ORIGEN ADAMANTIUS.

£6,500 · Offered by Sokol Books

Second printing of the first edition of the complete works of Origen in Latin (first 1512), in handsome contemporary German bindings. The two fine blind stamped floral rolls on the covers, one with rosettes and foliage on a stem, the other with flowers surrounded by tendrils, are identical to those employed in the workshop of the Augustine monastery of Nuremberg (Augustinerkloster 2. Gruppe, Kyriss K019; see EBDB rolls n. r000168 and r000185), active 1501-1526. This edition was compiled by the theologian Jacques Merlin (1480-1541), who also edited it. Origen of Alexandria, also known as Origenes Adamantius (c.185-254), is regarded as the most important theologian and biblical scholar of the early church. His exegetical work laid the foundations of the scientific criticism of the Old and New Testaments, and he is famous for his Hexapla , an edition of the Bible comparing six different versions of the Hebrew and Greek tradition. An extremely prolific writer and commentator, Origen wrote about 2,000 treatises in all the branches of theology. Books 1, 2 and 3 comprehend the entire collection of his homilies, particularly important are those on Genesis and the Psalms, and his commentaries on St. John and on the Song of Songs. Origen s most discussed and influential works are in Book 4. These are Contra Celsum , an apologetic work defending orthodox Christianity against the attacks of the pagan philosopher Celsus, and De Principiis , the first systematic exposition of Christian the

• Printing: later
• Binding: Hardcover

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