Origen of Alexandria

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

“Scripture is not speaking here of any temporal beginning, but it says that the heavens and the earth and all things that were made were made "in the beginning," that is, in the Savior.”

God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth,

“As those lights of heaven that we see have been set "for signs and seasons and days and years," that they might give light from the firmament of heaven to those who are on the earth, so also Christ, illuminating his church, gives signs by…”

Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed.

“The historical meaning, at least, of this sentence indicates clearly that originally God permitted the use of foods from vegetation, that is, vegetables and the fruits of trees.”

And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.

“It is said that God made those miserable garments with which the first man was clothed after he had sinned. "For God made skin tunics and clothed Adam and his wife." Therefore, those were tunics of skin taken from animals.”

but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.

“In the case of Cain his wickedness did not begin when he killed his brother. For even before that God, who knows the heart, had no regard for Cain and his sacrifice. But his baseness was made evident when he killed Abel.”

“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

“We also know that what was said of Abel, when he was slain by the wicked murderer Cain, is suitable for all whose blood has been shed wickedly.”

Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.

“But how does he continue again as if speaking to men: "Let water be received," the text says, "and your feet be washed"?Abraham, the father and teacher of nations, is indeed teaching you by these things how you ought to receive guests and that you…”

I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

“So also now, therefore, it is said of these who live in Sodom, that if indeed, on his examination, "their deeds are completed as the cry" that has ascended to God, they would be considered unworthy.”

Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city.

“Lot was not inside Sodom "but at the gate." I might have said, just as Abraham was sitting outside his tent, out of hospitality, even at an inconvenient time (for it was the middle of the day) on the lookout for travelers, so his relative…”

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

“But let us return to Lot, who, fleeing the destruction of Sodom with his wife and daughters after he had received the command from the angels to not look back, was proceeding to Zoar. But his wife became negligent of the command.”

So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when…

“After these things now that well-known story is related in which it is written that Lot's daughters cunningly lay with their father by stealth. In this matter I do not know if anyone can so excuse Lot as to free him from sin.”

The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today.

“But I know that some, so far as the story pertains to a spiritual interpretation, have referred Lot to the person of the Lord and his daughters to the two Testaments.”

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

“The expression "had not touched" is emphatic, like the statement "it is good for a man not to touch a woman," which means, even apart from sexual union, in no other way either to gaze at or to touch a woman with passion.”

Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’

“But let us see what Abimelech said to the Lord. "You know, Lord," the text says, "that I have done this with a pure heart." This Abimelech acts very differently from Pharaoh.”

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

“But it does not seem to me superfluous that mention is made not only of Abim-elech's wife but also of his handmaids, especially in that place that says, "God healed them, and they bore children.”

So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.

“Isaac, Scripture says, "grew" and became strong; that is, Abraham's joy grew as he looked not at those things "which are seen but at the things which are not seen."”

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

“The third day, however, is always applied to mysteries. For also when the people had departed from Egypt, they offer sacrifice to God on the third day and are purified on the third day. And the third day is the day of the Lord's resurrection.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac.

“That Isaac carries on himself "the wood for the burnt offering" is a figure, because Christ also "himself carried his own cross," and yet to carry "the wood for the burnt offering" is the duty of a priest. He therefore becomes victim and priest.”

Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.

“Abraham's response, sufficiently accurate and cautious, moves me. I do not know what he saw in his spirit, for he does not speak about the present but about the future: "God himself will provide himself a sheep."”

And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time,

“These words require a concerned and attentive hearer. For this part of the statement is new: "And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven." But what the text adds is not new.”

Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.

“Rebekah came to the wells daily; she drew water daily. And because she spent time at the wells daily, therefore, she could be found by Abraham's servant and be united in marriage with Isaac.Do you think these are tales and that the Holy Spirit tells…”

And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel

“Rebekah followed the servant and comes to Isaac. The church followed the prophetic word, to be sure, and comes to Christ. Where does she find him? "Walking," the text says, "at the well of the oath."”

After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.

“"The Lord blessed Isaac," the text says, "and he dwelt at the well of vision." This is the whole blessing with which the Lord blessed Isaac: that he might dwell "at the well of vision." That is a great blessing for those who understand it.”

But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,

“So therefore also now it is related of Rebekah: "She departed to inquire of the Lord." As we have said, she should be considered to have departed not by the steps of her feet but by the advances of her mind.You also therefore will be…”

and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the…

“I think that this can be said also of each of us as individuals that "two nations and two peoples are within you." For there is a people of virtue within us, and there is no less a people of vice within us.”