On First Principles by Origen of Alexandria, written around 220-230 AD, is one of the most important and contentious works of early Christianity. It provoked controversy when written, provoked further debate when translated into Latin by Rufinus in the fourth century, and was the subject, together with its author, of condemnation in the sixth century. As a result, the work no longer survives intact in the original Greek. We only have the complete work in the Latin translation of Rufinus, and a few extensive passages preserved in Greek by being excerpted into the Philokalia of Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzus. John Behr provides a new edition and translation of one of the most important texts from early Christianity. He includes an invaluable introduction, which provides a clear structure of the work with significant implications for how the text is to be read and for understanding the character of theology in the early Christian tradition.

A two-volume set providing a new edition and translation of one of the most important and controversial texts from early Christianity. It offers a sympathetic understanding of the text, and provides new insights into the structure of the work and the nature of theology as it was practiced in early Christianity.

Behr has proven himself to be an able commentator and analyst of early Christian theology in both its Latin and Greek varieties. Here he shows himself also to be a splendid translator of one of the most acclaimed and yet too often unread works of early Christian theology. ... [T]his new edition should prove to be a constant reference point for students of early Christian theology and exegesis and - one might hope - an instigating force for further research upon Origens contribution to theological developments in the third century Christian church.