Origen’s exegetical method and the Catechetical Schools of Alexandria and Caesarea

Abstract

The article presents the relationship between the way the Bible was interpreted by Origen and the organization of schools he foundedin Alexandria and Caesarea. Origen believed that there were higher and lower levels of meaning (sense) in Sacred Scripture. For this reason, he grouped Christians in terms of their ability to understand these meanings. The highest rank in the church hierarchy was assigned to Christians who were able to find the Bible’s deepest meaning, i.e. its allegorical and philosophical sense. They played the role of thinkers and philosophers in the Church, explaining the most difficult truths of Christianity. This classification was used by Origen at his school in Alexandria and later in Caesarea. The highest group at Origen’s schools were students studying philosophy and allegorical (philosophical) exegesis of the Bible. Thus, the main goal of Origen’s schools was to educate Christian philosophers.