Chapter 3 of Book 2 Talks about if there would be another world after this one, and what it would be like. Now, as I understand what Origen is saying, he believes that if there was another world after this one, then all things that have happened in this world's history would play out exactly the same as in this one; Adam and Eve would fall once more, Cain would kill Able, and all other events would play out as they did before. This is a point I must fully disagree with. If what Origen is saying were true, then that would be God would be allowing the same mistakes to occur over again, and from what I know, and granted I do not have the knowledge of God, this is the definition of insanity. Now, I do not believe to be insane, in fact he is likely the sanest being in existence, so, continuing the theory that God has allowed for another world to follow this one, I do not believe that the same events that happened in this world would happen exactly the same way again.
Never is the same situation repeated the exact same way. The same outcome, perhaps, but never every minute detail is followed to perfection, because that implies a certain level of perfection to the human existence, to which the Fall of Adam and Eve proves humans are not perfect beings. Therefore, Origen claiming that a world following this one would be exactly the same is false.
I commented on Abigail's post.
I thought this section was interesting. I couldn't really understand why he thought the world would repeat itself in the next life. Why would they play out the same way if Jesus redeems the world at the second coming? That means life would just start all over again and there would still be a disconnect between humanity and God.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Origen is suggesting that a new earth would contain events repeated in the exact same way. He claims to believe that Jesus is God. When Christ died and said "It is finished," given the fact that God exists outside of time, if events were repeated, then that would imply that Jesus did not know it was finished in this world or a previous one, which contradicts his omniscient nature.
ReplyDeleteI kind of disagree with your statement that God would make the same mistakes again, because if we believe in the all-knowing and sovereign nature of God, didn't He already know that we would sin in the Garden? However, I do agree with your argument that things would not happen the same way again because that would insinuate that humans could perfectly recreate what has already happened.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Travis--when there is a new heaven and new earth, I don't believe history will simply repeat itself. If it did, then what would be the point of the Gospel?
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