Against Heresies: Book IV
Chapter 7: Summary of the Previous Argument, Demonstrating that Abraham, Through the Revelation of the Word, Knew the Father, and the Arrival of the Son of God. For this Reason, He Was Delighted to Witness the Day of Christ, When the Promises Made to Him Would Be Fulfilled
Therefore, Abraham also, knowing the Father through the Word, who made heaven and earth, confessed Him to be God. Having learned through a message that the Son of God would be a man among men and that His coming would make his descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven, he longed to see that day so that he could embrace Christ himself. Seeing it through the spirit of prophecy, he rejoiced. Simeon, one of his descendants, fulfilled the rejoicing of the patriarch and said, “Lord, now you let Your servant depart in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of the people Israel.” Similarly, the angels announced news of great joy to the shepherds who were keeping watch by night. Moreover, Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my salvation,”—the rejoicing of Abraham spreading to his descendants—those who were watching, who saw Christ, and believed in Him; meanwhile, there was a reciprocal rejoicing passing back from the children to Abraham, who had also wished to see the day of Christ’s coming. Rightly, then, did our Lord testify about him, saying, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
These things were said not just for Abraham’s sake, but also to show that everyone who has known God from the beginning and foretold Christ's coming received revelation from the Son Himself. In the last times, He became visible and able to suffer, and He spoke with humanity so that He could raise children for Abraham from the stones and fulfill the promise God gave him, making his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. John the Baptist says, “For God is able to raise children for Abraham from these stones.” Jesus accomplished this by moving us away from the worship of stones, taking us from hard and fruitless thoughts, and establishing in us a faith like Abraham’s. Paul also confirms this, saying we are children of Abraham because of our similar faith and the promise of inheritance.
He is, therefore, the same God who called Abraham and gave him the promise. He is the Creator, who also prepares lights in the world through Christ, namely, those who believe from among the Gentiles. He says, "You are the light of the world," meaning, as the stars of heaven. Therefore, I have rightly shown that no one can know Him, except through the Son, and to whomever the Son reveals Him. The Son reveals the Father to all whom He chooses to make Him known; and without the goodwill of the Father and the agency of the Son, no one can know God. This is why the Lord said to His disciples, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also, and from now on, you have both known Him and seen Him." These words clearly show that He is known through the Son, that is, through the Word.
Therefore, the Jews have turned away from God by not accepting His Word, thinking they could know the Father by Himself, without the Word, which is the Son. They are unaware of the God who spoke in human form to Abraham and again to Moses, saying, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people in Egypt and have come down to deliver them.” The Son, who is the Word of God, arranged these things from the beginning, the Father not needing angels to call creation into being or to form man, for whom creation was also made; nor needing any tools to create or order things related to man while having countless servants. His offspring and likeness serve Him in every way; that is, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Word and Wisdom, whom all the angels serve and to whom they are subject. Therefore, those are misguided who, because of the statement, “No man knows the Father but the Son,” introduce another unknown Father.