and treatises On Job, which he translated freely from the Greek of Origen, and another elegant little work Against Auxentius and Epistles to different persons. They say he has written On the Song of Songs but this work is not known to us. He died at Poictiers during the reign of Valentinianus and Valens.
but this is disputed
Hilary of Poitiers

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Re: Origen's commentary on Matthew (for Andrew Criddle)

Post by andrewcriddle »

Jerome used Origen heavily for his Commentary on Matthew

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Re: Origen's commentary on Matthew (for Andrew Criddle)

Post by Ben C. Smith »

Thanks, Andrew. Very helpful.
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