Origen of Alexandria
~185–~253 · Egyptian-Greek · Early Christianity
Known for: Christianity's first great systematic theologian — also allegedly castrated himself, which even early Christians found extreme
Origen wrote thousands of works systematizing Christian theology, pioneered allegorical Bible interpretation, and was the most productive scholar of early Christianity. Church father Eusebius estimated he wrote 6,000 works.
He was allegedly self-castrated based on a literal reading of Matthew 19:12 ('some have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven'). Many scholars doubt this account.
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