Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus

I ADJURE YOU: who shall transcribe this book, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by His glorious appearing, when He comes to judge the living and the dead, to compare what you have transcribed, and be careful to correct it according to this copy from which you have transcribed; also, that you in the same manner copy down this adjuration, and insert it in the transcript.

THESE OPINIONS: Florinus, to put it gently, are not sound doctrine; they do not align with the Church and lead their followers into extreme impiety. Even those beyond the Church’s bounds have never dared to suggest such ideas. These opinions were not passed down to you by the presbyters who came before us and were acquainted with the apostles. For when I was a boy, I saw you in Lower Asia with Polycarp, distinguishing yourself in the royal court and seeking his approval.

I remember those events more vividly than recent events because childhood experiences grow with the soul and become a part of it. I can describe where the blessed Polycarp would sit and speak, his habits, appearance, and the talks he gave to people. He would also talk about his close interactions with John and others who had seen the Lord, recalling their words. Everything he heard from them about the Lord’s miracles and teachings, having received this information from the eye-witnesses of the Word of life, Polycarp would recount in harmony with the Scriptures.

By God’s mercy on me, I listened to these things attentively and kept them not on paper but in my heart. By God’s grace, I continually reflect on these things accurately in my mind. I testify before God that if that blessed and apostolic presbyter had heard anything like this, he would have cried out, stopped his ears, and exclaimed as he often did, “O good God, for what times have You reserved me, that I should endure these things?” He would have fled from the very place where he heard such words.

This fact is clear from his letters, whether sent to nearby Churches to strengthen them or to certain brethren, admonishing and urging them.

THE CONTROVERSY IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE DAY: but also about the way of fasting itself. Some feel obliged to fast for one day, others for two days, and some for more, while others for forty days: they count both day and night hours together as their fasting day. This variety among those observing the fast didn't start in our time—it began long ago with our predecessors. Some of them probably, not being very precise in their observance, passed down the custom to future generations as it was, through simplicity or personal preference.

Yet, despite this, all of them lived in peace with one another, and we also maintain peace together.

Thus, the difference in observing the fast fosters the harmony of our shared faith. The presbyters before Soter who led the Church you now govern—namely, Anicetus, Pius, Hyginus, Telesphorus, and Sixtus—neither observed it in that manner themselves nor allowed those with them to do so. Despite this, those who did not observe the feast in this way remained at peace with those from other dioceses where it was practiced, even though such observance was more strongly opposed by those who did not conform to it; and no one was ever expelled from the Church over this issue.

On the contrary, the presbyters who came before you and did not observe this custom sent the Eucharist to those in other dioceses who did. When the blessed Polycarp visited Rome during the time of Anicetus, even though a minor controversy arose over certain other points, they were immediately well disposed towards each other regarding this matter, determined not to let any dispute arise between them on this subject. Anicetus could not persuade Polycarp to give up his observance, as these practices had always been followed by John, the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he was acquainted.

On the other hand, Polycarp couldn't convince Anicetus to observe it his way, as Anicetus was committed to following the traditions of the presbyters before him. In this situation, they maintained fellowship with each other; Anicetus showed his respect for Polycarp by allowing him to celebrate the Eucharist in the Church.

Thus, they parted in peace, maintaining peace with the entire Church, including those who observed the custom and those who did not.

AS LONG AS ANYONE HAS THE MEANS TO DO GOOD TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND DOES NOT: they will be considered a stranger to the love of the Lord.

THE WILL AND ENERGY OF GOD ARE THE EFFECTIVE AND FORESEEING CAUSE OF EVERY TIME: place, and age, and of every nature. The will is the reason of the intellectual soul, which exists within us, as it is the faculty endowed with freedom of action. The will is the mind desiring an object, and an appetite with intelligence, yearning for what is desired.

SINCE GOD IS VAST: and the Architect of the world, and all-powerful, He created things that reach to immensity both by the Architect of the world and by an all-powerful will, and with a new effect, powerfully and effectively, so that the entire fullness of those things which have been produced might come into being, even though they had no previous existence—that is, whatever does not fall under our observation, and also what lies before our eyes. And so He contains all things in particular, and guides them to their own proper result, for which they were called into being and created, in no way changed into anything else than what the end had originally been by nature. For this is the nature of the work of God, not merely to proceed to the infinitude of understanding, or even to surpass our powers of mind, reason and speech, time and place, and every age; but also to go beyond substance, and fullness or perfection.

THIS CUSTOM OF NOT BENDING THE KNEE ON SUNDAY IS A SYMBOL OF THE RESURRECTION: through which we have been set free by the grace of Christ from sins and from death, which has been overcome by Him. This practice originated in apostolic times, as the blessed Irenaeus, the martyr and bishop of Lyons, states in his treatise On Easter, in which he also mentions Pentecost. On this feast, we do not bend the knee because it holds the same significance as the Lord's Day, for the reason already mentioned.

JUST AS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WAS GILDED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WITH PURE GOLD: so was the body of Christ pure and radiant; for it was adorned internally by the Word and protected externally by the Spirit, so that the splendor of both natures might be clearly revealed.

ALWAYS SPEAK WELL OF THE DESERVING: but never speak ill of the undeserving, and we too will reach the glory and kingdom of God.

IT IS INDEED PROPER TO GOD: and fitting His character, to show mercy and pity, and to bring salvation to His creatures, even if they are brought under danger of destruction. "For with Him," says the Scripture, "is propitiation."

THE TASK OF THE CHRISTIAN IS NOTHING MORE THAN TO ALWAYS BE PREPARING FOR DEATH:

WE HAVE THUS COME TO BELIEVE THAT OUR BODIES ALSO RISE AGAIN: For although they undergo decay, they do not perish completely; the earth receives the remains and preserves them like fertile seeds mixed with more fertile ground. Just as a bare grain is sown and, by God's command, germinates and rises again, clothed and glorious, but only after it has died, decayed, and mixed with the earth; in the same way, we have not held a futile belief in the resurrection of the body. Although it dissolves at the appointed time due to the original disobedience, it is placed into the earth to be remade; not as this corruptible body, but pure and no longer subject to decay. Each body will have its own soul restored to it, and when clothed with it, the body will not experience sorrow, but will rejoice, remaining forever in a state of purity, with a just and faithful companion. It will possess in every respect what pertains to it with complete accuracy; it will not receive bodies different from what they were, nor be relieved from suffering or disease, nor made glorious, but as they left this life, in sins or righteous deeds: as they were, so they will be clothed when life resumes; and as they were in unbelief, so they will be faithfully judged.

WHEN THE GREEKS ARRESTED THE SLAVES OF CHRISTIAN CATECHUMENS AND USED FORCE TO LEARN SOME SECRET PRACTICED AMONG CHRISTIANS: these slaves could only tell their tormentors that they had heard from their masters that the divine communion was the body and blood of Christ. They imagined it was literally flesh and blood and told their inquisitors this. The inquisitors, assuming this was true of Christian practices, informed other Greeks and tried to force the martyrs Sanctus and Blandina to confess under torture. Blandina replied admirably, saying, "How could those who did not eat even the flesh they were allowed endure such accusations?"

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAY THAT THE SERPENT: created by God as mute and irrational, was given reason and speech? For if it had the ability in itself to speak, understand, and respond to the woman, nothing would have stopped every serpent from doing so.

However, if it is claimed that it spoke to Eve with a human voice according to God's will and arrangement, then God is made the author of sin. Nor was it possible for the evil demon to grant speech to a speechless creature and create something from nothing; if that were possible, the demon would not have ceased trying to mislead people through serpents, beasts, and birds.

Moreover, how did it, being a beast, know about the command God gave only to the man, in secret, with even the woman unaware? Why did it attack the woman instead of the man? And if you say it attacked her because she was weaker, I reply that she was actually stronger, as she was the man's helper in breaking the commandment. She alone resisted the serpent for a time and ate from the tree only after being cunningly deceived; whereas Adam, without any resistance, ate the fruit given by the woman, showing extreme weakness and lack of resolve.

The woman, having been defeated by a demon, is deserving of pardon; but Adam deserves none, for he was overcome by a woman—the same man who had directly received God's command. The woman, having heard the command from Adam, ignored it, either because she thought it unworthy of God or had doubts, perhaps even thinking the command came from Adam himself. The serpent found her working alone and was thus able to converse with her. Seeing her either eating or not eating from the trees, he offered her the fruit of the forbidden tree.

If he saw her eating, it shows that she had a mortal, corruptible body, for “everything going in at the mouth is cast out.” If corruptible, she was mortal, so there was no curse, nor was there condemnation when God told the man, “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return,” which has always been the natural order. If the serpent saw her not eating, how did he persuade her to eat who had never eaten? Who informed this cursed, man-deceiving serpent that the death sentence from God would not immediately occur when God said, “For in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die”? Not just that, but that with their sin's impunity, the eyes of those who hadn't seen would be opened? Yet with the opening of their eyes came the beginning of the path of death.

WHEN: in ancient times, Balaam spoke these things in parables, he was not acknowledged; and now, when Christ has appeared and fulfilled them, He was not believed. Therefore, Balaam, foreseeing this and marveling at it, exclaimed, "Alas! Alas! Who shall live when God brings these things to pass?"

EXPLAINING THE LAW AGAIN TO THE GENERATION THAT CAME AFTER THOSE WHO WERE SLAIN IN THE WILDERNESS: he published Deuteronomy; not to provide them with a different law from the one given to their fathers, but to recapitulate the latter, so that by hearing what had happened to their fathers, they might fear God with their whole heart.

THROUGH THESE FIGURES: Christ was symbolized, recognized, and introduced into the world; for He was foreshadowed in Joseph. He descended from Levi and Judah according to the flesh, as King and Priest, and was recognized by Simeon in the temple. Through Zebulon, He was believed in among the Gentiles, as the prophet says, "the land of Zabulon;" and through Benjamin, meaning Paul, He was glorified by being preached throughout the world.

And this was not without meaning; but so that through the number of the ten men, he (Gideon) might appear to have Jesus as a helper, as indicated by the agreement made with them. And when he chose not to join them in their idol-worship, they blamed him: for "Jerubbaal" means the judgment-seat of Baal.

"Take Joshua, the son of Nun, for yourself." It was appropriate that Moses should lead the people out of Egypt, but that Jesus (Joshua) should lead them into their inheritance. Also, just as the law was meant to end, Moses' role should end, but Joshua, as the word and a true representation of the Word made flesh, should be a messenger to the people. Furthermore, it was suitable that Moses should provide manna as food for the ancestors, but Joshua should provide wheat; as the first-fruits of life, a symbol of the body of Christ, as Scripture declares that the Lord's manna ceased when the people ate wheat from the land.

"And he laid his hands on him." Joshua's face was also glorified by Moses laying his hands on him, but not to the same extent as Moses. Since Joshua had received a certain degree of grace, the Lord said, "And you shall confer some of your glory on him." For in this case, the thing given does not stop belonging to the giver.

BUT HE DOES NOT GIVE: as Christ did, by breathing, because he is not the source of the Spirit.

"You shall not go with them, nor shall you curse the people." He does not hint at anything regarding the people, for they all lay before His view, but refers to the mystery of Christ revealed beforehand. Since Christ was to be born of the forefathers according to the flesh, the Spirit gives instructions to Balaam in advance, so that he does not, in ignorance, pronounce a curse upon the people. Not that his curse could have any effect contrary to the will of God; but this was done to show the providence of God, which He exercised towards them because of their forefathers.

"And he rode on his donkey." The donkey symbolized the body of Christ, upon whom all men, resting from their labors, are carried as if in a chariot. For the Saviour has taken up the burden of our sins. The angel who appeared to Balaam was the Word Himself; and in His hand, He held a sword to indicate the power He had from above.

"God is not like a man." This indicates that all men are indeed guilty of falsehood because they change from one thing to another; but this is not the case with God, for He always remains true, perfecting whatever He wishes.

"To carry out the Lord's vengeance on Midian." When this man, Balaam, speaks not by the Spirit of God but against God's law by establishing a different law concerning fornication, he should certainly not be regarded as a prophet, but as a soothsayer. For by not adhering to God's commandment, he received the just consequences of his own evil plans.

KNOW THAT EVERY PERSON IS EITHER EMPTY OR FULL: For if someone does not have the Holy Spirit, they have no knowledge of the Creator; they have not received Jesus Christ the Life; they do not know the Father who is in heaven; if they do not live by reason and the heavenly law, they are not sober-minded, nor do they act uprightly: such a person is empty. If, on the other hand, they receive God, who says, "I will dwell with them, and walk in them, and I will be their God," such a person is not empty, but full.

THE LITTLE BOY: therefore, who guided Samson by the hand, prefigured John the Baptist, who showed the people the faith in Christ. And the house in which they were assembled symbolizes the world, in which the various heathen and unbelieving nations dwell, offering sacrifice to their idols. Moreover, the two pillars represent the two covenants. The fact that Samson leaned upon the pillars indicates that the people, when instructed, recognized the mystery of Christ.

"And the man of God asked, 'Where did it fall?' He showed him the place. So he cut down a tree and threw it in there, and the iron floated." This was a sign that souls should be lifted through the instrument of wood, upon which He suffered, who can lift those souls that follow His ascension. This event also indicated that when the holy soul of Christ descended to Hades, many souls ascended and were seen in their bodies. Just as the wood, which is lighter, was submerged in the water, but the iron, heavier, floated: so, when the Word of God became one with flesh, through a physical and hypostatic union, the heavy and earthly part, made immortal, was lifted into heaven by the divine nature after the resurrection.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW WAS WRITTEN FOR THE JEWS: as they placed special importance on the fact that Christ should be of the seed of David. Matthew, who had an even greater desire to establish this point, took special care to provide them convincing proof that Christ is of the seed of David; thus, he begins with an account of His genealogy.

"The axe is laid to the root," he says, urging us to know the truth, purifying us through fear, and preparing us to bear fruit in due season.

OBSERVE THAT: through the grain of mustard seed in the parable, the heavenly doctrine is represented, which is sown like seed in the world, as in a field, a seed that has an inherent force, fiery and powerful. For the Judge of the whole world is thus proclaimed, who, having been hidden in the heart of the earth in a tomb for three days, and having become a great tree, has extended His branches to the ends of the earth. Sprouting from Him, the twelve apostles, having become fair and fruitful branches, were made a shelter for the nations as for the birds of heaven. Under these branches, all who have taken refuge, like birds flocking to a nest, have become partakers of that wholesome and celestial food derived from them.

JOSEPHUS SAYS THAT WHEN MOSES HAD BEEN RAISED IN THE ROYAL PALACES: he was chosen as general against the Ethiopians; and having proven victorious, received in marriage the daughter of that king, since indeed, out of her love for him, she surrendered the city to him.

WHY WAS IT THAT WHEN BOTH AARON AND MIRIAM SHOWED CONTEMPT TOWARDS MOSES: only she was punished? First, because the woman was more at fault, as both nature and the law place women in a subordinate position to men. Or perhaps Aaron was somewhat excusable because he was the elder brother and held the high honor of being the high priest. Furthermore, since a leper was considered unclean by the law and Aaron was the foundation of the priesthood, the Lord did not inflict the same punishment on him, so that this mark wouldn’t taint the entire priestly line. Instead, through the example of his sister, He instilled fear in Aaron and taught him the same lesson. Miriam's punishment affected Aaron so much that as soon as she suffered it, he pleaded with Moses, whom they had wronged, to intercede and remove the affliction. Moses was prompt to do this, immediately offering his prayer. In response, the Lord, who loves mankind, helped him understand that He had disciplined her not as a judge but as a father, by saying, “If her father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that, let her return.”

SOME MEN: driven by reasons I do not know, take away half of God's creative power by claiming that He is only responsible for the qualities present in matter and arguing that matter itself is uncreated. Let us now consider this question: What exists at any time is unchangeable. Therefore, matter is unchangeable. But if matter is unchangeable, and the unchangeable undergoes no change in quality, it cannot form the substance of the world. For this reason, it seems unnecessary to them that God has attached qualities to matter, since matter itself cannot change, being uncreated. Furthermore, if matter is uncreated, it must have been made with a specific, unchangeable quality, meaning it cannot receive additional qualities or be the substance from which the world is made. If the world is not made from it, this theory completely removes God's power in creating the world.

"And dipped himself," says [the Scripture], "seven times in Jordan." It was not without purpose that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon being baptized; rather, it served as a sign for us. For just as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, just as the Lord has declared: "Unless a man is born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

IF THE CORPSE OF ELISHA RAISED A DEAD MAN: how much more will God, when He has brought people's dead bodies back to life, raise them for judgment?

TRUE KNOWLEDGE: then, lies in understanding Christ, which Paul calls the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery, which "the natural man does not accept," the doctrine of the cross; if anyone "tastes" this, they will not follow the debates and trivialities of proud and arrogant people, who delve into matters they do not understand. For the truth is simple; and "the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart," as the same apostle says, being easy to understand for those who are obedient. For it makes us like Christ if we experience "the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." This reflects the connection of the apostolic teaching and the most holy "faith delivered unto us," which the unlearned accept, and those with little knowledge have taught, not "paying attention to endless genealogies," but striving to live a straightforward life; lest, having been deprived of the Divine Spirit, they fail to reach the kingdom of heaven. For truly the first thing is to deny oneself and follow Christ; and those who do this are led to perfection, having fulfilled all their Teacher’s will, becoming children of God through spiritual rebirth, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven; those who seek this first will not be abandoned.

THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SECONDARY CONSTITUTIONS OF THE APOSTLES UNDER CHRIST KNOW THAT THE LORD ESTABLISHED A NEW OFFERING IN THE NEW COVENANT: as declared by Malachi the prophet. For, “from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place, incense is offered to my name, and a pure sacrifice;” as John also states in Revelation: “The incense is the prayers of the saints.” Furthermore, Paul urges us “to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” And again, “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips.” These offerings are not according to the law, which the Lord removed by canceling it, but are according to the Spirit, for we must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” Therefore, the offering of the Eucharist is not physical but spiritual, and in this respect, it is pure.

For we offer to God the bread and the cup of blessing, thanking Him for commanding the earth to produce these fruits for our nourishment.

Then, after perfecting the offering, we invoke the Holy Spirit, so that He may make this sacrifice—both the bread as the body of Christ and the cup as the blood of Christ—so that those who receive these symbols may obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Those who perform these offerings in remembrance of the Lord do not align with Jewish practices, but by performing the service in a spiritual manner, they are called sons of wisdom.

The apostles commanded that "we should not judge anyone regarding food or drink, or concerning a feast day, the new moons, or the sabbaths." So where do these contentions come from? Where do these divisions arise? We observe the feast, but with the leaven of malice and wickedness, tearing apart the Church of God; and we maintain what belongs to its external observance, thus neglecting the better things, faith and love. We have heard from the prophetic words that these feasts and fasts are displeasing to the Lord.

CHRIST: called the Son of God since before time began, appeared at the appointed time to cleanse us with His blood, freeing those under the power of sin, and presenting us as pure sons to His Father, if we obediently submit to the discipline of the Spirit. At the end of time, He will return to eliminate all evil and reconcile all things, ensuring that all impurities come to an end.

"And he found the jawbone of a donkey." It should be noted that after Samson had committed fornication, the holy Scripture no longer describes the things he accomplished with the phrase, "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him." This is because, according to the holy apostle, the sin of fornication is committed against the body, involving also sin against the temple of God.

THIS INDICATES THE PERSECUTION AGAINST THE CHURCH INITIATED BY THE NATIONS WHO STILL PERSIST IN UNBELIEF: But he (Samson) who endured those things, trusted that there would be a retaliation against those waging this war. But retaliation through what means? First of all, by his turning to the Rock not perceivable by the senses; secondly, by the discovery of the jaw-bone of a donkey. Now the type of the jaw-bone is the body of Christ.

SPEAKING ALWAYS WELL OF THE WORTHY: but never speaking ill of the unworthy, we shall also attain the glory and kingdom of God.

THESE THINGS WERE INDICATED BY PROPHECY: showing that the people, having become transgressors, will be bound by the chains of their own sins. But the breaking of the bonds on their own signifies that, upon repentance, they will again be freed from the shackles of sin.

IT IS NOT EASY FOR A SOUL: influenced by error, to be convinced of the opposite opinion.

"And they killed Balaam, the son of Beor, with the sword." For, no longer speaking by the Spirit of God and establishing a law of fornication contrary to God's law, he shall no longer be considered a prophet, but a soothsayer. Because he did not remain in God's commandment, he received the just reward of his evil actions.

"The god of the world;" meaning Satan, who is called God by those who do not believe.

The birth of John [the Baptist] ended the silence of Zacharias. For he did not trouble his father, when his voice emerged from silence; just as disbelief had made him mute, the clear sounding voice released his father, to whom he had been both announced and born. Now the voice and the burning light were precursors of the Word and the Light.

AS SEVENTY LANGUAGES ARE REPRESENTED BY NUMBER: and through interpretation these languages are unified, the ark is likewise shown as a symbol of the body of Christ, which is both pure and immaculate. Just as that ark was covered with pure gold inside and out, the body of Christ is also pure and radiant, adorned internally by the Word and protected externally by the Spirit, so that the brilliance of both natures is displayed together.

NOW: therefore, by means of what has already been brought forth a long time ago, the Word has provided an interpretation. We are convinced that there exist, so to speak, two men within each of us. One is admittedly hidden, while the other is apparent; one is corporeal, and the other is spiritual, although the generation of both can be compared to that of twins. For both are revealed to the world as one, since the soul was not before the body in its essence; nor, regarding its formation, did the body come before the soul: rather, both were produced at the same time; and their nourishment consists of purity and sweetness.

THEN THERE WILL TRULY BE A SHARED JOY FULFILLED FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN LIFE: and in each person shall be confirmed the mystery of the Resurrection, the hope of incorruption, and the beginning of the eternal kingdom, when God destroys death and the devil. For the human nature and flesh that has risen from the dead will die no more; it will have been changed to incorruption and made like a spirit, and when heaven was opened, our Lord, full of glory, offered it (the flesh) to the Father.

NOW: since the books by these men may not have caught your attention but have come to ours, I draw your attention to them so you can remove these writings from among you for the sake of your reputation. They bring disgrace upon you, as their author claims to be one of your group. These works become an obstacle to many who, without question, accept the blasphemy they preach against God, thinking it comes from a trusted source. Consider the writer of these things, who not only harms those prepared in mind for blasphemies against God but also hurts those among us by teaching their minds false doctrines about God through his books.

THE SACRED BOOKS RECOGNIZE REGARDING CHRIST THAT: as He is the Son of man, He is not just a man; and as He is flesh, He is also spirit, the Word of God, and God. Just as He was born of Mary in the last times, He also came from God as the First-begotten of every creature. And as He hungered, He satisfied others; and as He thirsted, He of old caused the Jews to drink, for the “Rock was Christ” Himself.

Thus, Jesus now gives His believing people the power to drink spiritual waters that spring up to eternal life. As He was the son of David, He was also the Lord of David. As He was from Abraham, He also existed before Abraham. As He was the servant of God, He is the Son of God and Lord of the universe. Though He was spit upon shamefully, He breathed the Holy Spirit into His disciples. While He was saddened, He gave joy to His people.

He was capable of being handled and touched, yet He, in a non-apprehensible form, passed through the midst of those who sought to harm Him and entered through closed doors without obstacle. As He slept, He also ruled the sea, the winds, and the storms. Though He suffered, He is alive, life-giving, and heals all our infirmity. Though He died, He is the Resurrection of the dead. He suffered shame on earth, yet He is higher than all glory and praise in heaven; “though He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by divine power;” He “descended into the lower parts of the earth” and “ascended up above the heavens;” a manger sufficed for Him, yet He filled all things; He was dead, yet He lives forever and ever.

Amen.

CONCERNING CHRIST: the law, the prophets, and the evangelists have declared that He was born of a virgin, that He suffered on a cross, and that He rose from the dead; that He also ascended to heaven, was glorified by the Father, and is the Eternal King; that He is perfect Intelligence, the Word of God, who was begotten before the light; that He was the Creator of the universe, along with light, and the Maker of man; that He is All in all: Patriarch among patriarchs; Law in laws; Chief Priest among priests; Ruler among kings; the Prophet among prophets; the Angel among angels; the Man among men; Son in the Father; God in God; King for all eternity. For it is He who sailed in the ark with Noah, who guided Abraham; who was bound with Isaac, and was a wanderer with Jacob; the Shepherd of those who are saved, and the Bridegroom of the Church; the Chief of the cherubim, the Prince of the angelic powers; God of God; Son of the Father; Jesus Christ; King forever and ever. Amen.

THE LAW: the prophets, and the evangelists have declared that Christ was born of a virgin, suffered on the cross, was raised from the dead, and taken up to heaven; that He was glorified and reigns forever. He is Himself called the Perfect Intellect, the Word of God. He is the First-begotten in a transcendent way, the Creator of man; All in all; Patriarch among patriarchs; Law in the law; the Priest among priests; the Prime Leader among kings; the Prophet among prophets; the Angel among angels; the Man among men; Son in the Father; God in God; King for all eternity.

He was sold with Joseph and guided Abraham; was bound with Isaac and wandered with Jacob; with Moses, He was Leader, and regarding the people, Legislator. He preached in the prophets; was incarnate of a virgin; born in Bethlehem; received by John and baptized in the Jordan; was tempted in the desert and proved to be the Lord. He gathered the apostles and preached the kingdom of heaven; gave light to the blind and raised the dead; was seen in the temple but was not held by the people as credible; was arrested by the priests, brought before Herod, and condemned in Pilate's presence; He appeared in the body, was suspended on a wooden beam, and raised from the dead; shown to the apostles, and, having been carried up to heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and has been glorified by Him as the Resurrection of the dead.

Moreover, He is the Salvation of the lost, the Light to those dwelling in darkness, and Redemption for those born; the Shepherd of the saved and the Bridegroom of the Church; the Charioteer of the cherubim, the Leader of the angelic host; God of God; Jesus Christ our Savior.

"Then the mother of Zebedee’s children approached Him with her sons, worshipping and seeking something from Him." These people certainly have understanding, and the words in that passage are significant: stated beforehand like a preface, they align with points previously explained.

"Then they drew near." Sometimes virtue excites our admiration not just because of the display it gives, but also because of the timing when it is shown. For instance, consider early fruit from the grape or the fig, or any fruit really, which no one expects to be mature or fully developed while it's still growing. Yet, although someone might see it as somewhat imperfect, they don't dismiss the immature grape as useless when they pick it. On the contrary, they gather it with pleasure because it appears early in the season, not worrying if the grape possesses perfect sweetness. They feel satisfaction knowing it came before the rest. Similarly, God, when He sees the faithful with wisdom that is still imperfect and faith that is small, overlooks their shortcomings in this regard and does not reject them. Instead, He kindly welcomes and accepts them as early fruits, honoring the mind, whatever state it may be in, that is marked with virtue, even if not yet perfect. He makes allowances for it, considering it a precursor to the harvest and esteems it highly since, being more willing than the rest, it has, in a sense, claimed the blessing early for itself.

ABRAHAM: Isaac, and Jacob, our forefathers, should be esteemed above all, as they provided us with early examples of virtue. How many martyrs can be compared to Daniel? How many martyrs, I ask, can rival the three youths in Babylon, even though the memory of Daniel has not been highlighted as much as theirs? These were truly the first-fruits and indications of the coming fruition. Therefore, God has directed their lives to be recorded as a model for those who would follow.

And that their virtue was accepted by God as the first-fruits of the produce, listen to what He Himself has declared: “I found Israel like a grape in the wilderness, and your fathers like early figs.” Therefore, do not call the faith of Abraham merely blessed because he believed. Do you want to admire Abraham? Then see how he alone professed piety when six hundred in the world had been corrupted by error. Do you want Daniel to amaze you? Look at Babylon, proud in its impiousness, with its inhabitants completely given over to sin of every kind. But he, rising from the depths, rejected the brine of sins and rejoiced to immerse himself in the sweet waters of piety. And now, similarly, regarding the mother of Zebedee’s children, do not merely admire what she said, but also the timing of her words. For when did she approach the Redeemer? Not after the resurrection, nor after the preaching of His name, nor after the establishment of His kingdom; but when the Lord said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

These things the Savior told in reference to His sufferings and cross; to these people He predicted His passion. Nor did He hide the fact that it would be of a most disgraceful kind, at the hands of the chief priests. However, this woman had attached a different meaning to the arrangement of His sufferings. The Savior was foretelling death, and she asked for the glory of immortality. The Lord was claiming that He must stand judged before impious judges; but she, ignoring that judgment, requested as if of the judge: "Grant," she said, "that these my two sons may sit, one on Your right hand, and the other on the left, in Your glory." In one case, the passion is referred to, in the other, the kingdom is understood. The Savior was speaking of the cross, while she had in mind the glory that involves no suffering. This woman, therefore, as I have already said, is worthy of our admiration, not only for what she sought but also for the timing of her request.

SHE TRULY SUFFERED: not just as a pious person, but also as a woman. For, having been taught by His words, she believed it would happen that the kingdom of Christ would flourish in glory, expand across the world, and grow through the preaching of piety. She understood, as was indeed the case, that He who appeared in a humble form had fulfilled and received every promise. I will discuss on another occasion, when I cover this humility, whether the Lord rejected her request about His kingdom. But she thought that she would not have the same confidence when, at the angels' appearance, He would be served by them and receive service from the entire heavenly host. So, taking the Saviour aside in a private place, she earnestly asked Him for things that transcend all human nature.