An end or consummation would seem to be an indication of the perfection and completion of things. And this reminds us here, that if there be any one imbued with a desire of reading and understanding subjects of such difficulty and importance, he ought to bring to the effort a perfect and instructed understanding, lest perhaps, if he has had no experience in questions of this kind, they may appear to him as vain and superfluous; or if his mind be full of preconceptions and prejudices on other points, he may judge these to be heretical and opposed to the faith of the Church, yielding in so doing not so much to the convictions of reason as to the dogmatism of prejudice. These subjects, indeed, are treated by us with great solicitude and caution, in the manner rather of an investigation and discussion, than in that of fixed and certain decision. For we have pointed out in the preceding pages those questions which must be set forth in clear dogmatic propositions, as I think has been done to the best of my ability when speaking of the Trinity. But on the present occasion our exercise is to be conducted, as we best may, in the style of a disputation rather than of strict definition. (Book I, Chapter 5, Part 1)

In matters of faith we are well served to proceed,"in the manner rather of an investigation and discussion, than in that of fixed and certain decision."

We now think of a "dispute" as a verbal fight, but its Latin root means to think or consider a thesis, supposition, or proposition.

Origen suggests the profound issues and mysteries of faith are ill-matched to definition, but well-suited for ongoing discussion.

If this is our approach will we grow together in wisdom and humility, faith and understanding.