„… herrlichste Früchte echtester Philosophie …“ – Schulen bei Justin und Origenes, im frühen Christentum sowie bei den zeitgenössischen Philosophen

Abstract

It is difficult to grasp the profile of “Early Christian schools”. This article argues that this profile can be clarified if those “schools” are understood in the context of contemporary pagan philosophersʼ schools. Against this background, fundamental correspondences between Justin’s and Origen’s schools emerge, and a comparison with what we know about the wider horizon of early Christian higher education suggests that their schools played an exemplary role. In order to set out this thesis, Justin’s school is analyzed first. It is asked what we can know about it and in what sense it can be understood as a “school” (I). Then, the evidence about Justin’s school is paralleled with what we know about contemporary philosophers’ schools (II) and about Origen’s schools (III). Finally, the references between the schools of Justin and Origen and the broad context of early Christian education and teachers are highlighted (IV).