The end and the Genesis. Relationship between eschatology and protology in Origen's De principiis

Abstract

The present article examines the relationship between the beginning and the end, according to Origen's De principiis, and his axiom: The end is always like the beginning (Prin 16,2). Taking such an axiom both as a starting point and an interpretive key, three main subjects are discussed: The initial and final unity of all creatures; the final stability of rational beings; the initial and final relation between rational beings and matter. As a result of the inner coherence of Origen's thought, beginning and end shed light on each other, and the coincidence of protology and eschatology leads to new insights on the aforementioned questions, especially on the controversial problem of the beginning and end of matter.