Origen’s “On First Principles” (Book 2, Numbers 5-7)

Gary Pollard

[Editor’s Note: Gary is translating the Ante-Nicene Fathers works, beginning with Origin’s work. It is meant to update the British English of Roberts and Donaldson. What follows is part of that translation]

Let’s look at how the Bible supports what we’ve been saying. The Apostle Paul says that Jesus, God’s only Son, is “the image of the invisible God” and “the firstborn of all creation.” In another letter, Paul writes that Jesus is “the brightness of God’s glory and the exact image of who God is.”

In the book called Wisdom of Solomon, it says that God’s wisdom is “the breath of God’s power” and a clear and pure light from God. Nothing dirty or wrong can touch her. She is like a bright light that comes from God forever, a perfect mirror showing God’s work, and the image of God’s goodness. We say again: this wisdom only exists in the One who began everything. Everything that is truly wise comes from Him. He is the only one who is truly God’s Son, so He is called the Only-Begotten.

Now let’s try to understand what it means that Jesus is an “invisible image.” First, think about how we use the word “image.” Sometimes an image is a picture or a statue made out of something like wood or stone. Other times, we call a child the image of their parent because they look alike. A human, who was made in God’s image, is more like the first kind of image―a shape made out of something. We’ll talk more about that when we study Genesis. But Jesus is more like the second kind of image. He is the invisible image of the invisible God, just like Adam’s son Seth looked like Adam. The Bible says, “Adam had a son in his own image, named Seth.”

This shows that the Father and Son share the same nature. If the Son does all the same things the Father does, then He shows what the Father is like. He comes from the Father, like a thought or a choice comes from a person’s mind. So, I believe that when God wants something to exist, He only needs to will it. He doesn’t need tools or outside help. In the same way, the Son came from the Father’s will. This is important, because we believe that only God the Father was never born o made by anyone else.

We must not believe what some people say―that God sent out pieces of Himself like parts being cut off. God cannot be split up. He is spirit, not a body, and spirit can’t be divided. Instead, we should think about it like this: when a person has a thought, that thought comes from the mind without taking anything away from it. In the same way, God the Father gave life to His Son. The Father is invisible, and He gave birth to an invisible image―His Son. The Son is the Word, not something you can see or touch. He is Wisdom, and wisdom isn’t made of physical stuff. He is the true Light who shines on every person in the world―but not like sunlight.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. To the Father, He is truth itself. To us, He is the way we can see and know the Father. No one knows the Father unless the Son shows Him to them. And the Son shows the Father to us by helping us understand. If someone understands the Son, they also understand the Father. Jesus said, “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” Earlier, we quoted Paul saying Jesus is “the brightness of God’s glory and the exact image of Him.” So what does that mean? The Gospel of John says, “God is light.” Jesus, the only Son, is like the brightness that comes from that light. He shines out from God and lights up all creation.

We’ve already said Jesus is the Way who brings us to God, the Word who teaches us wisdom, and the Truth, the Life, and the Resurrection. He is also the Brightness. We understand light by seeing its brightness. And Jesus helps our weak human eyes slowly get used to the light of God, just like someone helping us see better by taking away anything that blocks our view. Jesus said, “Take the beam out of your eye.” In this way, He helps us see God’s light and acts as a go-between for us and God.