In the early days of Christianity, people in Northern and Eastern Africa were heavily involved in shaping its theology and message. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they mixed their cultural and intellectual ideas, along with Greek philosophy and the teachings of the apostles to create something unique.

Last week, we discussed Origen, an important thinker in the Church. This week, we will discuss him again and next week we will learn about Cyril of Alexandria. This week we will find out how Origen tried to connect Greek philosophy with Christianity to help us better understand our faith.

Origen studied a philosophical system called Neo-Platonism, based on the ideas of a philosopher named Plotinus. This system focused on things that couldn't be seen and reality beyond what we can sense. Neo-Platonism had three main ideas: The One (the all-important source of everything), Emanation (how everything comes from The One), and The Nous (the first thing that comes from The One, representing pure intellect and original ideas).

Origen wanted to make Christian beliefs fit with Greek philosophical ideas. He thought that faith and reason both help us find the truth. He saw God as similar to The One in Neo-Platonism, really powerful and beyond our understanding. He also thought about how everything comes from God, but God is still separate from what He creates. Think of the passage from Colossians, “For by him all things were 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 (Col, 1:16).”

Origen also said Christ is like The Logos (or the Word) in Neo-Platonism. He believed that Christ is how everything was made and connects the divine and human worlds. This fits with the passage from John 1: 1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him, nothing came to be.”

Origen also thought that our souls can improve through thinking and spiritual growth, which matches up with Neo-Platonism's teaching about returning to a divine source. Later on, other Christian thinkers, especially in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, used Origen's ideas to keep connecting Greek philosophy with Christianity. They built on his work to explore the relationship between faith and reason. So, Northern Africa made important contributions to the early Church.