Letter to Africanus

Origenes. Origenis Opera Omnia, Volume 1 (Patrologia Graeca, Tomus 11). La Rue, Charles de, editor; La Rue, Charles Vincent de, editor. Paris: J. P. Migne, 1857.

Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.

This work is a theological letter written by the early Christian theologian Origen in response to an inquiry from his friend Julius Africanus. The central theme of the discussion is the authenticity and canonical status of additions to the Book of Daniel, such as the "Story of Susanna," which exist in the Greek Old Testament but are absent from the Hebrew Bible. Origen begins by pointing out the numerous discrepancies between the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, emphasizing the vital importance of textual studies for the Church's defense and its dialogues with Jews. He then methodically addresses Africanus's specific objections—including the argument that a Greek wordplay in Susanna does not translate into Hebrew, and doubts regarding the social status of Jews during the Babylonian exile—by citing other biblical passages from Job and Tobit as well as historical contexts. Ultimately, Origen defends the authority of the Church's received scriptures, suggesting that Jewish leaders may have suppressed unfavorable accounts, and concludes by reaffirming the diverse ways in which divine inspiration manifests.