Commentarii in Joannem OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP

 to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by applying iron to them, but from it you shall eat, and you shall n

 discourse. Therefore, as we said in the beginning for I think it necessary to return to that point, the explanation of the divine mysteries is exceed

 the Son is by nature, and for this reason not created, but from the substance of God the Father, as true light from true light, from the preceding say

 a path might be opened for the simpler ones, since no voice of the saints, who have become eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, is tripped up by

 recent, says the divine scripture. How then is he not recent, if he was born in later times? And how was he not lying when he said to the Jews, Ame

 for instance, its radiance, or as from fire its innate heat for in such examples, it is possible to see one thing being generated from one, yet alway

 to others, if indeed according to them he is of late birth and one of those made in time of necessity the blessed Evangelist more sharply attacks tho

 in hypostasis, and the Son likewise, the Holy Spirit obviously also being glorified with them, even if nothing for the present were examined concernin

 in hypostasis and in number, since every argument persuades us to understand that which has proceeded from something to be other than that from which

 and to subsist by himself, and the Son again likewise, does this not overturn the Holy Trinity being seen in the identity of substance? 1.31 CHAPTER 3

 Father, because he has all things in himself perfectly perfect, therefore, clearly is also the Son, the wisdom and the power, the light and the truth

 1.36 they make the Son subject to the Father, as lesser according to them therefore He will be entirely other and alien to the Father. How then does

 a witness, saying that from him is every family in heaven and on earth. But to say this is most absurd for he who dared to say, Do you seek a proof

 which he himself is, of a substance that admits of being lesser. But he will bear it in potentiality, even if he has not yet borne it since things th

 has begotten, but a lesser one. For if it appeared better to beget the Son equal to Himself in all things, who prevented Him from doing this? For if w

 radiance of radiance. Therefore, as if having heard them already blaspheming, and being reasonably moved against the outrageous madness of their writi

 Son and Word and they bring forward for proof of their own, as they think, opinion, or rather of their unbridled impiety, our Lord Jesus Christ sayin

 mind, that is, the attribute, of those who suppose the Son to think something other than the will of the Father for he keeps, as he says, his word, a

 proper, and a son will be understood as someone from a certain father and a father again is shown to be the begetter of someone. But if you think to

 being but yet he will never possess being Father for this is one of the properties of the begetter but the Son will remain, deprived of none of the

 as entering by necessity. For what will be between a father and a son, or again, a son and a father? But if, according to their ignorance, an interven

 to lament the unholy heretics, and indeed to say over them that which is spoken in the prophets Weep not for the dead nor bemoan him weep bitterly

 knowing? Therefore it will now appear superfluous to think the Son learns the Father's will through another, and the need for a Logos that mediates in

 they thought it necessary to worship beside the Creator, and they bestowed the glory that is fitting only for the divine nature upon the elements that

 having come forth just as if someone were to say that the flower itself is present by its activity in the fragrance from the flower, since the fragra

 without him was not anything made. But it comes over me to marvel greatly at the unholy heretics. For those things which seem in some way to diminish

 it is beneficial to say on these matters, that The glory of the Lord conceals a word for all power of words is small, as 1.73 for a precise explana

 But surely even the God-fighter himself sees how much ignorance it is to think in this way. Therefore if the Word who gives them life is participated

 {Another.} The Son, being Life by nature, is either other 1.79 than creation, it is clear that this is according to nature, or of the same nature with

 to those who will encounter us, as God again opens for us both a door and a mouth for our words. What then will the adversary of Christ say to us agai

 is and is brought into substance, nothing any longer will prevent, by the same analogy, all created things from being called the light of God the Fath

 participant, but creation participates as of the light of the Son therefore He is not a creature, nor is creation the light, which is the Son. {Anoth

 a beginning, the root of wisdom. Yet, however, out of love for humanity it has the light, and it brings with it, as if cast down with it, the power of

 to add and a man, to overturn a most foolish suspicion of some. For already a certain report was spread among many, noising abroad that the holy bap

 For he was sent from God, he says, who rightly astonished all of Judea, by the dignity of his life and his excesses in asceticism, who was proclaimed

 the thing signified is created, and just as it is from non-being, so from not being light it will ascend to being light, having received the radiance

 alien by nature to the true light, which is the Son. {Another from the same.} If the human mind has been named a lamp, according to what is sung in th

 the possession but things chosen according to will do not have such a state, as for example one does not acquire being a rational man from his own c

 guidance, which indeed alone saved Israel, and 1.104 delivered them from the greed of the Egyptians if therefore the Only-Begotten is not the only tr

 running back to the better. Therefore, things that belong to some essentially, have a rooted stability. If, then, the nature of created things can be

 spoken by our Savior to the holy apostles, You are the light of the world? One who is perplexed might reasonably say such things, but from us he wil

 grace, and crowning it with various honors, so that each of the honored ones reasonably comes 1.112 into the midst, and indeed also raising up prayers

 to leave none behind but he insisted that he had come into the world, although he was present in it, according to the manner of the incarnation. For

 truly both the divinations and prophecies of their own heart, having set them against the words through the Spirit, they do not perceive to how great

 manner? But we see that believers are so far from wishing to be freed from bodies, that with their confessions in Christ they also proclaim the resurr

 has been made in order therefore, the incarnation does not hold the place of punishment. 12. {Another.} God does not consent to nod assent to those w

 to be with a body, has its crime preceding it? Therefore, the proposition of the opposition is indeed ignorant. 18. {Another.} The disciples once brou

 it seems to be arming, loosing for the latter what was in the beginning, and Satan is divided against himself because of this How then will his king

 reason with theorems. He called the Son the true light, and affirmed that He enlightens every man coming into the world and in addition to this, he s

 He was unwilling to receive Him who had come to all, who was offering the kingdom of heaven in exchange for faith. But observe how the account concern

 doing the deed since love for the world was also in him. For it was not possible otherwise for those who wear the image of the earthy to escape corrup

 just as it was prefigured in that one in shadows, so indeed we also understand the circumcision in spirit to have been prefigured long ago in their fl

 the Only-begotten has both become and been called Son of man, he explains clearly for to say that the Word became flesh signifies this, and nothing e

 the Word of God, so that no one out of great ignorance might suppose that He had departed from His own nature, and had been truly transformed into fle

 naturally to the Son who proceeds from him. But if it seems good to anyone to test what has been said with broader considerations, let him consider fo

 Emmanuel, as the blessed Luke recorded. Some think John says this, so that it might be understood as follows: He who comes after me according to the t

 confirming. For He was before me, he says, instead of always and in all things better and more glorious and through the comparison with one of the cr

 again we shall know, If there is, he says, a prophet of yours to the Lord, in a vision I will make myself known to him and in a dream I will speak t

 being sought, speaking about both the law and the grace of the Savior, For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of

 of the more ignorant, necessarily the blessed Evangelist hastens to cut off their attempts, saying, No one has ever seen God for He Himself, being Go

 but not by division or local separation, but as inherent and always co-existing thus indeed more piously we shall accept the Son’s being in the bosom

 having ended his life, he was carried away into Abraham's bosom, instead of 'he has been numbered among the sons of Abraham' for God said to him, 'I

 we will walk in it. {The same.} There shall be there a completely clean way, and a holy way 1.163 it shall be called, and there shall be no lion th

 1.167 CHAPTERS IN THE SECOND BOOK. a. That the Holy Spirit is not in the Son by participation, nor as something brought in, but is essentially and by

 it becomes for human nature of every good, a release from super-added corruption, a source of eternal life, a basis for the re-formation into God, a b

 1.174 CHAPTER 1. That the Holy

 The Father Himself champions the Son for His perfection, testifying, and again the question is solved for us but if a great argument separates the im

 to think this alone is absurd. For how could one be thought to have partaken 1.179 of himself? But if what has been said is situated entirely in a nat

 being made, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself. Behold, he greatly marvels at the Son, as being equal and of like form with God

 But the Creator of all, having been forbearing for long ages, at last pities the ruined inhabited world, and being good, He hastened to join the flock

 and to the Father himself. For just as it is of the Father, so indeed also of the 1.186 Son is the Holy Spirit so also we have read in the divine scr

 truth, again hear him saying, I am the truth. Since, therefore, the Son by nature both is and is called truth, see how great a unity the Spirit has

 Son, because he is properly and alone truly Son, not illegitimate nor falsely named, but from the substance of God and the Father, not by cutting off,

 I will turn to you, says the Lord Almighty. But what do you seek, he says to them not out of ignorance, by no means for He knows all things as God

 For needing no word at all, nor even seeking to learn who or from where the man had come to him, from what father he was sprung, or what he himself wa

 the Lord had been shown. Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. The Savior resolved his suspicion, saying that He had

 the mother called upon the Lord, who is good, to his accustomed philanthropy, saying, They have no wine. For as it was in his power to do whatever h

 to himself. For this reason He is also called the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep therefore, by mentioning the third day, on which the

 our Word is a son, as one of us, by position, that is, 1.207 and only by the will of the Father, for what reason indeed does He alone seize for Himsel

 lays upon them the charge of wickedness. Thus, when the Pharisees asked for a sign in other places in the gospels, the Savior rebuked them, saying, A

 the body of Christ was called a temple, how would the Only-begotten Word who dwells in it not be God by nature, if it is not possible for one who is n

 the psalmist attributes truth to God who truly is, saying, He who fashions their hearts one by one, who understands all their works and if Christ u

 Jesus. Nicodemus is shown through these things to be still a natural man, and for this reason in no way accepting the things of the Spirit of God f

 but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. The virtue of a teacher is to be able to g

 he shows the Jews, being carried by simply unbridled and unconsidered impulses into the deep abyss of destruction for if, out of great ignorance, the

 pouring out the multifaceted poison of wickedness and it was not possible for us to escape that which was so victorious in any other way, except thro

 the law into justifying grace, I release from sin the one who is bound tight by the chains of his own transgressions, I have come to save the world, n

 reproves what is base, and having as a root the unwillingness to learn the things by which one might become wise and good for the worker of wicked th

 concerning purification. And they came to John and said to him. The Jews, being unable to stand by the sprinklings according to the law, and having no

 on the one hand, he proclaims that Christ will be and on the other hand, who in turn the forerunner baptist would be for thus, having received the k

 the type is established, according to which the one having the lesser is always found in comparison to the one who is increasing. And you will again t

 to attribute authority exceptionally to the Son alone, and to speak as of one coming down from above, He who comes from above? For it was surely neces

 being substantially set apart from the multitude of created things, and having escaped by nature from being ranked among created beings, what else wou

 of the living but as he himself understood more accurately than all others the great dignity of the one speaking, he almost shakes his head, and st

 of his fullness we have all received, as John insisted. How then is the giver in equal measure with the receivers, or how shall the fullness of the G

 Hear, O noble one, that you may again marvel with us at the vigilance of the saints for he said that the Son was both sent from God and speaks the wo

 we will charge, For the glory of the Lord hides the word, as it is written. And if we see through a mirror and in a riddle, and we understand in par

 having accomplished so also the Lord of glory, being God, conforms Himself to our lowliness, so that He might raise human nature to royal honor. For

 to signify life? But it is, I think, clear to all. For surely he does not command certain ones to abstain from evil things, so that they might obtain

 to pass through Samaria He came therefore to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Josep

 the audacity. What then will the Arians, neighbors of their folly, say to us in reply to this, or rather, to whom it might justly be said, Sodom was

 might call to inquiry, who he was, and from where, or even how he had disregarded the Jewish customs and so then the discourse would proceed to its p

 distinguished by holiness, and for this reason promising to give her the living water, and without the usual means of drawing, or finding something mu

 a husband you have said this truly. The woman says to him. And to whom then would it not be plain, that the Savior was not ignorant that she was dest

 but He assigns something more in terms of understanding to the worship of the Jews. For the Samaritans, indeed, worship God as in a simple and unexami

 we must think 1.279 that we submit to the nature which we confess to be transcendent and above all things. Therefore, also to all creation it was addr

 at the same time he was voting that it was well defined upon the successions of things that exist, he alone will be convicted of having missed the mar

 gathering up conceptions, will reasonably hear You are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures, nor the glory of the Only-Begotten. For in that He is W

 rebuke, she brought another question to him, saying with a love for learning, Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem

 the talent, but let us be zealous to work it out even more. This is what this much-talked-about woman did well, she shares with others the good thing

 The Son is the Word and counsel and will and power of the Father, I think is manifest to all but it does no harm to also confirm this from the divine

 The reaper's iron, is the bright and very sharp word of the apostles, cutting off the hearers from the worship according to the law, and transferring

 Israel indeed reasonably, but the more obedient multitude of the nations, that is, of the foreigners, will enter in its place. So when the Samaritans

 somehow more ready for those going toward the perception and knowledge of those things by which they might have been well treated, and he lavishes the

 was taught otherwise, is saved with his whole household, ascribing the power of the miracle to Christ the Savior, and bringing a more secure faith as

 he granted, commanding it to be declared to his own disciples after his rising from the dead, that he goes before all into Galilee? And his returning

 Having previously introduced him as an image and type of the multitude of the Jews, as one destined to be healed in later times come now, let us agai

 and to this one, then, again He presents Himself. See, you have been made well sin no more, lest something worse happen to you. Having at first hidde

 commanded a multitude of troops, and thus the wall was shaken down, and rushing inside, they took the city, not honoring the untimely inactivity of th

 in 1.316 God the Word, who for our sake was made in the form of a servant, the life bubbling up from God the Father, that is, the Only-Begotten, to wh

 the obedience of Christ, as it is written. 1.319 But perhaps he who fights against the truth will disobey, and will make the saying a kind of nourish

 which properly and alone belongs to him with the Father and the Holy Spirit? But our opponent will say to us again: On this account, we say, the Fathe

 the divine nature does not tolerate, since it possesses both simplicity as its own good and perfection. And if the Son is not God by nature, how does

 the Father doing. For do not find fault, he says, with the works of the Son for contemplating the substance of the one who begot him, as in its own c

 to work, Himself also But since He has one substance with Him, He is called, by certain natural laws, so to speak, to an unvarying will and power. Th

 He has given all judgment to the Son. ANOTHER matter He introduces, both befitting God and extraordinary, persuading through many things that He is Go

 of the earth, teaching us how he might still be considered the Lord of glory, who even in the last times is crowned with honors for this.

 but into a certain likeness and resemblance, even if the As were applied to him But should Peter and John, for instance, the holy disciples, be bro

 the Only-begotten is alien to the nature, but He would not at all be considered a Son in truth, if He had not shone forth from the essence of the one

 he teaches to desire impossible things, the Only-begotten himself saying, Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful? For this was to say

 measure of that which leaps up reasonably. Therefore, as swimming away from the absurdity of such doctrines, like a merchant ship being submerged in t

 having accepted the Savior's teaching. And the manner of the interpretation does indeed preserve the plausible form, but not at all the precise one w

 he will be revealed as judge but usefully contrasting the healing of one of the sick with the resurrection of the dead, he shows the power that disso

 to justly disturb those who still think Him to be a mere man? For it was indeed likely that they, being Hebrews and instructed in the sacred writings,

 of Himself, to judge just as He hears, it would then be clear that He has not based His inability on a weakness of energy in certain matters, but on t

 pity in no way, out of respect for the sabbath, practicing a most vain piety. Just as on the sabbath the Father is also at work in the economy of crea

 not departing from the madness fitting for Jews, You testify about yourself your testimony is not true but to this you will hear in reply again,

 Speak, shouting, and announce to us another deception. And in addition to these things, some of those from Jerusalem, that is, from the land of the

 A precise inquiry as to why the blessed Baptist was called by Christ not only a lamp, but a burning and shining one.

 For in the beginning they admired the holy baptist, as an ascetic, as a lover of God, as a model of all piety, but those honoring him with admiration,

 For he did not baptize into a participation of the Holy Spirit, nor did the illumination from him bring one into the inner part of the veil for he wa

 the works which the Father has given me to accomplish, these very works which I do, bear witness of me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who

 perhaps, saying that Jesus is testified to by the divinely-fitting activity, is to arrive at something among the things proposed that is very far-fetc

 inactivity on the Sabbath, and besides 1.378 as much as it came to their vote, having dissolved the honor of the Sab bath, or rather having transgress

 to them of God. And such are certainly the partakers of the Savior. Therefore, practicing a courage beyond human, they say, Who shall separate us fro

 of his own begetter. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe the one

 sharpened by words, but the things by which you could have gained eternal life, you do not even allow into your own minds. 1.385 That the word concern

 he is seen by us saying clearly, For if I were still, he says, pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Therefore it naturally happens, a

 and full of hidden theorems. But lest we seem to give way to laziness, and to irrationally refuse such an admirable sweat, simply attributing the diff

 he took counsel, saying All things that I have heard from 1.393 the Father, these things I will announce to you and again For I have not spoken on

 to dwell on such things with subtle speech? and chopping up things that are in no way difficult into untimely long-winded speeches? Therefore, what is

 the Son of man is of the sabbath. But those suited for none of the good things, but most ready for all perversities, rise up in sedition against the

 with anger, and we check the insolence of our own greed, helping rather those who might be not good to us, and unjustly, than being helped, which is c

 of the pursuers, not of the pursued, is the death, and it was among them then, and now in the case of Christ and the unholy Jews. And somewhere our di

 therefore, the ignorance befitting the Jews, let us who name Christ as Lord, persevere with him through patience, which the most wise disciples did wi

 providing them food, not even waiting for the request. For what we should pray for as we ought we do not 1.408 know, but he himself holds it out in

 the paralytic, and having driven away so long an illness with a single word, and to create food from what is not, and to divinely multiply the very fe

 to disbelieve in God, come now, let us take something again from the sacred scriptures and set it forth, and let us make clear the punishment for disb

 justly Christ also forsakes, but He also receives very gladly those who come to Him, and fattens them with heavenly foods, offering the spiritual brea

 the multitude had been fed? But that the blessed Evangelist explains these things so very earnestly, certainly gives us something to understand, which

 there is not in death one who remembers you and in Hades who will give you praise? For what is the fruit of the dead anymore, or how will anyone re

 and to seize him to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself alone. One would have cast a most praiseworthy vote, and very justly s

 he was considering, and in addition to this he was thinking about food. And this again we were saying, as in a type, signifies also the visitation owe

 having said that the number would scarcely suffice for them for a small portion of enjoyment, and the one teaching that five loaves and two small fish

 in the middle, so to speak, of the waves of tribulations we are found then indeed Christ also appears unexpectedly, and He checks the fear, and will

 manner, the divine Paul will make clear, saying, at one time that the Lord himself with a command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump

 our disciple of Christ and another of the wise men urges this, Child, he said, if you have a word of understanding, answer but if not, let your han

 we added that even while they were keeping watch and were still toiling, he appears to his own disciples, and having freed them from cowardice, he imm

 truly, and not without a share in the ultimate irrationality. But to be devoted to good things, and to be very eager to excel in virtues and to be sub

 showing. For it is as if he were saying, I will not be unable to give you the food 1.442 that endures and leads both to eternal life and delight. For

 according to that which is in division and separation from the whole, such things are also taken according to essence for being naturally inherent ac

 not an unholy matter, but rather considering it to be a virtue, that if they say the Son is ranked with the Father only in the affinity of likeness, H

 of unchangeable, I say, the rest will also have a place and what then? Everything is confounded for us. For will not the things above move down, and

 drachmas, having a measure in quantity equal to one another and in no way diminished, so you will understand that which in no way differs in the subst

 is wrapped in smoke, and what will the goat profit, he says, and the hard-to-get offerings of cinnamon? God will not eat the flesh of bulls, nor will

 1.456 CHAPTER 6. Concerning the manna, that it was a type of the presence of Christ and

 declining to seek. For that was not truly the manna, but rather the Only-Begotten Word of God Himself, who comes from the substance of the Father, sin

 having now despised the labors of self-control, we no longer see the servitude in the world as worthless. For indeed the will in the flesh is sufficie

 having done so, they are already undergoing a most just punishment, and in addition, by their suffering, they will inherit a conspicuous memorial of t

 has risen for us all, we already behold the glory of the Lord who is present, receiving the bread from heaven to satiety, and I say again, Christ hims

 Take a golden jar, one, and put into it a full omer of Manna, and you shall place it before God for safekeeping. It is truly opportune and on this

 thinking about it, slipping down to the supply of sensible waters, she says, Lord, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.

 To those of Israel manna was supplied by God, while Moses was still with them but when he came to the common end of life, and Joshua 1.473 was alread

 a little. For he who comes to me, he says, shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. For yes, he says, I myself will agree wit

 For will not the word be shown to be true also through the matters we have at hand? For they saw, they saw the Lord who is God by nature, when he fed

 to be eager to renounce hard-heartedness, and rather to be transformed into a tender mind, if we renounce anger against them as destructive. 1.480 And

 of the people in the wilderness the holy tabernacle and the ark in it and the lampstand and the altars, both that of incense and that of the whole bur

 to endure the properties of the flesh, and now that it has come, to shrink from death at the gates, so that he might appear truly a man for this reas

 to be dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Therefore, let our long discourse on these things cease, and let the contentious spirit that persuades us to stri

 one might truthfully say. But that subjection will never exist in itself according to its own principle, we shall see, bringing our argument down to c

 upon everything that has been made and is numbered in creation. Therefore, such things are found to be completely inapplicable to these substances, bu

 The artisan wisdom, that is, the Son, that which was contrived by diabolical perversity, I mean his own death in the flesh, he showed to us as a way o

 Let the Christ-fighter, then, be silenced, as the proposition laid before him is accused of blasphemy from every side, and let him not bark at us conc

 Christ having shown himself to be life and true, and contrasting with the manna supplied in type and shadow in the desert to their fathers. For he wh

 Thus concerning the saints, God somewhere says in the prophets, as if extending the word in one against all: Blessed is the man who has hoped in the

 a buried thought, and the secretly whispered murmuring among them he makes manifest for the reason already mentioned. Do not murmur, he says, among

 my Father who is in heaven.” But he is seen doing this in others. And so Paul, for his part, very rightly prides himself, crying out concerning the my

 his entering into the darkness, to have beheld the ineffable nature of God, and to have seen with the eyes of the body that which is by nature the u

 my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. For having stripped away the entire outer shell of His discourse, and having set aside, so to speak,

 the living bread which came down from heaven if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. To write the same things to you is not tedious for

 I willed for since the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer was not sufficient for the cleansing of sin, nor could the slaughte

 and it reminds us of the writings laid up in the holy scriptures, in which as in the form of bread it was also signified of old. For it is written in

 receiving them for the same purposes, toward whatever one might wish, it proceeds and is extended. Therefore he commands each to be of two tenth deals

 others stumble while correcting their own life, to have unquestioning faith in the reception of the divine mysteries, and not to apply How? to any o

 and having conquered as God the arrogance of those who were grieved, He speaks of the things by which they will ascend to a long life and in what way

 poured into a kettle should converse with fire, then it almost forgets its own nature, and passes into the energy of that which has conquered it. In t

 Or rather it is even impossible, that life should not give life to those in whom it might be. For just as if someone took a spark and buried it in muc

 of the bread and 1.536 drinking from the cup unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself but having examined my own affairs, I see that I am not

 the Savior's voice: For the Father, He says, abiding in me, does the works 1.539 Himself. Therefore, assigning what is proper to the economy in the

 to give life to those capable of receiving life, because he has the Father in himself, how does he not travail with a certain immeasurable ignorance?

 of the hypostasis of the one who begot him, how then is he an exact image and likeness? Or how was Philip not acting rightly when he said, Show us t

 But the law prefigured great things with small examples, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, as it is

 imitating them even in these things he will be caught For those who were supplied with manna from God, and partook of the blessing from above, descen

 we consider His body for it is for this reason that He also calls the Word who came down from above, from heaven, the Son of Man for He became flesh

 concerning the life according to nature. And not setting aside his own flesh does he say such things, but teaching us what is true for what we have j

 the prophet Jeremiah, commanding those wishing to draw near to Christ through faith that they must first be purified by desires 1.556 for every good w

 you will go. For indeed, according to a true saying, to fall back follows upon turning away from good things and God is all that is good. Therefore

 and just as calling those everywhere into one company, and easily gathering them to the knowledge of the truth. Behold therefore the goodness and sev

 God did not command them to make their journeys disorderly, nor did the lawgiver permit anyone to walk wherever he wished for it was certain that the

 not in two, or three, but on the new moon, and not of just any month, but of the first? For such things would truly and very reasonably create in us a

 creation are the things in him. And indeed the first month is taken, signifying the renewal of human nature from death and corruption to life and inco

 For he it is who is borne by holy and sacred men, and who overthrows all the strength of the devil, not with weapons, but with a shout and a trumpet,

 of testimony, and you will set up the tabernacle, and you will sanctify all that is in it round about. For it must be observed how Christ is depicte

 having no way to receive it. For having suffered this very thing from their excessive ignorance, the wretched Jews were taught through the voice of th

 the time is for prudence and a focused mind for wishing to be saved. For the road of perdition is exceedingly slippery, dragging down not only the wea

 consistent and more fitting among relatives according to the flesh and for this reason they ought to love. Christ, therefore, very reasonably transfe

 to the world. For not even his brothers believed in him. Not yet recognizing the God Logos who dwelt in the holy flesh, those who were considered the

 of those who choose a life in the world, their way of life is a certain relaxed one, and free from more troublesome care, offering, as it were, the op

 to the world to whom indeed the one who is not a lover of the same things is considered very harsh and difficult and in the rank of an enemy but a k

 truth, all but sending up that clear melody in the psalms Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my supplication. In him my heart trust

 having an easily countable number, fulfilling again the type of the people who would be born, about whom it is written And a people that is created w

 being present, they pretend to seek. For the miracle-worker, they say, ought to have been present for those celebrating, that which is more pleasant i

 through fear of the Jews, he says that no one could speak openly. Therefore, he specifically names as Jews the rulers of the Jews, not deigning, as it

 God, not speaking to another so also Christ, still taught the one race of the Jews, and speaks to one people, not yet having extended His common grac

 By Christ we are initiated into the mysteries, we receive understanding that is truly from above and from God. Christ therefore is the perfectly good

 to God and the Father the teaching, at once speaking a true thing, and through fear of seeming to be fighters against God who still resist the decrees

 teaches to set aside the instruction in the law 1.607, but to apply the truth, like some more brilliant color, to those things shadowed forth in type.

 Clear, to persecute me who has sinned in nothing, and to hasten to kill unjustly one who can from nowhere be accused that it would be fitting for him

 the multitude is always prone to anger, and using the smoothest harmony for whatever it may wish, and is easily enraged into unrestrained audacity, an

 to him a pair of turtledoves or pigeons was offered for a sacrifice, according to the ordinance of Moses.

 When accused of breaking the law, He convicts them of being great transgressors through many examples, all but saying that evangelical word Why do yo

 the seventh and hallowed it. What then again, one might say, was the law delivered concerning the Sabbath? And for what reason was it introduced, sec

 those who had received the good news did not enter because of unbelief, again, He appoints a certain day, Today, saying in David, after so long a ti

 Just as they, running about the wide desert, gathered the manna for food from all over but on the seventh, that is, at the end, the time for gatherin

 To these things, moreover, You shall do no work, he says, on it, and you shall hallow the Sabbath day. Just as we have already said many times, th

 of you for an everlasting covenant and the uncircumcised male, who will not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul

 of a riddle, as it is impossible for us ever to be seen as pure, unless, having received the sharpest working of the divine word in our heart, and hav

 Ishmael, the son born to the patriarch from the handmaiden Hagar, was circumcised, but not on the eighth day, but rather in his thirteenth year for i

 they gain the power of the resurrection for they will come to life again unto condemnation, not having loved Christ who justifies but those who marv

 those, free from the charges of disobedience, fulfilled a type of the new people, so as to also receive the circumcision in spirit through Christ, as

 Jesus son of Nave died, a servant of the Lord, one hundred and ten years old. And they buried him at the borders of his inheritance there they plac

 passion, as much as is fitting for a man, is certainly something different from that, and something much greater than being inactive from passion. But

 deep. 1.648 What, therefore, shall we say to this? Since Christ, the Savior of us all, had performed signs that were not easy to count throughout 1.64

 the prophet Jeremiah thus crying out Because the shepherds have become foolish, and have not sought the Lord therefore all the pasture did not und

 The thought of the Jerusalemites but having labored very usefully with likely reasonings and 1.653 having been brought to true suppositions concernin

 Finding the Jews being ignorant, he will laugh heartily and say: Should the things concerning him not be sought only from the fact that the generation

 their calumny, he mixes refutation with his defense, and says most ingeniously 1.658 I have not come on my own, but He who sent me is true. For it is

 1.661 CHAPTER 1. That according to the ignorant suppositions of the Greeks, our affairs are not subject to the hours as

 of evil counsel, so as to believe illogically that human affairs are subject to hours and days and seasons, I think it is necessary again to say a few

 will the opportune moment bring what is beneficial, even if I am caught in the most shameful acts? But when the argument is shifted back to the contra

 reasoning. For to whom of all beings will it not be manifest, that the twelve intervals of the hours are measured out, some for the day, some for the

 this small and insignificant sparrow would never fall into a snare without the will of God the Father, how would one so honored and who has obtained t

 to do what this man has done? It is worth seeing how much economy the Word has in these things and how it has again rhythmically entered in for us aft

 the mind of the herd, but having subjected it to their own inventions, and teaching as doctrines the commandments of men, abandoning the straight and

 audacious deeds, and the unholy deliberation of the chief priests against him. But with the eyes of his divinity he already sees present, and mixed am

 But you will change your minds, and being consumed by useless second thoughts you will lament bitterly over yourselves, and even if you still wish to

 you shall be of weddings, you will not see my festival, you will not ascend to the mansions above, nor indeed will you gaze upon the beauty of the Chu

 blameless among them. And indeed, God accused some who were indifferent about this through the prophet Jeremiah, saying, And they read the law outsid

 not properly, nor truly is the form of the feast in those things, but would rather be symbols of spiritual realities, which will be given to the pious

 we step outside of proper reasoning, to think that the mind of the saints came to be bereft of the Spirit. For both the matter of prophecy itself and

 all things to the brothers. Therefore the Only-begotten does not receive the Holy Spirit for himself for the Spirit is his own and in him and throug

 the time of renewal. And let the lover of learning consider again for me if our account concerning these things has not also become true for in the b

 that Jesus was not yet glorified, let us suppose that he means the complete and entire indwelling of the Holy Spirit in men. Therefore some of the cro

 from the beginning, from the days of eternity. Nevertheless the unguided mind of the Jews was led astray, and was mistaken about Christ solely becaus

 a man spoke thus. But since they say such things as an apology for not having brought the Lord, come, let us again expand into words what was said by

 to bring a contrary judgment is beyond wonder, they are not moderately arrogant, being deranged and easily thrown into all ignorance from their excess

 where he says, showing forth the virtue shining in himself, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone

 having no way to attack the miracles done by him, although they were sharpened to the highest degree of enmity, they argue from his country alone, sin

 To divide at all after the incarnation, at least according to the principle of sonship, is not without blasphemy. But it must be known that even if we

 to do evil, but to do well they did not know, and they suppose they can overturn his testimony, and very spuriously, attempting to invalidate it fro

 teaching, 'I,' one might say, 'running through the heavenly circle, send forth a brilliant light to those on the earth' one will reasonably think tha

 the world might be saved. I think, therefore, that the question before us has been resolved not inelegantly but it will be possible to proceed again

 to myself the Father, I judge most justly, delivering your whole land 1.723 to desolation, and overwhelming it with the calamities of war, but also se

 has been written in the law, he then persuades the Pharisees by necessity to accept the dyad of persons. For I bear witness of myself, he says, and th

 Your knowledge has been made wonderful out of me. For since we have come to know the Son, we have come to know from him the one who begot him. For

 how murderous the heart of the Pharisees? His hour, he says, had not yet come, that is, the time of death was not yet present, the time appointed for

 one might title the attempt with bold deeds but for the Savior Christ, it was to will to suffer on behalf of all, so that He might rescue all and, ha

 What then is the punishment for the disobedient, and the matter of loss is not in any simple terms. For in just the same way as those who have fallen

 of accustomed things, what is it that persuaded our Lord Jesus Christ, while just now addressing the Jews and saying, I go away, and you will seek me

 to take above and below locally, and from this to wander into many notions, our Lord Jesus Christ usefully strips the saying of the covering and a

 it being possible for them to have the advantage in measure, just as they perhaps have over us. But God the Father is not unjust, who commands the ang

 better and greater, and in these was the account of his crimes? or that he dared to say, 'I will be like the Most High?' For he imagined that what was

 to have died burdened by sins, that it will deliver the soul of man to the all-consuming flame, is not doubtful. For if you do not believe that I am,

 For He Himself more simply says, I am, not adding that He is God from God, nor anything else of all that signifies the glory within Him but again,

 To them he made the promise of his arrival through the holy prophets, to them grace was owed because of the fathers. For this reason he also said, I

 For this, he reserved boldness not so much for the present, but for the fitting time, and by the manner of His coming He preserved His own purpose fo

 In this again he is found speaking the truth, representing those who did not know the Son as not knowing the Father also. For the Son is like a door a

 The Savior again clearly and firmly indicated to them, saying, sometimes to the weeping women, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep

 and again the presence of light works the disappearance of darkness. Therefore Christ is shown to be truly light, having darkened the Jews through his

 but as the Father taught me, these things I speak. HE SPEAKS in a more human way, since the Jews were not able to understand otherwise, nor indeed wer

 the nature of created things? For to those who received their generation from non-being, whatever might be added, this is entirely also God-given. But

 saying that wisdom is furnished, while he is the wisdom and power of the Father? But if, he says, we were saying that some other furnishes what is lac

 that some would wish to accuse Him who says He does all things according to the will of the Father, and who shows His own will in that of the Father.

 what turning aside to something else it might have or how would it not run straight towards its own goal in every way, and both speak and accomplish

 therefore, let it be believed that He, speaking as God, speaks the things of God, and being impelled from the natural property of the one who begat Hi

 as if, if he were not by chance doing such things, he would have done something of himself, that is, something contrary to the will of the one who beg

 of God by nature, ascends to identity of will and, so to speak, identity of action with the one who begot him. As he was saying these things, many bel

 laboring, but it is consistent to consider also very prudently what was said by our Savior, A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above hi

 they mock, not being disciples in truth, and because of this have fallen away from salvation. And so the blessed Paul expressly writes to those who fo

 What has the beloved done in my house, abominations? Shall vows and holy meats take away from you your wickednesses, or shall you escape by these?

 sin is a slave of sin. As they were psychical, and looking only at 2.64 corporeal things, He removes them from their inherent ignorance, and somehow t

 putting forward for reading, in which Christ, he says, will place the goats on the left, but the sheep on the right, and that he will send away the go

 This account for us the divine melodist also showed, that creation is a slave, but the God the Word who appeared from God the Father is king and Lord.

 by its ways of virtue it makes a person transparently free indeed and noble. Joseph was sold into slavery, as it is written, but even so he was free

 the blessed Baptist, “God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” And the blessed Paul concurs with these, saying thus: “For not a

 He has spoken, he says, to you through the prophets, you heard him say, Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion, proclaim, daughter of Jerusalem behold,

 they called him the carpenter's son, despising him in many ways, and counting as nothing the king and Lord of all. That they also had an incorrect opi

 of their brethren like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I command him. For this reason, therefore, I th

 God. But let someone look again and consider clearly how great is the folly with which they are afflicted in this. For those who, on account of the wo

 would you have loved me? Therefore, the present text both contains a bitter refutation against the Jews for it shows them to be liars. For when they

 Let him remember Paul crying out concerning the Son, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but e

 in them, but the ungodly will be weak in them. You will find related to these, also what was said in other places to the Pharisees, How can you be

 whom this one was formed after, I mean in the form of depravity? For some of the older commentators, interpreting the things at hand, say that the anc

 him who murdered. But having shown Cain to be of a similar character and like-minded to him, we bring our discourse for a third time to the Jews, who

 appropriately, then, would he already be called a father. Therefore, Cain is the firstborn, as we have said, but again Israel is the firstborn, as amo

 I came forth and am come? For if someone lies because he has a liar for a father, and speaks from his own kindred, as it were, how is it not necessar

 this with regard to their not being able to receive the words that came forth from the truth, since they are not sons of the truth. And they falsely c

 Christ. He who is of God hears the words of God. Let no one think that He commands us to admit the divine words with the ears of the body alone. For w

 It is the custom of demons to transfer to themselves the honor owed to God, and to snatch the glory of God without restraint. And they think that Chri

 for how the things of all men, though most vile and most hateful, which come from those who impiously insult him, and hearing this many times [and not

 his word. For is he not by nature God and will be known through this? For to whom else would it be fitting to be able to give life forever to those wh

 are more intensely bound by sins. And most foolishly they say here, Now we know for those who had often barked at him, and proclaimed that he had a

 that the keeper of your words will be entirely beyond death how then does he not say that yours are better than His? But he who supposed he would sur

 both the person of the holy Abraham and of the prophets, but the Savior plausibly transfers what is being said to himself, not being ignorant that the

 into a God-befitting conception of the Son, for the Father to be called His glory, since the Father Himself is also glorified in like manner by the So

 to make one who does not know destruction? But I know Him and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you. I did not lie, He says, whe

 the Word the definition. For the *logos* of man, that is, the definition of his essence, is a rational, mortal animal, capable of intellect and knowle

 eternal, he says such things. But at the same time, as it seems, he usefully reproaches them, because they foolishly doing and unwisely thinking rejec

 True. Very appropriately and well, in the case of Abraham he uses to be born, but for himself I am, showing that for the one who came to be out of

 of faith and Christ has become wisdom and sanctification and redemption, according to what is written, and it is clear that He is also light and sig

 in number, he seemed to be a delayer to those among the people, who then rose up against Aaron alone, and being dragged down by neglect to the false w

 Egypt and when God threatened to destroy them, Moses prayed again, and bringing the promise that had been given to him almost into God's remembranc

 But when asking for amnesty and loving-kindness from God, he does not say to God at the opportune time, That you are of such a nature as to visit the

 that the divine nature can in no way be subject to absurdities, nor could it ever fail in what is right. Therefore, what has been said offers a proof

 an end to his wrath, so as to receive both honor and grace for this. For what does God say to him? Because you have done well in doing what is right

 For those who have suffered some dreadful thing from the first moments of their birth, and for those born from the womb together with their diseases,

 the works of Him who sent us while it is day the night is coming, when no one is able to work. Behold, indeed, in these words, very clearly and gentl

 Since I have come to give light to those in need of light, I must also implant the light in the eyes of the body, if they should suffer the abominable

 a Monogenes God who has come from the Father and been sent, and knowing that he himself invisibly swims upon the waters of the holy font, we are bapti

 teachers to those of Israel who have converted from the Gentiles, and who have escaped their ancient blindness, and gained the illumination from our S

 and truly teaching that the mind of the God-loving must not be carried away elsewhere, nor indeed to think that there are any gods besides Him, but co

 the power of the one who healed, I will not deny the grace for I already have what I have long desired. I myself, he says, who was blind even in the

 they grant, and now placing the demonstration from the divine sign as better than the inactivity on the Sabbath, they appear as upright judges. For to

 doubtful. For what harm could the voice of one ungrateful man do to the power of the miracle? Or how will Christ not appear in a glory befitting God i

 unlawful and ignorant. But the law is nothing to them, whenever they are eager to accomplish something for their own pleasures. For since the miracle,

 slipping away, but one having an age that causes him not to be ignorant of the nature of things. His parents said these things because they feared the

 pretending to be pious in this, they command them to share their disposition 2.178 and to believe them, even when, touching upon the highest of all im

 we shall suppose. but that he exclaims something of this sort to them. For let him speak thus, for instance: Being compelled rashly to approve what I

 all hesitation having been removed, 2.183 so that if not perhaps in word, at least he was discipled by the miracle, and he has already believed, havin

 they assign Christ to the blind man, but Moses to themselves and indeed the nations were truly enlightened by Christ through evangelical teaching, bu

 The words that I speak are not mine, but the Father's who sent me and again I do not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me has Himself giv

 he insisted on saying to him. For some of the Jerusalemites were saying, 'Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And look, he is speaking openl

 he cleverly weaves the argument of his defense. For it was indeed a matter of completely free speech to say that Christ is better and more illustrious

 pure, but they, having lost heart, said explicitly, This is the finger of God. And how, tell me, did the priests of Baal not bring down fire from he

 to him, and not shuddering to be in peril for the faith in him. For you hear how, as if offering a good reward, by making himself manifest, he hastens

 but when the Word from God the Father became man, the one and another will be completely idle because of the ineffable union and conjunction. For th

 adding what is fitting to what has been said, we will for the present refrain from the citation of sayings. But let us recall that again, that the man

 of You shall not speak evil of your people. Therefore, either expecting to be insulted they say such things, so that they might seem to reasonably a

 of him but they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. It might seem, and quite

 They themselves will in no way preside over those who are about to believe in him, but the sheep will again depart from their teaching, and will be ad

 bewitching the untamed mind of the Pharisees, and changing it to a sensible way of thinking, he tries to show how unprofitable and most dangerous a th

 you are about to act. For before these days Theudas rose up, saying that he was somebody great, to whom joined him a number of men, about four hund

 remaining, and at hand for them, unless by most quickly changing themselves to a willingness to obey him they might enjoy the mercy from him. The thie

 to those who have been justified And the divine Paul will signify this to us, saying Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall all sleep, but we shall

 of their tongue. For how are they not worthy of all punishment, who foolishly trained their tongue to be so sharp as to dare to say those things aga

 casting on a yoke, compelling them to move somehow into a lawless and unaccustomed life, demanding tributes, plundering the kingdom under God. For it

 He says therefore, I am the good shepherd, as if to recall to the minds of the Jews the things spoken by the voice of Ezekiel the prophet. For thus

 to God? But since what was said in some way demands a more bitter examination for itself, especially because of what is added, *As the Father knows me

 to us the power of the matter. For the Word of God is of a divine nature even with the flesh, and we are His offspring, although He is God by nature,

 us himself. And I lay down my life for the sheep. As for his own and kinsmen, he is prepared to defend them in every way, and he promises and is ready

 having their hearts burning He spoke, revealing mysteries? For what, tell me, was it necessary for such men to learn that he would rule over the genti

 it appears more gracious, and it is seen thus also by us. And so Wisdom says in the book of Proverbs I was the one in whom he delighted, and I was d

 he will speak whatever I command him saying that he had received the counsel with God the Father as a command. This he said to the Jews, so that th

 a division arose among them. He marvels at them, therefore, for having been impiously turned toward shameless disobedience. For I think they are right

 greatness. They find fault, however, with His discourse, and the reserved character of His teaching, saying that it is an impediment for them to be ab

 For as Christ ascends into the heavens, they too will follow him. And he says he grants eternal life as a reward and prize to those who follow him, an

 taking up stones to kill him, they stood motionless by the power of Christ so that it became clear from this also, that he would not have suffered, u

 makes the expression his own error, and he will surely say somewhere that you who refuse to say the Son is less than the Father, how do you not see hi

 He wished to make war: Giants are coming to fulfill my wrath, rejoicing and at the same time acting insolently they are sanctified, and I lead the

 steadfastly remaining with the Church of the Gentiles. But we honor John, not as one who did something worthy of God, but as one who bore witness to t

 they are of good deeds, but when the time calls that brings them benefit, let us go to them but the disciples seem to hinder him out of love for him,

 they were saying, wishing to hinder him from the way, saying that it was not fitting to be in the midst 2.270 of murderers, because he had done someth

 wandering from what was proper, she thought that the Lord could no longer do anything as if the moment had passed and 2.273 she supposed that he had

 by saying the article, Christ, the Son of God, she confessed the one and excellent and true Son. Faith, therefore, is in the Son, not in a creature. 2

 the time for healing passed by and it is possible from this to conjecture that she was speaking this to him as to God, even if she did not speak accu

 teaching not to be overly undone by those who have died. For the one part is a matter of sympathy the other is womanish and unmanly. Therefore, he pe

 and to another faith, which is not only dogmatic, but also effective of things beyond human power, so as to move mountains. Martha, however, becau

 running to Him who called, and recognizing the Master's voice. For the word is befitting of God and the command is kingly, holding the loosing of deat

 the chief priests and the Pharisees [held] a council and said, What are we doing? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, eve

 of consent. For the Evangelist did not say, that 'From that hour they planned to commit the murder,' but 'They took counsel together,' that is, what s

 he says, that the man dead for four days was eating with Christ, as a reminder of his God-befitting authority. And out of love for Christ, he introduc

 time, they sought again to see him but the more reasonable ones also marveled at him, as they had found nothing to condemn in him. Therefore, the Lor

 these were ignorant, much more so the other Jews. But after he was crucified, the veil was torn, so that we might know that none of the hidden things

 the whole world has gone after him. For not only Jews, but also those from the Gentiles were about to believe. Therefore, the addition of the Greeks

 light could not become darkness, so it is impossible for life not to be life. How then is the same one said both to fall into the earth as a grain of

 but the power of the divinity immediately seizes the passion that has been stirred and at once transforms what was conquered by cowardice to incompara

 seeing that the power of corruption would be completely destroyed, and that the nature of man was already being transformed to newness of life, he all

 to happen, nor an angel to speak, yet the Son says, that the voice came not for my sake but for yours. For He knew the will of the one who begot Him e

 by this common and human form foretelling, but that he will also die for the life of all and will live again, having broken the bonds of death, from w

 lest having turned back, I should heal them. For if they had heard and seen in the way they ought, they would have certainly obtained benefit. Therefo

 in the flesh, by nature not being directed toward him, he has very clearly declared but that he is in complete identity with God the Father, because

 He rebukes the arrogant people of the Jews, as fighting against God the Father Himself, and by saying that He has received a command from Him and does

 nothing from himself, but that a command had been given, to speak thus as he had heard. And I think that these things will suffice, yet I will say som

 rational beings, insofar as He is Lord of all, even if some do not worship Him as Creator. He loved, therefore, His own who were in the world. For He

 and they themselves might reshape their own mind according to what seems good to God? It was not possible, then, to remove the disease in any other wa

 Again, when urging to speech, action comes forth for he was one who assigned all things to fitting and proper times. Therefore, as Peter was refusing

 for the one in us is not very firmly held. 2.350 Jesus said to him, He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely cl

 introduces the eminence of his own person. For in such a thing one might behold the incomparable greatness of humility. For that which is of itself ca

 to love something greater and beyond one's worth and He would reasonably direct the same writing to the apostles in like manner, to seek to be in bet

 I chose but that, he says, the 2.357 scripture might be fulfilled, 'He who eats my bread has lifted his heel against me,' that is, he has magnified a

 of honor. Thus he chose Judas, and mixed him with the holy disciples, since he was evidently suited for following at the beginning. but when Satan, te

 more plainly, which he has said in other places, that is, He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father he has rather proceeded to what i

 honored preeminently on an equal footing with the disciples, and counted among the chosen, for a little 2.364 silver he completely exchanged the love

 traitor, since he was indeed enrolled among the other holy disciples, who, having the same purpose as the Savior, and going about the country of the J

 Just as by its own perversities it always somehow welcomes our weakness, and the passion that has wronged our mind beforehand for example, the most d

 and he said that Satan himself entered into the heart of the betrayer, so that 2.371 our Lord Jesus Christ might henceforth appear to him rather, than

 having power in his body, sees someone running towards him, but having armed his right hand with a sharp axe, and knowing that he will certainly die w

 liver with an arrow, or as a dog to its chains, not knowing that he runs for his life. And it seems to me that the divine Evangelist did not say in

 Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. but also, once having broken five loaves and two fish, He caused the multitude that had run togeth

 time I am with you. In the rank of little children, and among newborn infants He places the disciples, although they had leapt up to so great a measur

 Besides this, there is another true reason, compelling the holy disciples to seek to be with Christ. For they were about to encounter dangers that wer

 of the heavens. For we do not contend with the ways of the Jews, but unless we greatly surpass the righteousness in the law, I do not think we will e

 wealth, but not even hesitating to descend into the very death of the flesh, if need be, so that we may gain the salvation of our neighbor which inde

 and to lay down his own life for him, and to endure the fierceness of the audacious deeds of the Jews and he himself will testify, saying to his own

 probably, as has been said, bringing indeed a most fervent zeal for the necessity of following Christ. And the order of the disciples in this is indee

 as not yet having been abolished through the resurrection of Christ. And Paul, understanding this correctly, said that the Word from God the Father an

 and was admired among them for working wonders. But when the brother of Mary 2.396 and Martha died, I mean Lazarus, he knew again as God, then says to

 For I say that readiness for doing good ought to be in the souls of those who love God, and that they should hasten with all their strength to wish to

 unbreakable and broad, and turning away the cowardice that comes from thinking one might suffer something, rendering the darts of their wickedness utt

 having forbidden them to be troubled, 2.403 and having commanded them to believe rather both in God the Father and in himself, and he now speaks openl

 he somehow also transmits to us the grace from his dignity. For even if we do not sit with the Father himself for how could the servant ever rise to

 if anyone should attain to being there through any other, except through me and me alone. Therefore, if anyone should fall from being loved by Christ,

 knows and will receive God the Father. He Himself therefore is the truth, He Himself is the life for no other will restore for us the life in hope, t

 Christ necessarily in a way shuts out knowledge of God even to those who hold such opinions, unless they are willing to accept him also. For one must

 a secret economy. For having said, If you had known me, you would have known my Father also, and being thought to be rebuking the disciples for thei

 we have had in ourselves the knowledge of the matter by bare and only concepts in the Son who gives life to the dead, and brings back again to being

 a simpler theory for the many. But if one must see something more elaborate, and perhaps say something of the hidden things, we shall suppose that Phi

 Philip, tell me what has hindered your accurate understanding of me. For although so long a time has passed, during which I am with you, and sufficien

 But if we agree with him as one who speaks the truth, we shall be caught wronging the glory of God the Father, and how, I will tell you. For it is nec

 ever to arrive at true [conceptions] about God, that is, to leap up to the conception befitting the Godhead for how at all, through fire, as from som

 transporting voices for they were certainly not speaking their own things, but those of God who gave and inspired them but He again assigns to His o

 with absolutely nothing intervening, or in any way at all interrupting the one from the other into a natural otherness. For he is one with him, so tha

 head they think nothing that is sound, but say those things which render the souls of their hearers miserable, carrying them down to hades and to the

 It therefore becomes apparent, if he has the properties of bodies in common with the rest of creation, and together with those brought into being out

 to excel in causing apoplexy? Or how would one not, as if for those already dead and lost, shed a tear from love for those so unbridledly turned to im

 And the city above and the most pure multitude of the holy angels has wandered along with those on earth, both glorifying and worshipping together wit

 will they not be impiously condemned for saying the Son is alien to the substance of God the Father? For Paul is no longer God-bearing, if the Son is

 2.445 them and those wishing to slander the mind of the holy apostles, and most unwisely twisting what was said very correctly to what seems good to t

 to strip of wickedness and harm. For I marvel how, having gladly heard that it is the custom of divine Scripture to say 'in God' for 'through God', an

 to Christ and Christ in us first, indeed, the Son is in our order, then, with nothing preventing, passing by even the Son himself, if we should wish,

 of the intimacy as towards a Father and God. For what reason, setting us forth as examples of the argument, do they say, Just as we have a substance

 and again, As for you, he says, what you heard from the beginning 2.454 let it remain in you for if what you heard from the beginning remains in y

 but to provide proof of the identity from his own works. Why then do those who distort what is right persuade their own students not to go on the stra

 how could he himself have been supplied by another with the ability to do things? Therefore their teachings are complete nonsense and idle talk, and t

 What argument will deliver the heretic from being punished, who did not fear to belittle him in many ways with shameless blasphemies? And besides thes

 of those accustomed to 2.463 love finding fault with unholy slanders. For it is possible to see, especially from the holy scriptures themselves, how s

 conversing with his own disciples, or even with the Jews themselves, he would say, The words that I speak are not mine but his who sent me and aga

 The Son, John will testify, saying in his own writings, These things, he says, I say to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an

 2.470 carrying off from hence an enviable prize. For it will sanctify them, and will show them to be accomplishers of all good things together, and it

 The Only-Begotten, showing the Spirit to be of His own nature, having said that the Paraclete is sent forth from the Father to the saints, promises th

 He ascended to the Father and God in heaven but after a short time has passed, He will descend again, as we believe, and will return again to us in

 completely, at least according to the principle of nature, and being altogether different, he is understood, he says, to be in the Father only accordi

 The Only-begotten loved us, and we also loved him, it will be set before anyone and very readily to see, who is willing to gaze upon the very nature o

 Paul, explaining to us, said: for God the Father was pleased to sum up all things in Christ, and that the name and the reality of this summing up s

 This is the manner of recapitulation, but the one that is most fitting and owed to the consideration of the matters before us will enter after that a

 God the Father both willed and has undertaken in Christ to recapitulate again the nature of man to its original state, and having willed it, He accomp

 aversion, and prepared them to return to their own land? But when God sent forth his Spirit, and showed us to be partakers of his own nature, and thro

 for in part it will be done away, according to the voice of Paul. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching us that the promise of revelation is bo

 I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself but you have also said to the Jews themselves that and other sheep I have, which are

 a boast through keeping the commandments. Then in what way he will shine upon them, and how he will dwell in them, he says: For my Father will love hi

 according to your mindlessness? For it is either necessary to say that Christ has spoken falsely to us, and the Father alone dwells in us through the

 of goodness. Therefore, if the one is strong in us, the other will certainly be weak, that is, that which is its opposite. And if the form of virtue i

 brought in, just as we were recently saying. For since, having slipped into disobedience with an uncritical anger, and having gone into a zeal for the

 of him for this reason he says that he will teach you all the things that I have said to you. For since he is the Spirit of Christ and his mind, acco

 The word has instilled a moderate fear in them, but has troubled them terribly, and having burdened it with the weight of grief, has disturbed the min

 reigning sin. Give us peace, therefore, it says, O Master, for you have given us all things. And what it means to show I say is something like this: L

 and of those believed to be incomparably so. Therefore it was pleasant, for instance, 2.514 for Paul's disciples to be with him always but it was bet

 The Father himself is introduced as saying this, to seat the Son at the right hand of the Father and God: Sit at my right hand, he says. and no one

 it will be manifest to all, that he has descended from some pre-eminence to a lesser state, or rather from equality with the Father to a state that is

 and Have you not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? I and

 will touch upon the substance, but rather they appear to have received another cause. But a horse is faster than a horse, or smaller in body or fuller

 understanding, that we may know the true God, and we are in his true Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. But if, being altogeth

 of those disposed does it trouble the heart? Why then, abandoning the straight path of truth, do you drive on into such absurdity of reasoning? Grant,

 being able for He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth He underwent the passion for us, being Himself utterly blameless, but having

 wishing to signify what would happen to all of us, he cries out, Arise, let us go from here so that we might truly understand something of this sor

 of the branches as a mother and nurse. For we have been born again from Him and in Him in the Spirit unto the fruitfulness of life, not of the ancient

 teaching. For it was necessary, it was necessary for us to learn, that God has not only made us partakers of His own nature, being conceived in the Ho

 understanding, we will follow the doctrines of truth. How it would be fitting to understand the meaning of the proposed text, we might now investigate

 But to say confidently that we have no account of a union with Him according to the flesh, we will show to be completely dissonant with the divinely-i

 And yet why, one might say, having abandoned the more fitting and more appropriate manner for the contemplations, do you hasten to the much-distinguis

 spurious and holding its dignity in mere words. For if he is not God by nature, let him accept as a witness against himself the Only-begotten who says

 food for the all-devouring. And so again through the prophet Ezekiel, interpreting this very thing very clearly, he said, Son of man, what shall be d

 a father disciplines and yet the choir of the saints, which is beyond all wonder, does not reject the discipline that comes from those who are natura

 weak and poor elements of the world, to which you wish to be enslaved again anew? When therefore those who wish to be enslaved to the weak elements

 Furthermore, does he not love to make them depart unwillingly through this uniform nonsense, this childish and utterly senseless conception? For if, s

 Of life, clearly we say, through which they themselves were about to benefit those throughout the whole world, offering themselves as a model to those

 our souls. 2.560 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do

 by faith in doctrines the truly true instruction, and fortified by sincere thoughts. For in these things would be for us the entire word of the Savior

 God will supply for those accused of wickedness but it is more fitting to consider that for will it not be just and right? that he who abides in Chr

 quick to learn and full of the gospel's torch-bearing, great and twofold in wealth, I mean, of course, that which is in the Spirit. For he brings fort

 to the Father, humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death? For since God the Father willed to save the corrupted race on earth, and it was not p

 I have honored also with life. But these things are in hope, and are kept for the age to come. And what about the present? Have I not shown them to be

 we shall find that then Jesus rejoiced in the spirit and said, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things fro

 forging a love for God, and rousing a certain invincible and unconquerable zeal to strive vigorously to accomplish all things most pleasing to him. Pa

 that which seems at times to be grievous will vanish into nothing. For then labor is sweet to those who love God, when the reward is near and rich. Th

 I come, I will take you with me, so that where I am, you may be also. they heard to come out from their own kindred. And how shall we show this? We

 and this is bitter but having mixed, as it were, a mean from both, He duly guides them into a safe path, and works in them a knowledge of a more stea

 teachers, but those arriving at this and the one not yet willing to learn any of the necessary things. But since to the words of our Savior is added,

 until the time of reformation, having established their own mind, they took absolutely no account of the evangelical instruction, and indeed they

 For truly, to be hated by some, on account of the harms and unexpected plots that sometimes emerge from it, but this too is sweet for the sake of God,

 being able He therefore usefully removes beforehand what He knows as God they would hesitate to do, persuading them to want to be intensely strained

 to be persecuted, they will fall into terrible things but it was surely very reasonable to reckon that, making their discourse for the glory of Chris

 The Savior brings to his own disciples a solution, and the exhortation upon this. For do not, he says, ever choose to shrink from teaching, even if so

 insulting the Son, if he was ashamed of the nature of the Father but having known at all what the Father is in actuality, how did he not know that He

 will distress them not a little. For at times it makes greed bearable to those who are wronged, to think firmly that the workers of greed will pay the

 to the Son, through disobedience and such a long and henceforth inexcusable disbelief, which he strongly affirms is accomplished not only particularly

 He delivered? because He freed us from devilish greed, and destroyed the tyran ny of sin, and brought what was enslaved to the sonship that is toward

 to say. But it is more logical to believe that since it is his own, just as indeed it is also of God the Father, he sends it to his holy disciples for

 wretched ones, and they will so insult the words of truth, that if even two witnesses of His teaching should happen to arise, not even so would they b

 be put out of the synagogue But if, he says, some are intolerant of this plot of the Jews, it must be known from this, that your affairs will not st

 But these things I have spoken to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember them, that I told you. He insists that he did not speak to them ab

 he would depart, or what was the urgent matter, that is, the persuasive reason for him to go upward. He therefore pardons them for this, as those suff

 instead of a copy of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Do you hear that though He is always in

 the heavens for that was the time for the descent of the Spirit. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteous

 God, but having worshipped and served that which is not according to nature, that is, Satan. For I think the judgment made against him is sufficient t

 the Evangelist, that Christ was not yet glorified He says such things, wishing by all means to signify this, that He still had very deep mysteries

 of himself for he is the truth. For so that the disciples might know that it is not the visitation of another's and foreign power to them, but that h

 both bodily and spiritually. 12. That the Son is one by nature with his own Father God, even though he is said to receive being one with the Father as

 it arises and proceeds from it, having all its own things in itself naturally for not by participation, nor by a relative manner, nor as being someth

 and will declare it to you. But let no one be troubled when in these things he hears the name of receiving, but let him rather consider this: for he

 I mean those still living on the earth, but also to those who have already departed and are sitting in darkness in the recesses of the abyss, accordin

 of death and corruption, and our Savior Christ having risen from the dead, the mourning of the saints was turned into joy and clearly for those in th

 Son and God, together with the Father he bestows good things upon the saints, and is found to be a co-giver of the blessing to us and indeed the divi

 of nothing, but not even of riddles or parables, with face unveiled in a certain way and with an unhindered mind we shall perceive the beauty of the d

 saying that it is most beloved to God the Father, but is being abolished through His teachings. Therefore, as one fighting against God and as one who

 has made a speech. So they rejoice at receiving a proof freed from all difficulty, and they say that what was said has nothing crooked in it, but that

 when danger calls, I mean the one for the sake of piety, it is consistent not to fall from the hope of being able to escape, even if some of our like-

 the power of the matter, since He who conquered was from us, inasmuch as He appeared as a man, and just as we overcome sin, which was utterly put to d

 it would be fitting to observe most intelligently. For I think it necessary, by approaching the contemplation of what is said with a certain sharp scr

 according to truth. Therefore, it is essential and natural that the boast of glory will pass from the Father to the Son, and from the Son to the Fathe

 again. for it was necessary, it was necessary that what was subject and had come under the hand of the all-powerful God the Word, having been saved on

 of an escape. For some have worshipped the creation rather than the Creator, and have dared to say to wood, You are my father, and to stone, You

 causes and bringing them back to it. But I think it is necessary to observe studiously, in what way Christ has said that the most perfect knowledge of

 practicing a life discordant with God and most abominable, as though dissolving His ineffable glory, we are justly held accountable and make our own s

 I mean that which is in substance and nature, having previously said, Command thy power, and having introduced a dyad of persons, I mean of the one

 was, but since in the time of the economy for our sake He contracted it somehow, taking this most inglorious body, as though it were truly absent He r

 No one, it is likely, if he were sound of mind, will think that the recompense for the honor from God will be bestowed in mere names and titles to tho

 introducing a pedagogical lesson and not sufficient for the attainment of virtue according to piety? Thus he implanted an imperfect knowledge about Go

 He says, That all things whatsoever You have given Me are from You. For properly and particularly all things are of God but they are given to us who

 Father For become witnesses for me, and I am a witness, says the Lord God, and the servant whom I have chosen. Therefore the Savior speaks both in a

 of the world, that is, of those from every nation and race who would be called through faith to righteousness and holiness. But our Lord Jesus Christ,

 one thinking thus, and very reasonably For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever but He knew that the disciples would be immo

 being clothed in the form of humility, on account of His humanity, makes the Only-begotten God—who is equal to Him, of the same form, and has appeared

 of the multitude of the 2.698 believers the heart and soul were one, that is, in the unity of the Spirit. For this is also what was said again by Pa

 that the disciples be kept by the Father, is it not this and nothing else? For they have been kept by the glory of God. Therefore, removing from the m

 of worthlessness, as to betray the precious blood of Christ for a few pieces of silver but since he was going to be utterly and completely lost, beca

 world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. Remember again what we said just now, and you will understand very well the meaning of the m

 he worked salvation, but in the glory and all-creating power of the divinity. Therefore, he says, it will in no way harm the disciples not to be prese

 of those who choose to think according to the world, and love this pleasure-loving and most 2.709 abominable life. For the words of the saints are not

 to dwell together in choirs. For we will find one of the saints approaching the virtue-loving God and singing, Take me not away in the midst of my da

 would truly be fitting and be understood as inherent. But in the holy disciples, that is, in all who believe in him, purity—that is, to be no longer m

 you are Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. For He reveals to the saints His own Son,

 conceived and existing in each, but since the Son is by nature from the Father and in the Father, being the true fruit of His substance, He naturally

 a gift, that is, the sanctification through the Spirit, and the communion of the divine nature, Christ called down upon us, as in a firstfruit of thos

 to be poured out from fellowship, that is, through participation in the Holy Spirit, reforming us into righteousness and sanctification and into the f

 You will say: How then was he who is holy by nature sanctified, and this by participation? And in what way does he who gives his own Spirit to all who

 The scriptures call him Father, although by nature he is God. But I think one might well and justly attribute these things to the needs of humanity an

 a heavenly man has appeared, should not all those called through him to righteousness likewise be reformed into his image, and it is manifest that thi

 is found, why do they define the failings of our nature as a rule and standard for God, from our own impossibilities subjecting to necessities the nat

 is conceived as one of us, that is, a human being, being anointed and sanctified, even though He is God by nature, inasmuch as He has appeared from th

 over all and through all and in all. For when the one Spirit dwells in us, the one Father of all will be God in us through the Son, holding together

 by the energy and grace of the Spirit recreating the spirit in us unto newness of life, and making us partakers of His divine nature. Christ, therefor

 having already been united through him to the Father and having obtained the love, which he himself might be thought to have from the Father. For we h

 For the Spirit calls it the joy of salvation, since it is indeed the cause of unending and perpetual joy, and bestows a ruling principle over the pass

 he appears to have considered. For in addition to those things which he said concerning our need to be sanctified by the Father, he also added these t

 not greatly caring for the dignity befitting God, I have emptied myself and descended to human poverty, so that I might save, according to your good p

 truly being his own offspring. Therefore the Son is understood and is a son, and not a creature according to them for which reason the one making is

 authority, he was wholly given over to his madness, as it had leapt into him at once and, like some bitter serpent, was lurking within him. And one mi

 It is likely someone would say to this: Perhaps the soldier did not know, and the officers of the Jews also did not know Jesus. To this indeed we sa

 finally to triumph over the snares of death. For the Lord is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep and the firstborn from the dead, making t

 of the Samaritans but they harshly turned him away as he approached. And indeed, being stung by this, the disciples came and said, Lord, do you want

 spoken through Moses to the ancients, but of that established through Christ, which so refrains from the use of swords, or rather, even from the need

 one man to die for the people. Now that the hindrances were restrained, and Peter having shaken 3.28 the sword from his hand, and Christ having, as it

 the proverb writer Let your neighbor praise you, he says, and not your own mouth a stranger and not your own lips. But that disciple was known to

 he asked Jesus concerning His disciples and concerning His teaching. The one learned in the law and a teacher, to whom the divine proclamation declare

 having surrounded me with terrible dishonors, if I should say anything about myself, they perhaps would not hesitate to cry out that it is false. Ther

 recently, that some of the officers had offended the leaders, who were ordered to arrest Jesus, but returned so initiated and amazed at him, that they

 we think it necessary to be embittered at him, but we hurl countless words instead of one and are not satisfied, not extending forgiveness with human

 Such things might perhaps still be fitting for the uninitiated but I, having put such things as far away as possible, and having bid farewell to thei

 the soul of man but the most shameful of all evils, 3.47 the most unjust murder, they have considered to inflict no harm upon them at all. And the pa

 The saying is true, if indeed the Greeks would not offer the customary sacrifices to the gods they hold in esteem, made of stone and wood, with defile

 manner for they knew that even unwillingly Pilate would certainly provide for his own safety, and perhaps would also punish more severely the one bei

 they say that he was brought forward and handed over to pay the penalty. But Christ, defending himself against these things, did not deny that he was

 instilling an intelligible and divine radiance into the souls of those who see it. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews, and says to th

 The Law commanded it to be of the Synagogue. Although it was permitted for them to release him, according to what seemed right to the Law, they ask Pi

 cause laid down. He was scourged unjustly, that He might deliver us from a just blow, He was mocked and slapped, that we might mock Satan who mocked,

 the obedience of the second and the blessing from it. For the Lord of the law as God, became a keeper of the law with us as man. And indeed we shall f

 having been persuaded by your voices I shall abandon my own advantage, and by recklessly serving the requests from you, will I not be in expectation o

 and He released the paralytic from a grievous illness on the Sabbath day. But they, who should have marveled at such a wonder-worker, were scandalized

 many myths. But the Romans, again, doing such things in a somewhat more superstitious way, always bestowed the divine title upon the most illustrious

 having plotted, they gained nothing, but being only exposed, they were condemned as insolent men. And indeed they wished to seize him, as the Evangeli

 the prophet Isaiah rebukes, saying But you 3.75 draw near hither, you lawless children, seed of adulterers and a harlot, in what did you revel? And

 denied his own master. On these very points, God long ago accused them through the voice of Jeremiah, saying, Because you have gone to the islands of

 we say to be unparticipating, but to be jointly responsible with those who did it, since although it was possible to rescue and save him from the madn

 slaves above the master, and disciples above the teacher, we both think and act. But oh, such a terrible weakness, which somehow lies at our feet, and

 having fallen from their own dominion. For even if the Savior did not Himself affix the title, but the co-worker and minister of the Jews' madness, ye

 was ever accepted, but they say they used such an argument, being ignorant of this also from the excessive simplicity that was in them, that the natur

 one lamb, but rather by household and by number for, it says, each man will take his neighbor and the one nearest him. And thus he has commanded the

 the Lord into his arms, as it is written, having given thanks beforehand and said, Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your wo

 And so with nothing lacking for the cruelty beyond reason to appear complete, the flesh again suffers something at the last, both its own and natural

 the measure, clearly, of the Jews' impiety, and the excess of their drunken violence against him. For what was still unattempted by the Jews, and what

 he will say that there is a certain place of the temple, for he will be mistaken, since the whole was holy. After the first tabernacle, the veil in be

 in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all wisdom and all knowledge. Therefore, that the worshipers of the Savior were about to b

 they are meticulously concerned with the most trivial things with a certain great precision, being ignorant in both respects. And the refutation is ne

 seeing him lying breathless and dead, although they knew that he is the Christ, and often astonished at him working wonders, even if envy, being sharp

 tomb, in which no one had ever yet been laid. 3.107 So there, because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus. He

 another disciple as much as was likely possible they strain in running, and they arrived quickly at the tomb itself, and they became beholders of the

 being as far away as possible from human weakness, they armed themselves against the rages of the Jews, and thought it necessary to take no account of

 Calling Christ Lord she did not cease, and by this she also showed her love for him, and reasonably now she also enjoys the sight of the one she longe

 the woman's mind, and presenting himself unhindered to her sight, since she loved him more keenly, He all but accuses her now for not moderately delay

 death, and He lived again, and showing His own nature to be superior to death, He henceforth forbids, and no longer readily grants to those who approa

 sex, so also she, having ministered to the words of our Savior, and having announced the things that lead to eternal life, might free the entire femal

 but no longer Father according to nature, but rather God, as maker and Lord but the Son, mixing Himself with us, as it were, grants to our nature the

 he might wish. For it was necessary, yes, necessary, for one who is by nature and in truth God not to be subject to the consequences of things—as inde

 having transformed His own temple due and fitting to Him, 3.128 He still appeared in His former forms, wishing the faith of the resurrection not to be

 according to the measure of the legal command extending from Dan even to Beersheba, as it is written, or rather the whole world under the sun and th

 Lord Jesus, according to the voice of Paul, except in the Holy Spirit. Since, therefore, they were about to say Lord Jesus, that is, to proclaim

 for the Son to be shown as the supplier of the Spirit and co-giver with the Father, those who believe in him had to understand that he is the power of

 promising as it were some pledges of the expected and most general reality that would be over all, he worked things in part and before the proper time

 I will put it upon them. And indeed Moses gathered them and fulfilled the divine command. Yet two alone were left behind of those appointed in the n

 So the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger

 my side, and do not be unbelieving but believing. He shone again upon His own disciples marvelously as God. For indeed He did not command the doors to

 to see it perfected 3.146 but this was already fitting for him, as one enriched with the Spirit along with the others. For as we have already said, i

 might reasonably be inscribed on their heads. For they themselves brought the Lord to suffer. Therefore, when Christ, wishing to fully convince the ho

 For being wholly saved, no longer after the resurrection, especially of the holy flesh, since indeed He lived again unto incorruptibility, but being b

 a pretext calling to unbelief those who sought to be benefited through such things. But it was necessary to count our own security also as worthy of n

 Therefore, they have been deceived, and coming from far away from the truth, they have denied the Master who bought them. For when we examine the prin

 the Savior has fully convinced the holy apostles with a very clear and truly accomplished proof that they were indeed about to be, according to his ow

 may it become food for God who, as it were, hungers for the salvation of us all for Scripture has called the conversion of the Samaritans his own foo

 After this the disciples enclose the multitude with a net, being strengthened again by his most God-befitting nods to be able to catch some of the thi

 He more urgently puts the question, if he loves Him more than these, and this happened a third time. And Peter assents and confesses that he loves, sa

 you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will gird you and carry you where you do not wish now he said this signifying by what death

 You have heard, O 3.169 Peter, the things concerning yourself why do you inquire about others, and dig up, as it were, at the wrong time, the knowled

to us the power of the matter. For the Word of God is of a divine nature even with the flesh, and we are His offspring, although He is God by nature, because He took the same flesh as us. Therefore, the manner of appropriation is similar. For as He is appropriated to the Father, and the Father is appropriated to Him through the identity of nature, so also we are to Him insofar as He became man, and He to us. And through Him as through a mediator we are joined to the Father. For Christ is like a certain borderland between the highest divinity and humanity, being both in the same, and as it were holding together in Himself 2.233 things so far separated, and is joined as God by nature to God the Father, and again to men as truly man. But perhaps someone will say: Do you not see, O sir, to what danger your argument is again exposed? For if we think He knows His own insofar as He has become man, that is, has come into kinship with His sheep, who remains outside the flock? For all will be His own insofar as they are also men, just like Him. What then is the extra meaning in still saying "My own"? And what is the special thing for those who are truly His? For if all are His own for the reason already stated, what more will there be for those who are known? To this we say, that the manner of appropriation is common to all, both to those who have known Him and to those who have not known Him; for He became man, not bestowing favor in part on some, and on others no longer, but pitying the whole fallen nature. But the manner of appropriation will in no way benefit those who are insolent through disobedience, but it will rather be assigned as a special prize to those who love Him. For in the same way that the principle of resurrection extends to all, through the resurrection of the Savior, who raises up the whole of human nature with Himself, it will not benefit the lovers of sin; for they will depart to Hades, receiving the return to life only for the necessity of being punished; but to those who have practiced an exceptional life it will be for much benefit; for they will receive the resurrection for the participation in the good things that are beyond understanding; in this way, I think, the principle of appropriation extends to all, both evil and good, but it is not the same for all, but for those who believe in Him it is an occasion for true kinship and the things owed to it, while for those who are not such it is a more grievous charge of ingratitude and impiety. 2.234 And this is what we say on these matters; but let another think of more perfect things. But it must be observed how the statement is at once both true and sure, for He is not seen to speak confusedly about them, but places each thing in its own proper and most fitting order. For He did not say, "My own know me, and I know my own," but He introduces Himself as first knowing His own sheep, and then says He will be known by them. And if "knowledge" is taken as "awareness," as we said in the beginning, you will understand it in this way: We did not first recognize Him, but He first recognized us. And indeed Paul, writing to those from the Gentiles, says something like this: "Therefore remember that you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 'uncircumcision' by the so-called circumcision in the flesh made by hands, that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ." For out of immeasurable gentleness Christ has brought Himself to the Gentiles, and He knew us beforehand rather than was known by us. But if knowledge is understood as appropriation and kinship, again we say this: We did not begin the matter, but the Only-Begotten, God from God. For we did not lay hold of the divinity which is beyond nature, but He who is God by nature laid hold of the seed of Abraham, as Paul says, and became man, so that being made like His brethren in all things, without sin, He might bring into appropriation the one who did not have this from himself, that is, man. Therefore 2.235 He necessarily says that He knew us beforehand, and then

ἡμῖν ἡ τοῦ πράγματος δύναμις. θεία μὲν γὰρ φύσις ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγος καὶ μετὰ σαρκὸς, ἡμεῖς δὲ γένος αὐτοῦ, καίτοι κατὰ φύσιν ὄντος Θεοῦ, διὰ τὸ τὴν αὐτὴν ἡμῖν σάρκα λαβεῖν. οὐκοῦν ἐμφερὴς ὁ τῆς οἰκειότητος τρόπος. ὡς γὰρ ᾠκείωται μὲν αὐτὸς τῷ Πατρὶ, ᾠκείωται δὲ διὰ τὴν ταυτό τητα τῆς φύσεως ὁ Πατὴρ αὐτῷ, οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτῷ καθὸ γέγονεν ἄνθρωπος, καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ἡμῖν. δι' αὐτοῦ δὲ ὡς διὰ μεσίτου τῷ Πατρὶ συναπτόμεθα. μεθόριον γὰρ ὥσπερ τι θεότητός τε τῆς ἀνωτάτω καὶ ἀνθρωπότητός ἐστιν ὁ Χρι στὸς, ἐν ταὐτῷ τε ὢν ἀμφότερα, καὶ οἷον συνέχων ἐν ἑαυτῷ 2.233 τὰ τοσοῦτον διῳκισμένα, καὶ συνάπτεται μὲν ὡς φύσει Θεὸς τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρὶ, ἀνθρώποις δὲ πάλιν ὡς κατ' ἀλήθειαν ἄνθρωπος. Ἀλλ' ἴσως ἐρεῖ τις Οὐχ ὁρᾷς, ὦ οὗτος, ὅποι ποτὲ πάλιν ὁ σὸς ἀποκινδυνεύει λόγος; εἰ γὰρ καθὸ γέγονεν ἄνθρωπος γινώσκειν αὐτὸν οἰησόμεθα τὰ αὐτοῦ, τουτέστιν, ἐλθεῖν εἰς οἰκειότητα τῶν προβάτων αὐτοῦ, τίς ἔξω μένει τῆς ἀγέλης; ἔσονται γὰρ οἰκεῖοι σύμπαντες καθὸ καὶ ἄνθρωποι καθάπερ αὐτός. τί οὖν ἐν τῷ λέγειν ἔτι τὸ περισσόν Τὰ ἐμά; τί δὲ τοῖς ὄντως αὐτοῦ τὸ ἐξαίρετον; εἰ γὰρ πάντες οἰκεῖοι διὰ τὴν ἤδη προειρημένην αἰτίαν, τί τοῖς γνωρίμοις ἔσται τὸ πλεῖον; Πρὸς τοῦτό φαμεν, ὅτι κοινὸς μὲν ἅπασι καὶ τοῖς ἐγνω κόσιν αὐτὸν καὶ τοῖς ἀγνοήσασιν ὁ τῆς οἰκειότητος τρόπος· γέγονε γὰρ ἄνθρωπος, οὐ χαριζόμενος ἀνὰ μέρος τισὶ, τισὶ δὲ οὐκέτι, ἀλλ' ὅλην πεσοῦσαν ἐποικτείρας τὴν φύσιν. ὀνήσει δὲ οὐδὲν ὁ τῆς οἰκειότητος τρόπος τοὺς διὰ τῆς ἀπειθείας ὑβρίζοντας, ἀπονεμηθήσεται δὲ μᾶλλον καθάπερ γέρας ἐξαίρετον τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν. ὅνπερ γὰρ τρόπον ὁ τῆς ἀναστάσεως λόγος διήκει μὲν ἐπὶ πάντας, διὰ τὴν τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἀνάστασιν, ὅλην ἑαυτῷ συνανιστῶντος τὴν ἀν θρώπου φύσιν, ὠφελήσει δὲ οὐδὲν τοὺς φιλαμαρτήμονας· κατοιχήσονται γὰρ εἰς τὸν ᾅδην, ἐπὶ μόνῳ τῷ χρῆναι κολάζεσθαι τὸ ἀναβιῶναι δεχόμενοι· τοῖς γεμὴν τὸν ἐξαί ρετον ἠσκηκόσι βίον πρὸς ὠφελείας ἔσται πολλῆς· ἐπὶ γὰρ μετουσίᾳ τῶν ὑπὲρ νοῦν ἀγαθῶν λήψονται τὴν ἀνάστασιν· κατὰ τοῦτον οἶμαι τὸν τρόπον τὸν τῆς οἰκειότητος λόγον ἥκειν μὲν ἐπὶ πάντας πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθοὺς, μὴ μὴν ἐν ἴσῳ πᾶσιν ὑπάρχειν, ἀλλὰ τοῖς μὲν πιστεύουσιν εἰς αὐτὸν συγγενείας ἀληθοῦς καὶ τῶν ταύτῃ χρεωστουμένων ἀφορ μὴν, τοῖς δὲ μὴ τοιούτοις ἀχαριστίας τε καὶ ἀνοσιότητος 2.234 ἔγκλημα χαλεπώτερον. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ἐπὶ τούτοις ἡμεῖς· διανοείσθω δέ τις τὰ τελεώτερα. Ἐπιτηρητέον δὲ γεμὴν ὅπως ἐστὶν ἀληθής τε ὁμοῦ καὶ ἀσφαλὴς ὁ λόγος, οὐ γὰρ διαφορήσας περὶ αὐτῶν ὁρᾶται, ἀλλ' ἐν τάξει τῇ οἰκείᾳ καὶ πρεπωδεστάτῃ τῶν πραγμάτων ἕκαστα τιθείς. οὐ γὰρ ἔφη Γινώσκει με τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ, ἀλλ' ἑαυτὸν ἐγνωκότα πρότερον εἰσφέρει τὰ ἴδια πρόβατα, εἶθ' οὕτως γνωσθήσεσθαί φησι παρ' αὐτῶν. ἐκληφθείσης δὲ τῆς γνώσεως ἐπὶ μὲν τῆς εἰδήσεως, ὥσπερ οὖν ἐλέγομεν ἐν ἀρχῇ, τοιῶσδέ πως νοήσεις Οὐχ ἡμεῖς αὐτὸν ἐπεγνώκαμεν πρῶτοι, ἐπέγνω δὲ ἡμᾶς πρῶτον αὐτός. καὶ γοῦν ὁ Παῦλος τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν ἐπιστέλλων τοιοῦτόν τι φησί "∆ιὸ μνημονεύετε ὑμεῖς τὰ ἔθνη ἐν σαρκὶ οἱ λεγόμενοι "ἀκροβυστία ὑπὸ τῆς λεγομένης περιτομῆς ἐν σαρκὶ χειρο "ποιήτου, ὅτι ἦτε τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ χωρὶς Χριστοῦ ἀπηλλο "τριωμένοι τῆς πολιτείας τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ξένοι τῶν δια "θηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες καὶ ἄθεοι ἐν "τῷ κόσμῳ· νυνὶ δὲ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οἱ ποτὲ ὄντες "μακρὰν ἐγενήθητε ἐγγὺς ἐν τῷ αἵματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ." ἐξ ἀμετρήτου γὰρ ἡμερότητος ἑαυτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι προσαγήοχεν ὁ Χριστὸς, καὶ προέγνω μᾶλλον ἢ ἐγνώσθη παρ' ἡμῶν. εἰς δέ γε τὴν οἰκειότητα καὶ συγγένειαν νοουμένης τῆς γνώσεως, πάλιν ἐκεῖνό φαμεν Οὐχ ἡμεῖς ἠρξάμεθα τοῦ πράγματος, ἀλλ' ὁ ἐκ Θεοῦ Θεὸς Μονογενής· οὐ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἐπεδραξάμεθα τῆς ὑπὲρ φύσιν θεότητος, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ὁ φύσει Θεὸς σπέρματος Ἁβραὰμ ἐπελάβετο, καθά φησιν ὁ Παῦλος, καὶ γέγονεν ἄνθρωπος, ἵνα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὁμοιωθεὶς κατὰ πάντα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας, πρὸς οἰκειότητα λάβῃ τὸν οὐκ ἔχοντα ταύτην ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ, τουτέστι, τὸν ἄνθρωπον. οὐκοῦν 2.235 ἀναγκαίως αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς προεγνωκέναι φησὶν, εἶθ' οὕτως