Origen's Use of Xenocrates of Ephesus

ORIGEN'S USE OF XENOCRATES OF EPHESUS BY ALAN SCOTT Xenocrates of Ephesus (first century A.D.) was the author of one of the Hellenistic era's standard lapidaries, the Lithognomon.' He was cer- tainly used by Origen in one passage, and probably was used by him in two others. Moreover, Xenocrates is quoted in a passage of Jerome which earlier scholars suspected was taken from a work of Origen's that is no longer extant, and further examination strengthens that conjec- ture. These passages are a test case for Origen's attitude toward Hellenistic learning, in which he rejects certain scientific approaches which he

Ancient history · Biblical studies · Extant taxon · Theology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Classics · Historical and Linguistic Studies · History · Organic Chemistry Synthesis Methods · Philosophy