Fragment on Lamentations (in the Octateuch Catena)

Origenes. Origenes Werke, Vol 3. Klostermann, Erich, editor. Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1901.

Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.

This work is an exegetical fragment on the Book of Lamentations preserved in the Octateuch Catena, attributed to Origen. The author explores the theological relationship between the objective righteousness of an action and the subjective intention of the agent. Specifically, he defines four distinct patterns of action by combining the nature of the deed (just or unjust) with the disposition of the doer (justly or unjustly). To illustrate these classifications, the author provides detailed explanations by citing various examples from the Holy Scriptures. Ultimately, the text emphasizes that outward right action must be aligned with inward good intention. Despite its brevity, this fragment offers a sophisticated analysis of moral and religious agency in early Christian theology.