Why did some Christian writers criticize Origen’s teachings on bodily resurrection?

Some Christian writers criticized Origen’s teachings on the resurrection because they viewed his doctrine as overly "spiritualizing". By interpreting the resurrection in a way that seemed to diminish the importance of the physical body, critics felt he was effectively "spiritualizing away" the traditional Christian belief in the resurrection of the body.1

This criticism was part of a broader concern among some early church figures that Origen’s theological speculations—which often relied on Platonic philosophy—diverged from orthodox standards. For instance, Methodius of Olympus offered a respectful critique of this doctrine around 300 CE, while later figures like Epiphanius and Jerome launched more aggressive attacks against his views. These critics were concerned that such interpretations undermined the literal understanding of the resurrection, which was a central tenet of the faith.1