Adam and the Soul of Christ in Origen’s Commentary on Genesis. A Possible Reconstruction

Origen, as a teacher, theologian and churchman, deals with some fundamental problems of theodicy, cosmology, anthropology and eschatology, through the tools of the rational investigation and with the support of the biblical exegesis. In doing so he attempts to develop an organic vision of the Christian doctrine. For his purpose he takes a stand against the 'heretics' - the Gnostics, Valentinus' and Marcion's disciples - who deal with the same problems but tend to solve them within a dualistic perspective, by appealing to the biblical revelation which they all share in common. TIlfough the exegesis of the biblical texts relating Adam's creation and sin, that he now interprets within a double creation's perspective, Origen elaborates his cultural project with the aim to contrast the dualistic solutions of the Gnostics, the Valentinians and the Marcionites.