Adnotationes in Leviticum (fragmenta e catenis)

Origen's Selections on Leviticus. Chapter 4. Verse 27. "If a soul sins unintentionally," it says, "and does not perform any of the commandments of the Lord which it is necessary to perform." (12) "But if it is according to nature." There are perhaps some commandments of the Lord which it is not necessary to perform, according to the saying: "They gave them commandments that were not good." A soul therefore sins unintentionally when, under the pretext of piety, it observes what is not proper. And it requires a sacrifice for remission, while one who acts deliberately does not require a sacrifice—like the man who became a Jew in order to win Jews and circumcised Timothy. Verse 28. It signifies, then, that sin is also called the thing that is offered. Thus one must understand: "They will eat the sins of my people." If, therefore, the one who sins seems to offer the sin itself in repenting, he ought not to fall into the same things, since the sin revives. Thus it is possible to call Christ "sin," as one sacrificed for the sin of all. Chapter 12. Verse 2. "A woman who, if she receives seed, and bears a male." The phrase "if she receives seed," placed before "and bears a male," will seem redundant. But I consider whether, prophetically, Mary, not from having received seed,

(14) This refers to the distinction between acting involuntarily and acting from pretext or motive, not to whether the thing itself requires or does not require a sin-offering. Otherwise it would follow that Paul acted in a manner not praiseworthy in these matters. (17) She who has borne a male child should not be considered impure, having given birth to the Savior, she said the whole. But even without the phrase "If she is inseminated," it could be understood that Mary is not impure; for she is not simply a woman, but a virgin. Chapter 13. Verse 45. "And the leper in whom there is a sore, his garments shall be torn, and his head uncovered." Why does it command that the leper's head be uncovered and his garments torn? So that he may be recognized and those who approach him may not share in the impurity. Thus the Apostle said concerning sinners: "Keep yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which you received from us," and, "If any so-called brother is a fornicator, or a covetous person, or an idolater, or a drunkard, or a slanderer, or a plunderer, do not eat with such a one" (18).

Chapter 23 Verse 2. These are the feasts of the Lord. Every joyful day on which it is prescribed, as in a holy context, to do certain things beyond the ordinary, is called a feast. Not every feast, however, is a panegyris; but according to the name, it is when they gather together from all sides in the same place. Thus, a panegyris is also a feast, but a feast is not necessarily a panegyris. For example: Sabbaths and New Moons are feasts; Unleavened Bread, the Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles are not only feasts but also panegyreis. Verse 40. And branches of palm trees. Through these it is possible to understand, and again God bestows upon us in Christ the delights of paradise. The branches of evergreen plants signify the perpetuity of grace and the unfading nature of hope. Chapter 27 Verse 15. If the one who consecrated it redeems his house, he shall add one-fifth of the silver of the valuation to it, and it shall be his. But if someone does not consecrate the price of a house or a field, but consecrates these themselves to God, he shall pay the price with the fifth, redeeming them, and he shall retain the possessions; he shall not sell them to others. But even if he sells them, the buyer shall hold them until the Jubilee, and after that they shall be God's.

Chapter 23 Verse 16. If from the field. But he who has bought a field from a purchase will not acquire it for himself; but having given an account of the fruit to God, in the Jubilee he will restore the field to the seller. (15) Hebrew naghah, meaning both to touch and to afflict with a plague. (16) That is, condemned, infamous. (17) Another codex: to be sown. (18) The following fragment, published under Origen's name by Cardinal Angelo Mai in Classici Auctores, X, Rome, seems to refer to this passage: Origen on Leviticus. And indeed I understand the laws concerning leprosy as forms. (19) Another reading: commandment, and then: is set apart. (20) The word as or that is missing. Chapter 4. Chapter 23 Verse 27. If a soul sins unintentionally, it says, and does not perform any of the commandments of the Lord which must be performed. (12) But if it is according to nature. There are perhaps some commandments of the Lord which one ought not to perform, according to the saying: They gave them commandments that were not good. A soul therefore sins unintentionally when, under the pretext of piety, it observes what is not proper. And it requires a sacrifice for remission, while the one who acts deliberately does not require a sacrifice, as the man who became a Jew in order to win Jews and circumcised Timothy.

Chapter 23 Verse 28. It signifies, then, that the thing offered is also called a sin. Thus must be understood: "They shall eat the sins of my people." If, then, the one who sins seems to offer the sin in repenting, he ought not to fall into the same things, since the sin would be revived. Thus it is possible to call Christ a sin, as one sacrificed for the sin of all. Chapter 23 Verse 27. "If a soul sins unintentionally," it says, "and does not perform from all the commandments of the Lord which it is necessary to perform." (12) But if it is according to nature. There are perhaps some commandments of the Lord which it is not necessary to perform, according to: "They gave them commandments that are not good." A soul, then, sins unintentionally when, under the pretext of piety, it observes what is not proper. And it requires a sacrifice for remission, while one who acts deliberately does not require a sacrifice, as one who became a Jew in order to win Jews and circumcised Timothy. Chapter 23 Verse 28. It signifies, then, that the thing offered is also called a sin. Thus must be understood: "They shall eat the sins of my people." If, then, the one who sins seems to offer the sin in repenting, he ought not to fall into the same things, since the sin would be revived. Thus it is possible to call Christ a sin, as one sacrificed for the sin of all. Chapter 12.

Verse 2. A woman who, if she receives seed, and bears a male. The clause "if she receives seed," placed before "and bears a male," might seem redundant. But I consider whether it is so that prophetically Mary, not from having received seed, having borne a male, might not be considered impure, having given birth to the Savior, she said the whole. It would have been possible even without the phrase "if she receives seed" being set forth, for Mary to be understood as not impure; for she is not simply a woman, but a virgin. Verse 2. A woman who, if she receives seed, and bears a male. The clause "if she receives seed," placed before "and bears a male," might seem redundant. But I consider whether it is so that prophetically Mary, not from having received seed.

Urim and thummim, lights and perfections; that is, gems, translucent and precious. (14) These things refer to the distinction not voluntary and from pretext or motive of the agent, but not to the thing which lacks, whether it lacks or does not lack a sacrifice for pardon. Otherwise it would follow that Paul in these matters did not act laudably. (17) She who bears a male, lest she be considered unclean, having given birth to the Saviour, has spoken the whole. And it was possible, even without the clause "if she receives seed" being set before, for Mary to be understood as not unclean; for she is not simply a woman, but a virgin. CHAPTER 13. Verse 45. And the leper in whom there is a sore, his garments shall be torn, and his head uncovered. Why does it command the leper's head to be uncovered and his garments torn? So that he may be recognized and those who approach may not share in the uncleanness. Thus the Apostle said concerning those who sin: Keep yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which you received from us; and, If any brother called a fornicator, or a covetous person, or an idolater, or a drunkard, or a reviler, or a robber, do not eat with such a one (18). Verse 45. And the leper in whom there is a sore, his garments shall be torn, and his head uncovered. Why does it command the leper's head to be uncovered and his garments torn? So that he may be recognized and those who approach may not share in the uncleanness.

Thus the Apostle said concerning those who sin: "Keep yourselves away from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which you received from us." And, "If any brother called such, whether fornicator, or covetous, or idolater, or drunkard, or reviler, or plunderer, do not eat with such a one." (18) Chapter 23. Verse 2. "These are the feasts of the Lord." Every joyful day on which it is prescribed (19), as on a holy day, to do certain things exceptional beyond the rest, is called a feast. But not every feast is a panegyris; rather, according to the name, it is when they assemble together from all sides. So a panegyris is also a feast, but a feast is not necessarily a panegyris. For example: Sabbaths and New Moons are feasts; but Unleavened Bread, and the Weeks, and Tabernacles are not only feasts but also panegyreis. Verse 40. "And branches of palm trees." It is possible to understand through these (20) that God again bestows upon us in Christ the delights of paradise. The branches of evergreen plants signify the continuance of grace and the unfading nature of hope. Verse 2. "These are the feasts of the Lord." Every joyful day on which it is prescribed (19), as on a holy day, to do certain things exceptional beyond the rest, is called a feast. But not every feast is a panegyris; rather, according to the name, it is when they assemble together from all sides. So a panegyris is also a feast, but a feast is not necessarily a panegyris. For example: Sabbaths and New Moons are feasts; but Unleavened Bread, and the Weeks, and Tabernacles are not only feasts but also panegyreis. Verse 40. "And branches of palm trees.

Through these things it is possible to understand, and again God assigns to us in Christ the delights of paradise. The branches of the ever-living plants signify the continuance of grace and the unfading nature of hope. Chapter 27. Verse 15. If the one who consecrated it redeems his house, he shall add to it the fifth part of the silver of the valuation, and it shall be his. But if someone consecrates not the price of a house or a field, but the things themselves to God, he shall pay down the price with the fifth part, redeeming them, and he shall hold the possessions; but he shall not sell them to others. But even if he sells, the buyer shall hold them until the Jubilee, and after that they shall be God's. Verse 16. But if from the field. He who buys a field purchased from another shall not acquire it for himself; but having given the fruit to God in proportion, in the Jubilee he shall restore the field to the seller.

But even if he sells it, the buyer will hold it until the Jubilee, and after that it will belong to God. Verse 16: "If from the field." Having purchased a field acquired by purchase, he will not reclaim it for himself; but having given an account of the fruit to God, in the Jubilee he will restore the field to the seller. (15) Hebrew "naghah" signifies both to touch and to afflict with a plague. (16) That is, condemned, infamous. (17) Other codex: "to be sown." (18) The following fragment, published under Origen's name by Cardinal Angelo Mai in Classici Auctores, X, Rome, seems to refer to this passage: Origen on Leviticus. "And indeed I understand the laws concerning leprosy as forms." (19) Other reading: "prescribes" and then "is set apart." (20) "as" or "that" is missing.