History and Spirit: The Understanding of Scripture According to Origen

by Henri de Lubac

Publisher:

Ignatius

, 2007

Overview

Origen (185-ca. 254), one of the most prolific and influential of the early Church Fathers, is best known to us for his Scripture exegesis. Henri de Lubac’s History and Spirit is a landmark study of Origen’s understanding of Scripture and his exegetical methods. In exploring Origen’s efforts to interpret the four different senses of Scripture, de Lubac leads the reader through an immense and varied work to its center: Christ the Word.

As Hans Urs von Balthasar said in discussing this seminal work: “The theory of the senses of Scripture is not a curiosity of the history of theology but an instrument for seeking out the most profound articulations of salvation history...” (From the book The Theology of Henri de Lubac)

What the reader finds on this journey is not only, then, a fascinating view of the mind and spirit of an important Father of the Church, but an essential key to a more profound understanding of the way in which Christ speaks to us through Scripture.

Key Features

• Explores Origen’s understanding of Scripture and his exegetical methods
• Leads the reader through Origen’s interpretation of the four senses of Scripture
• Provides an essential key to a more profound understanding of Christ’s communication through Scripture

Contents

• Bibliographical Note
• Introduction
• I. The Case against Origen
• II. Origen, Man of the Church
• III. The Literal Sense
• IV. The Spiritual Sense
• V. The Gospel
• VI. History and Spirit
• VII. Inspiration and Understanding
• VIII. The Incorporations of the Logos
• Conclusion

Praise for History and Spirit

Anyone desiring to understand Sacred Scripture as the Spirit-inspired Word of God, proclaimed and animating the worship of the Church, must read this masterful presentation of Origen’s literal and spiritual exegesis.

—Fr. Matthew Lamb

Product Details

• Title: History and Spirit: The Understanding of Scripture According to Origen
• Author: Henri de Lubac
• Publisher: Ignatius
• Print Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 508
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9780898708806, 089870880X
• Resource ID: LLS:HSTSPRTCCRDNRGN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-03-27T22:08:23Z

About Henri de Lubac

Cardinal Henri de Lubac (February 20, 1896–September 4, 1991) is considered one of the outstanding theologians of the twentieth century. He was born in France and became a Jesuit priest in 1927. He taught theology at the Catholic University of Lyon from 1929 to 1961. His courses were interrupted twice, once by World War II and again from 1950 to 1958 over a disagreement with Pope Pius XII on certain points of dogma. After these “dark years” ended de Lubac was returned to teaching and grew in influence as a theologian. He was instrumental in shaping the Second Vatican Council and admired by successive pontiffs, eventually accepting an appointment to the cardinalate from Pope John Paull II. He wrote numerous books on spiritual and theological topics including The Christian Faith, Aspects of Buddhism, Catholicism, Corpus Mysticum, and The Eternal Feminine: A Study on the Poem by Teilhard de Chardin.