Origen’s Gnostic Belief System
[Gnostic Lineage Clement, Origen, Tertulian, Eusebius, Emperor Constantine, The Roman Catholic Bible]
Source: https://www.scionofzion.com/origen.htm
By Dr. Ken Matto
Gnosticism was and is a belief that all matter is evil and that freedom comes through knowledge. The word Gnostic comes from the Greek word “gnosis” which means “knowledge.” The Gnostics of the first and second century had approximately eight basic beliefs as listed in “The Gnostics, the New Versions, and the Deity of Christ” by Jay Green.
1) They claimed to have a higher knowledge than that of Christianity.
2) They believed they were Spirit while others were soul and body.
3) They believed that matter was evil.
4) Their views produced sensuality and asceticism.
5) They rejected the Old Testament and God.
6) They allegorized the Scriptures to create a bridge between Gnosticism and Christianity.
7) They saw Christ as an inferior god to ones they created such as Demiurge or The Artificer.*
8) They believed that Christ’s body was an illusion.
*Artificer is an artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose occupation requires skill or knowledge of a particular kind, as a silversmith.
*A Demiurge, according to the Gnostics, an agent or one employed by the Supreme Being to create the material universe and man.
Even before the death of the Apostle John, a Gnostic named Cerinthus was already denying the deity of Christ. Origen (185-254 AD) was a heretic and Gnostic and along with Clement of Alexandria (d. 215 AD) helped to corrupt the manuscripts giving us the false versions of today. Here are 14 of Adamantius Origen’s beliefs. When he taught, he wore the pagan robes of the pagan philosopher plus he castrated himself based on his Gnostic views of the evil of the flesh.
1) He believed the Holy Spirit was a feminine force.
2) He believed in Soul Sleep
3) He was a very strong proponent of Baptismal regeneration
4) He believed that Jesus was only a created being and Gnosticism taught that Jesus became Christ at his baptism but that he was never God. He was a just a good man with very high morals.
5) He believed in the doctrine of Purgatory
6) He believed in transubstantiation
7) He believed in the transmigration of the soul and reincarnation of the soul.
8) He doubted the temptations of Jesus in Scripture and claimed they could have never happened.
9) The Scriptures were not literal. He was the father of allegory.
10) Genesis 1-3 was a myth, not historical or literal, as there was no actual person named “Adam.”
11) Based upon Matthew 19, a true man of God should be castrated, which he did to himself.
12) He taught eternal life was not a gift, instead one must grab hold of it and retain it.
13) Christ enters no man until they mentally grasp the understanding of the consummation of the ages. (It was Frederick Dennison Maurice in the 19th century who defined eternal life as coming to a knowledge of God. This is the essence of Gnosticism.)
14) He taught there would be no physical resurrection of the believers.
Origen’s belief system clearly indicates that he was a Gnostic Greek Philosopher and not a true child of God. For who can hold these 14 beliefs and still consider themselves saved? The greatest corruption of the biblical manuscripts happened in the 2nd century in Alexandria when the true Antiochan manuscripts were mutilated to adapt to the beliefs of the Gnostics and Arians.
A 2nd century heretic named Marcion, discounted Matthew, Mark, and John and only accepted Luke, but only after he “corrected” it to fit his Arian beliefs. Arianism taught doctrines created by a man named Arius. He believed especially that the Son is not of the same substance as the Father but was created as an agent for creating the world. Arius was a Greek Philosopher (250-356 AD) who also taught that God was unknowable and that Christ was created and not fully divine. His teachings were declared heresy at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
Scriptures declaring the Pre-Bethlehem Deity of Christ
(Micah 5:2 KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Note: One who is everlasting has no beginning and no end and therefore is not created. Only God is everlasting. This verse speaks about the Lord Jesus Christ who is eternal God. If God changes His appearance from a Heavenly body to an earthly body as the Lord
Jesus did in the incarnation in no way diminishes His Deity.
(Isa 9:6 KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Note: A child will be born who will be called the Mighty God and Everlasting Father. The only person who fits this description is the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse teaches us that Christ is eternal God and His incarnation in no way diminishes that fact.
(Isa 7:14 KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Note: This verse teaches us that the name of the son shall be “God with us.” It does not say that He will become God at a future time by some type of ritual like baptism.
(Col 1:15-16 KJV) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: {16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Note: Here we have straight talk that the Lord Jesus Christ was also the Creator. It speaks of Christ because in Verse 15 it talks about Him being the image of the Invisible God and only Christ fits this person.
(Rev 4:11 KJV) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Note: Here is a word picture of Christ in Heaven being worshipped as the Creator and only God is to be worshipped.
(Titus 2:13 KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Note: This verse teaches plainly that the Lord Jesus Christ is not only Saviour but He is the Great God.
Summary
The Bible clearly states in the above verses and many others in both Old and New Testaments that the Lord Jesus Christ is eternal God. He never ceased to be God in the incarnation. The Gnostic belief that He became God when He was baptized is a blatant heresy and what is to prevent people from saying or believing that when we become baptized we become God. That would fit right into the New Age teachings about man being god as Shirley MacLaine claimed some years ago. The Lord Jesus Christ is God and no amount of Gnostic heresy will ever change that truth. The Gnostics are responsible for the massive attacks against the Lord Jesus Christ in the modern versions and therefore the modern versions must be rejected on this fact alone. Please refer to my article “The NIV hates the Lord Jesus Christ” available for free at: www.scionofzion.com/niv_hates.htm
Source: https://www.scionofzion.com/origen.htm