Theophany 4.9–4.14

English translation by Samuel Lee (1843); the original is not shown

Again, upon another occasion after His resurrection from the dead, He appeared to the other disciples, and to them,—yet doubting and not believing in Him,—He put forth and said these words: “These are the words which I said to you, when I was yet with you; that it is necessary every thing should be fulfilled which is written respecting me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms. Then He opened their understandings that they should understand the Scriptures: and He said, Thus it was right that Christ should suffer, and that He should rise from the dead on the third day; and (that) repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And ye are the witnesses of these things.” On one occasion indeed, He said, that “in His name should be preached repentance to all nations.” (Now), if the Deed did not follow upon the Word; neither can His resurrection from the dead be credited. But if, even up to this time, the things which His prediction foretold, remain in fact, so that His lively, (energetic) and operative word is visible (in effect) throughout the whole creation to our eyes; then is it unbecoming we should disbelieve Him who spoke this. For He, whose power is living (energetic,) operative, and visible to the eyes, powerfully impels us first of all to confess thereupon, that He is living; and that He brings to effect the living things of God, whose living (actual) deeds are seen fulfilling His words. These His words then, — being varied and translated into all languages, both of the Greeks and the Barbarians,—has He made intelligible to all’, so that His doctrine is heard by all nations, and has stirred up myriads of congregations of those, who were formerly wickedly led on in the error of many Gods, in the worship of Idols, and in (the course of life) which was unbecoming, to conversion and repentance. He did not command them first to preach remission of sins, and then repentance; but first, repentance, and then remission. For it was to those, who evinced a sincere? repentance of former sins, that our Saviour’s grace gave the pardon of their deeds ;—-on whose account indeed He suffered Death, and gave His soul a ransom for the souls of those, who should be saved through Him. Thus therefore, these His disciples,—men rude of speech and altogether illiterate, poor and needy, (as) they were in their character,—trusted in the power of Him who appeared to them after Death, and openly held converse with them. And they began from Jerusalem according to His commands, and went forth into all nations; the things too, which they were commanded, they performed, and preached repentance to all men, and remission of the former sins of the soul. And such was the entire superiority which they evinced, that, even to these our times, the doctrine of these poor and illiterate men, is in active operation throughout the whole creation of man. How His acts should be heard, and preached of, throughout the whole world. From the Gospel of Matthew and of Mark.

English translation by Samuel Lee (1843); the original is not shown

When our Saviour was in Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem;—having been invited by one who was (named) Simon, and sitting down there ;—a certain woman took an alabaster box of balsam (ointment), which was very precious, and came and poured it out upon his feet: but His Disciples forbade her; complaining of what had happened. But He received the thing done as a sien, and intimated that this act should be preached of, and heard, throughout the whole world. He prophesied accordingly, and said: ““I say unto you, that wheresoever this my Gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this (woman) hath done, shall also be spoken of for a memorial of her. Now these things He foretold, when, at that time, the writing of the Gospel had yet entered into the mind of none, nor had it come to the hearing of any. Nor, as it is likely, had what was then done, been learned by any who resided in the neighbourhood, but by those only who were present. Nevertheless, He left this whole enouncement in word, and prophesied that the Gospels, which should be written by His Disciples, should be preached throughout the whole world. And to the word He at once also superadded the deed, and said, that with His acts should be written in the Gospel, and spoken of throughout the whole world, even that which had been done by this woman, for a memorial of her :—which same thing has (now) been seen confirmed by Him in very deed! For there is neither people, region, nor place, in which the memorial of this woman, as recorded in the Gospel, has not been mentioned; and, together, with the doctrine respecting Him, is it preached throughout the whole world.—Of the things therefore, respecting this! (Gospel,) and respecting His Church, hear (now) how He made His promises :— How He mentioned His church by name, when yet it had mo existence: and how He declared, that the gates of Heli should never prevail against it. From the Gospel of Matthew.

English translation by Samuel Lee (1843); the original is not shown

When asking His Disciples on a certain occasion, what men said of Him, and they answering according to the opinion of the many, He asked them the second time, “ But what say ye?” and, when Simon had said unto Him, “ Thou art the Christ of the living God,” He answered him, and said: ‘ Blessed art thow Simon son of Jonas, since flesh and blood hath not revealed (this) to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to thee, Thou art Cephas: and upon this rock do I build my Church, and the gate-bars of Hell shall not prevail against it.” The (term) “ this” He took (as implying) the knowledge, that He was the Messiah, the Son of the living God ; and Cephas (the rock), because it should neither be rent nor moved. It is not unlikely, that He named (in) ““ THIs” the whole sense comprised here. On this account too, He designated that same Disciple, who had formerly been called Simon, Cephas (Peter), with reference to this knowledge; (and) of which He afterwards prophesied, and said: “¢ On this-rock do I build my Church, and the gate-bars of Hell shall not prevail against it.” He foretold at once something to come to pass, and promised, that Himself would build it (the Church), and bring the work to completion, by the things of this knowledge which had now been That is: “On this rock do I build my Church, and the gate-bars of Hell shall not prevail against it.” ‘He calls every thing therefore gate-bars, by means of which those, who should take upon themselves a compléte readiness to encounter the death of martyrdom, for the sake of the fear of God...And, after a few other things, when Simon said to Him,’ “how art the Christ,” ‘He returned the answer,’ “ Upon this rock do I build my Church.”—‘ Upon what? Upon this faith, that’ “ Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” —He goes on to say, not as the mad Manes affirms of Him, that the Messiah is the five elements—He might have added,—and probably would, had the thing existed in his days,—nor as the arrogant Papists do, that by “ Cephas” (Peter), is here meant the Popes of Rome. given concerning Himself; that it should be made firm as ow a confirmed foundation; and that Hrs Church should be built, solely by means of His own power which is everlasting, and that the gates of Hell should never overcome it. He himself afforded a proof (of this) in the fulfilment, better than any (that) words (can give). For innumerable persecutions, and many forms of death, have sprung up against His Church, but in nothing could they prevail against it. He has therefore, openly confirmed the enouncement of His prediction, by deeds; its truth He has shewn, by the fulfilment. The Church too, which He called the congregation, about to be set up in His name, evinced no small foreknowledge: for the congregations of the Jews had been termed Synagogues; and, during the time of His going about among men, He frequented the Synagogue of the Jews. Nor was there hitherto, so much as one Synagogue only, set apart to Him. And, Who is not astonished, that He so foreknew those congregations which should afterwards be set up, at a great distance of time, in His name, and, that He should not name them, after the Jewish custom, Synagogues, but Churches He added too, that the gate-bars of Hell should not prevail against them: — things, which we perceive with our own eyes! Nor should we wonder at the prediction only, but also at His promise, namely, “I build my Church upon the rock, and the gate-bars of Hell shall not prevail against it:” which is (all) so brought near in fact, that we can see it! For it was not by the power of men, nor yet by the superiority of the Teachers (employed), that His Church was raised ; but, it was He who promised, and in deed fulfilled His promise ! —RHe (I say) who up to this time has, by the Divine Power, built up, and enlarged, His Church throughout the whole creation of man! On the divisions which are in Houses and Families up to this time, on account of His doctrine. From the Gospel of Matthew.

English translation by Samuel Lee (1843); the original is not shown

“Think not, that I am come to send forth peace upon earth: I am not come to send forth peace, but a sword. For Iam come to divide a man against his Father. . and the Daughter against her Mother, and the Daughter in law against her Mother in law: and the enemies of a man (shall be) those of his own house. (Or), as Luke enounced (it); ““Think ye then, that I am come to send forth peace on earth ? I say unto you, No; but divisions. For, there shall be henceforth five in one house, who (shall be) divided, three against two, and two against three. And the Father shall be divided against his Son, and the Son, against his Father; and the Mother shall be divided against her Daughter, and the Daughter, against her Mother; and the Mother in law, against her Daughter in law; and the Daughter in law, against her Mother in law.” And, Who is not astonished, that the things which should take place in every individual house, in times far removed (from those of the prediction), and even up to this time, did not remain hidden to the foreknowledge of our Saviour? For He foretold to His disciples, the things which up to this time are taking place, just as one present to the things themselves, and making the circuit of the dwellings of all the children of men :—things which hitherto have not existed, nor did they at the period in which He enounced these words. Nor, were there yet any such doings; they were then heard only in the ear. But now, that the prediction has in fact come to its completion, and is visible to the eyes, How can any one, who would think justly, but confess that they are in truth the words of God ? And again in these things also,—‘ For I am come to divide and to send forth a sword, and divisions among the children of men,”—we likewise see with our own eyes, that no word of man, either of philosopher or prophet, whether Greek or Barbarian, ever shewed forth power such as this, that he should so hold the whole creation, that there should be divisions in every house; that he should pass through and distinguish every race, throughout all their families; and, that of these some should be considered as his own, and others as opposed to these! But it was our Saviour alone, and this Word of God, who promised to do this, and He confirmed the promise, in very deed! The cause therefore, of the divisions of soul that came to pass in houses He Himself taught, as we have found in a place in the Gospel existing among the Jews in the Hebrew language’, in which it is said: ‘ J will select to myself these things: very very excellent are those whom my Father, who is in heaven, has given to me.” And, one may learn from this, how in every house in which the word of Jesus should prevail, the excellent would be distinguished from the vile. For, if a man make a comparison among brothers, or servants, or in families generally, as to the customs, forms, manner of life, and the purity and meekness of those, who have chosen the doctrine of our Saviour ;—for this is what is meant by those who have been selected by Him :— and, of those who have not yet become worthy of Him ; —he will perceive what sort of power that is, of which He has made use; and, that He did not only foretel what should come to pass, but that He has, according to the prediction, also brought the works to pass: and, with other things, these also in which it is written that He said, “I will select to myself the” very excellent, those whom my Father who is in heaven has given to me.” Nevertheless, (what He) now (said), ““I am not come to send forth peace on earth,” with other things, He explained to the Disciples themselves and said; “J leave peace with you, my own peace give I unto you: it is not as the world giveth peace, that I also so give peace.” It was the knowledge and love of God, which He had prepared for His disciples; and this, that the soul should not be perturbed. And in this way, He named the light, and confirmation of the mind. These things therefore He foretold, and also respecting these (men): but, of those which He foreknew and foretold respecting the Jewish People, (the time) is at hand that we should enquire. On the things which He prophesied against the Jewish people in parables. From the Gospel of Matthew.

English translation by Samuel Lee (1843); the original is not shown

When the Rulers of the Jewish people, the chief Priests, and the Doctors of the Law, were assembled together in Jerusalem, and He was in the Temple; He foretold covertly and by parable, the things they were about to dare against Him, and the destruction which should overtake them on account of this daring, in this manner: “ There was a certain master of a house, (who) planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a fence, and digged a wine-press therein, and built in it a tower, and delivered it to husbandmen, and departed. And, when the fruit-season drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might bring to him the fruit. But these husbandmen seized his servants, and some of them they smote, and some they stoned, and some they killed. And again, he sent other servants, more than the former; and to these, they did in like manner. But at last, he sent his Son, and said, Surely they will reverence my Son. But these husbandmen, when they saw the Son, said among themselves : This is his heir ; come let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. So they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore, the Lord of the vineyard shall come, What shall he do to those husbandmen They say to him, he shall most miserably destroy them; and his vineyard he shail deliver to other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus himself said to them, Have ye never read in the Scripture, “ The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief corner stone of the building: This is of the Lord, and it is a miracle in our eyes?? Wherefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a people which shall render the fruits” (thereof.) And this parable is of a sort with that, which is in the Prophet Isaiah, which is (given) in this manner: ‘ My beloved had a vineyard on the horn of a fat place. And he cultivated it, and surrounded it with a fence, and planted in it vines, and built a Tower within it. He also made a wine-press in it. And he expected that it would produce grapes; but it produced wild grapes’.” But this that is in the Prophet, accuses the vineyard; which he thus interprets, as to who was (really) intended, when he says, “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house that is in Israel, and the men of Judah are (His) one beloved plant. I looked for judgment, but there was rapine ; and for righteousness, but behold, howling !”

English translation by Samuel Lee (1843); the original is not shown

The parable then, spoken by our Saviour, was so like to that of the Prophet, that it was known to point out those who were present and heard (it), But, it was not of the vineyard that it was spoken, because the Prophet had already made his prediction of this. The things however, which were not mentioned in the Prophet, He supplied in His parable: those, I say, which respected the husbandmen of the vineyard; and these were the Elders of the people, the chief Priests, the Rulers, and Doctors: those, who indeed were the cause to the whole congregation, that they should render evil fruit, and, on whose account, the vineyard itself was left to destruction. That is, the whole of their people, with their fence, was rooted up; those who formerly contended for the people, and watched over the people, together with their place. The Tower that was in it, was the Temple; the wine-press, the Altar. And all these were therefore, wholly taken away, even to their foundations ; because the husbandmen had become polluted with blood; those (I say), who had openly slain the servants first and last; those Prophets, who had, time after time, been sent unto them. The Old Testament also gives its testimony (otherwise) to this matter; and, of the Prophets, Elias who in his prayer to God says, ‘ Lord, they have slain thy Prophets, and broken down thy Altar: and I am left alone, and they seek to take my life’.” Of these things therefore does this Prophet, by his prayer, accuse the rulers of the Jewish people. These however, the pollution of the Prophets’ blood had not satisfied, and at last they slew the Son himself, that is, the Son of God! Nor was it that they knew Him not; but, when they knew fully and accurately, that He was the heir! These things then, our Saviour Himself delivered by parable, respecting Himself, before His suffering. He also foretold,—by His foreknowledge, what should come to pass; (viz.) these things when walking in the Temple,—to those husbandmen of the vineyard of His times, the Chief Priests, the Doctors, and the rest of those who were at the head of the people. And much (and) openly did He, in the parable, prepare them to pronounce condemnation against themselves : asking them in the close of the parable, and saying, ‘“‘ What shall the Lord of the vineyard, when He comes, do to those husbandmen?” And they, not yet understanding that it had been spoken of themselves, gave judgment against themselves, saying, “He shall most miserably destroy them, and shall give up the vineyard to other husbandmen, who shall render to Him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus then said to them: Have ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief corner (stone) of the building: This is from the Lord, and is a miracle in our eyes?” Very consistently after the prediction of His death, He pointed out, from the testimony of the prophets, His own resurrection from the dead. For He had previously taught, that the Son of the Lord of the vineyard should be slain by the wicked husbandmen, and had obtained from themselves (their own) condemnation. After that, He brought this forward: “‘ The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief corner (stone) of the building:” which, in the prophecy, had been given by way of parable on His resurrection. For,—after He had been rejected by those husbandmen who were also the builders, He (I say), who was (as) a precious stone, and of whom the Prophet Isaiah says, ‘‘ Behold, I lay in Zion a choice and precious stone, the chief corner (stone) of the foundation: And he, who believeth in it, shall not be ashamed,”—He became the chief corner (stone) of another building, of which the (divine) word has said: ‘“‘ And this is a miracle in our eyes:” by which He meant His Church. And thus deservedly did He, according to their own judgment on themselves, repay them, saying, “ The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be gwen to a people, that will render the fruits” (thereof): which corresponds to this declaration (already) mentioned, (viz.) ‘ from them ;” that He would “ give the vineyard to other husbandmen, who should render to Him the fruits in their seasons.” For He named the ‘‘ kingdom of God,” those observances in which the worship of God consisted; and these He declared, should be taken away from those husbandmen : and (this) He has most openly shewn, and brought to effect ; giving (the vineyard) to another people, which does bring forth its fruits. And this is the Christian people, which does, throughout the whole creation, bring forth the fruits, that are both conformable, and suitable, to the observances of God; and shews this daily, both in words and works. On the rejection of the Jews at once, and the calling of the Gentiles: also on those who should unworthily be gathered into His Church; and on the end of these. From the Gospel of Matthew.