Direct Answer
It shows that they drew a clear line. What the church had defined was fixed, and that list was short, while everything else was open for discussion.
Support from the Message
- David Bercot says Origen's starting point was what the church believed, which was basically the creed. - Where the church had given no fixed dogma, Origen felt free to speculate, and no one was horrified. People could say he was wrong and still welcome him to say it. - David notes that on 90% of things, Origen taught the same as everyone else. - Origen could finish a long discussion by saying that someone with better understanding might explain the topic better. - David says Origen would be the last person to persecute someone for disagreeing.
Discussion Follow-up
Which questions in your own church are treated as closed, though the early Christians left them open? How could a group hold its fixed beliefs firmly and still give people room to think?