Origen and the Possible Restoration of the Devil

Abstract

With the publication of Peri Archon in 226, Origen included the possible restoration of the devil in his universal salvation system. Some simply misunderstood him, while others willfully misrepresented him as advocating the devil’s assured restoration. Consequently, Origen spent the latter half of his career defending his position that the devil could only possibly be saved. In considering the salvation theology of Peri Archon, his debate with Candidus, his tumultuous departure from Alexandria and his later writings, I will show that Origen presented a consistent theology of the devil’s necessary possibility of salvation, while still maintaining that the devil would not actually choose to be saved.