Origen as a source of Evagrian Eight Passionate Thoughts

Abstract

This study focuses on the question of if and in what sense Origen can be considered as the source of the Evagrian teaching of the eight passionate thoughts. Origen is his source in the indirect sense, as the terminological inspiration of particular passionate thoughts. Evagrius has taken over from the New Testament the three so-called fundamental passionate thoughts (gluttony, avarice and vainglory) and the limitation of their number to the eight principal thoughts. The description of cause-and-effect relationships between all eight passionate thoughts, both in the empirical order and in the spiritual struggle between the individual thoughts, is a personal contribution of Evagrius, based on his own experience and the spiritual direction of other monks.

Keywords

• Evagrius Ponticus
• Origen
• eight passionate thoughts