Professor's Book Explores Origen

EUGENE, Ore.  - Northwest Christian University faculty member Ron Heine is in the final stages of writing his new book, an exploration of third-century Christian theologian Origen. The book will appear in a series of works on important Christian theologians called "Theology in Context", being published by Oxford University Press. The series also includes books on Augustine, Ernst Troeltsch, F.D. Maurice, Karl Barth, Soren Kierkegaard, and Martin Luther.

Heine feels that Origen was one of the most influential formative thinkers in the shaping of Christian Theology. "He is, by far, the most important Christian theologian, outside of those in the New Testament of course, in the first three centuries of the Church. His thought has had an extremely wide influence on the whole spectrum of Christianity including the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches."

Origen spent the first 46 years of his life in Alexandria, Egypt, and then moved to Caesarea in Palestine. Caesarea was the home of an important rabbinic school led by a rabbi whose authority was widely recognized. Dr. Heine's work deals with the impact that the Jewish Community in Caesarea had on Origen's thought after he moved there.

Heine said, "There have been numerous books written on such a significant Christian as Origen. I am excited about this book because I think it will show some aspects of Origen's life and thought that have not been adequately recognized previously. I have tried to contextualize his thought more rigorously than has ever been done and I think this process has brought some new things to light."

Heine isn't a stranger to the writing process. He has written eight books and has contributed numerous articles to such journals as the Harvard Theological Review, The Journal of Theological Studies, The Stone-Campbell Journal, and others. He has also contributed articles to a number of books including The Cambridge History of Early Christian Literature, The Westminster Handbook to Origen and The Encyclopedia of Early Christianity.

In April, Heine presented a part of one of the chapters from his book which deals with Origen's understanding of the canon of the Old Testament, during the Septuagint and Christian Origins conference in Tuebingen, Germany.

Heine is beginning his third year as a member of the faculty at NCU. A native of Illinois, he has lived and taught in several areas of the United States and has also taught in England and Germany. Heine received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1974.