might make him like himself, until the disciple "becomes as the teacher," imitating first the imitator of Christ, and after this one, also <τὸν> Christ Himself according to what was said by Paul: "Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ." But also more simply Jesus the householder is able to bring forth from his treasure new things, the evangelical teaching, and old things, the comparison of the sayings taken from the law and the prophets, examples of which it is possible to find in the gospels. And concerning these old and new things, one must hear also the spiritual law saying in Leviticus: "And you will eat old things and the old of old things, and you will bring out the old from the face of the new; and I will place my tent among you"; for we eat in blessing the old things, the prophetic words, and of these old things the old, the legal ones, and when the new and evangelical things have come, living according to the gospel, we bring out the old things of the letter from the face of the new, and he places his tent in us, fulfilling the promise which he spoke: "I will dwell and walk among them." 10.16 And it happened, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. And coming into his own country (13, 53[-58]). Since in the preceding we examined whether the things spoken to the crowds were parables, but those to the disciples were similitudes, and we set forth the observations falling under this head, which are, as I think, not to be despised, it is necessary to know that it will seem to contradict all those things that what is said in addition—not only about the parables, but also about the—as we have set forth—similitudes—is "And it happened, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there." We ask therefore whether all those things must be rejected, or if two kinds of parables must be spoken of, both those spoken to the crowds and those announced to the disciples, or also if the name of parable must be considered a homonym, or if "it happened when Jesus had finished these parables" must be referred only to the parables above, before the similitudes. For because of "to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to the rest in parables," it is not possible to say that the savior had spoken to the disciples, since they are not of those outside, in those parables. And from this it follows either that "it happened, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there" is to be referred to the parables mentioned furthest above, or that the name of parable is a homonym, or that there are two kinds of parables, or that what we have named similitudes are not parables at all. But notice that he speaks the parables outside of his own country, which when he finished, he departed from there, and coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue. And Mark also says: "And he came into his own country, and his disciples follow him." It must be investigated, therefore, also according to the letter, whether he calls Nazareth his country or Bethlehem; Nazareth because of "He shall be called a Nazarene," but Bethlehem since in it he was born. Further, I am considering whether the evangelists, being able to say, "coming into Bethlehem" or "coming into Nazareth," have not done this, but have named it "country" for something mystically signified in the place concerning his country, <οὔσης> all of Judea, in which he is dishonored according to "a prophet is not without honor except in his own country." And if anyone observes Jesus Christ "to the Jews a stumbling block," among whom he is persecuted until now, but preached and believed in among the Gentiles—for his word has run to all the earth, —he will see that Jesus in his own country had no honor, but is honored among those who are strangers to "the covenants," the Gentiles. But what he said while teaching in their synagogue, the evangelists have not recorded, but that they were so great and of such a kind, that all were astonished; and it is likely that the things spoken were beyond scripture. Nevertheless, he taught in their synagogue, not separating himself from it nor rejecting it. 10.17 And the "From where does this man have this wisdom?" clearly shows a greater and exceptional wisdom of the words of Jesus, worthy of "and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." And the mighty works
ποιήσῃ ἑαυτῷ ὅμοιον, ἕως ὁ μαθητὴς «γένηται ὡς ὁ διδάσκαλος», μιμούμενος πρῶτον τὸν μιμητὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον καὶ αὐτὸν <τὸν> Χριστὸν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου· «Μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, καθὼς κἀγὼ Χριστοῦ.» ∆ύναται δὲ καὶ ἁπλούστερον Ἰησοῦς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης προφέρειν ἐκ τοῦ θησαυροῦ αὐτοῦ καινὰ μὲν τὴν εὐαγγελικὴν διδασκαλίαν, παλαιὰ δὲ τὴν σύγκρισιν τῶν ἀπὸ νόμου καὶ προφητῶν παραλαμβανομένων ῥητῶν, ὧν παραδείγματα ἔστιν ἐν τοῖς εὐαγγελίοις εὑρεῖν. Περὶ δὲ τούτων τῶν παλαιῶν καὶ καινῶν ἀκουστέον καὶ τοῦ πνευματικοῦ νόμου λέγοντος ἐν Λευϊτικῷ· «Καὶ φάγεσθε παλαιὰ καὶ παλαιὰ παλαιῶν, καὶ παλαιὰ ἐκ προσώπου νέων ἐξοίσετε· καὶ θήσω τὴν σκηνήν μου ἐν ὑμῖν»· ἐσθίομεν γὰρ ἐν εὐλογίᾳ τὰ παλαιά, τοὺς προφητικοὺς λόγους, καὶ τούτων τῶν παλαιῶν τὰ παλαιά, τοὺς νομικούς, καὶ ἐλθόντων τῶν νέων καὶ εὐαγγελικῶν βιοῦντες κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὰ παλαιὰ τοῦ γράμματος ἐκ προσώπου νέων ἐκφέρομεν, καὶ τίθησι τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σκηνὴν ἐν ἡμῖν πληρῶν ἣν εἶπεν ἐπαγγελίαν· «Ἐνοικήσω καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς.» 10.16 Καὶ ἐγένετο, ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς παραβολὰς ταύτας, μετῆρεν ἐκεῖθεν. Καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ (13, 53[-58]). Ἐπεὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀνωτέρω ἐξητάσαμεν μήποτε τὰ μὲν τοῖς ὄχλοις λελαλημένα παραβολαὶ ἦσαν, τὰ δὲ τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὁμοιότητες, καὶ τὰς εἰς τοῦτο ὑποπεσούσας παρατηρήσεις ἐξεθέμεθα, ὡς οἶμαι, οὐκ εὐκαταφρονήτους τυγχανούσας, χρὴ εἰδέναι ὅτι δόξει ἐκείνοις πᾶσιν ἐναντιοῦσθαι τὸ ἐπι λέγεσθαι οὐκ ἐπὶ ταῖς παραβολαῖς μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ ταῖς -ὡς ἐξεδώκαμεν-ὁμοιότησι τὸ καὶ ἐγένετο, ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς παραβολὰς ταύτας, μετῆρεν ἐκεῖθεν. Ζητοῦμεν οὖν πότερον ἐκεῖνα πάντα ἀθετητέον, ἢ δύο γένη παραβολῶν λεκτέον, τῶν τε τοῖς ὄχλοις λαλουμένων καὶ τῶν τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἐπαγγελλομένων, ἢ καὶ ὁμώνυμον τὸ τῆς παραβολῆς ὄνομα νομιστέον ἢ τὸ ἐγένετο ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς παραβολὰς ταύτας ἐπὶ τὰς ἀνωτέρω παραβολὰς μόνας τὰς πρὸ τῶν ὁμοιώσεων ἀνακτέον. ∆ιὰ γὰρ τὸ «ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς», οὐχ οἷόν τε λέγειν τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἅτε οὐκ οὖσι τῶν ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς ἐκείναις τὸν σωτῆρα λελαληκέναι. Τούτῳ δὲ ἀκολουθεῖ ἤτοι τὸ ἐγένετο, ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς παραβολὰς ταύτας, μετῆρεν ἐκεῖθεν ἀναφέρεσθαι ἐπὶ τὰς ἀνωτάτω εἰρημένας παραβολάς, ἢ ὁμώνυμον εἶναι τὸ τῆς παραβολῆς ὄνομα, ἢ δύο γένη εἶναι παραβολῶν, ἢ μηδ' ὅλως εἶναι παραβολὰς ἃ ὠνομάσαμεν ὁμοιώσεις. Πρόσχες δὲ ὅτι ἔξω τῆς πατρίδος αὐτοῦ λέγει τὰς παρα βολὰς ἃς ὅτε ἐτέλεσε, μετῆρεν ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν. Καὶ ὁ Μᾶρκος δέ φησι· «Καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθοῦσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.» Ζητητέον οὖν καὶ κατὰ τὴν λέξιν, πότερον Νάζαρα λέγει τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ ἢ Βηθλεέμ· Νάζαρα μὲν διὰ τὸ «Ναζωραῖος κληθή σεται», Βηθλεὲμ δὲ ἐπεὶ ἐν αὐτῇ γεγένηται. Ἔτι δὲ ἐφίστημι μήποτε δυνάμενοι οἱ εὐαγγελισταὶ εἰπεῖν· ἐλθὼν εἰς Βηθλεὲμ ἢ ἐλθὼν εἰς Νάζαρα, τοῦτο μὲν οὐ πεποιήκασι, πατρίδα δὲ ὠνομάκασι διά τι μυστικῶς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ περὶ τῆς πατρίδος αὐτοῦ δηλούμενον ὅλης <οὔσης> τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἐν ᾗ ἠτίμωται κατὰ τὸ οὐκ ἔστι προφήτης ἄτιμος εἰ μὴ ἐν τῇ πατρίδι αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἐάν τις κατανοήσῃ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν «Ἰουδαίοις μὲν σκάνδαλον», παρ' οἷς μέχρι τοῦ νῦν διώκεται, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἔθνεσι κηρυσσόμενον καὶ πεπιστευμέ νον-ἕως γὰρ πάσης τῆς γῆς ἔδραμεν ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ, - ὄψεται ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐν μὲν τῇ ἰδίᾳ πατρίδι τιμὴν οὐκ εἶχε, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς ξένοις «τῶν διαθηκῶν» τιμᾶται, τοῖς ἔθνεσι. Τίνα δὲ διδάσκων ἔλεγεν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἀναγεγράφασιν οἱ εὐαγγελισταί, ἀλλ' ὅτι τηλικαῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτα ἦν, ὥστε ἐκπλήττεσθαι πάντας· καὶ εἰκὸς ὅτι ὑπὲρ γραφὴν ἦν τὰ εἰρημένα. Πλὴν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν ἐδίδασκεν, οὐ σχιζόμενος ἀπ' αὐτῆς οὐδὲ ἀθετῶν αὐτήν. 10.17 Τὸ δὲ τούτῳ πόθεν ἡ σοφία αὕτη; πλείονα σαφῶς ἐμφαίνει καὶ ἐξαίρετον σοφίαν τῶν λόγων τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ἀξίαν τοῦ «καὶ ἰδοὺ πλεῖον Σολομῶντος ὧδε». Καὶ δυνάμεις