Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 14, Part C

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 14, Part C

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“Now I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you.... that He has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” — 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Summary: St. Cyril transitions his focus from the glories of the Resurrection to Christ’s Ascension and Enthronement.  He concludes with a beautiful prayer of benediction.

Preview:  21.  “Since we have the prophesies, let faith abide with us.”  “… you have taken your stand on the rock of the faith in the Resurrection.  Let no heretic ever persuade you to speak evil of the Resurrection.”  The Manichees say that a phantom arose, not heeding Paul.  “And He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; then He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.”[i]  22.  “Many [other] witnesses there are of the Savior’s resurrection”: too many to list in this brief summary.  23.  And later, Tabitha, who was herself raised, became a witness of the resurrection.[ii]  The list of witnesses is seemingly endless: so, we must move on to the Ascension.  24.  “Who rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven, and sat down on the right hand of the Father.”[iii]  “He ascended on high, He led captivity captive.”[iv]  25.  “… for if Habakkuk was transported by an Angel, being carried by the hair of his head, much rather was the Lord of both Prophets and Angels, able by His own power to make His ascent into the Heavens on a cloud from the Mount of Olives”: then how can the Jews say it is impossible.”[v]  Enoch was translated, Elias was taken up.  26.  “And when you have thus wrestled against the Jews — when you have worsted them by parallel instances, then come further to the pre-eminence of the Savior’s glory; namely, that they [Enoch and Elias] were the servants, but He the Son of God.”  28.  Of His enthronement, “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”[vi]  29.  “Nevertheless, I say unto you, Henceforth you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power.”[vii]  “By the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven.”[viii]  “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God.”[ix]  “According to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand….”[x]  “If you then be risen with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”[xi]  “When He had made purification of our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”[xii]  “But unto which of the Angels has He said at any time, Sit thou at My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?”[xiii]  “Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God.”[xiv]  30.  These texts suffice for the moment.  “Now may He Himself, the God of all, who is Father of the Christ, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who came down, and ascended, and sits together with the Father, watch over your souls; keep unshaken and unchanged your hope in Him who rose again; raise you together with Him from your dead sins unto His heavenly gift; count you worthy to be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.”[xv]  “And may He grant to all of you to believe in Him who rose again, and to look for Him who is gone up, and is to come again.”  “For think not that because He is now absent in the flesh, He is therefore absent also in the Spirit. He is here present in the midst of us, listening to what is said of Him, and beholding your inward thoughts, and trying the reins and hearts — who also is now ready to present those who are coming to baptism, and all of you, in the Holy Ghost to the Father, and to say, Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me: — To whom be glory forever.  Amen.”

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[i] 1 Corinthians 15:5-6

[ii] Acts 9:41

[iii] Mark 16:19; Luke 24:49-53; Acts 1:1-11

[iv] He received or gave gifts to men.  Psalms 67:18 Septuagint; Psalms 68:18; Ephesians 4:8

[v] Even today certain of the Jewish rabbis claim such flight (see the Chaim Potok novels for illustrative lore; see Lurian Kabbalah for Jewish mystical philosophy).  Bel and the Dragon 33-39 Septuagint; Daniel 14:33-36 (NRSVCE)

[vi] Psalms 109:1 Septuagint; Psalms 110:1; Acts 2:34

[vii] Matthew 26:64

[viii] 1 Peter 3:22

[ix] Romans 8:34

[x] Ephesians 1:19-20

[xi] Colossians 3:1

[xii] Hebrews 1:3

[xiii] Psalm 99:5; 110:1; 132:7; Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:35; Hebrews 1:13; 10:13

[xiv] Hebrews 12:1, 2, 3-14, 22-29

[xv] 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 14, Part B

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 14, Part B

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“Now I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you.... that He has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” — 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Summary: This is a difficult section for us to summarize; St. Cyril relies so heavily on the Song of Solomon that we do not readily comprehend his meaning: for the modern lascivious age, has changed even the meanings of words for us.  As St. Cyril, himself might put it, I do not yet have the vision to accept such brilliant light.  We must not lose sight of the fact that the risen Christ revealed Himself in the Old Testament[i]; very likely, St. Cyril is closer to that revelation than we are.  Even without Song of Solomon, there are many Old Testament evidences for the Resurrection.

Preview:  11.  He was buried in a garden.  “Truth sprang up out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven.”[ii]  12.  “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.”[iii]  “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”[iv]  13.  “And behold Jesus met them, saying, All hail!  And they came and took hold of His feet.”[v]  “Go, tell His disciples that He is risen.”[vi]  14.  The Jews paid the soldiers to lie; but kings have come to believe; few Jews were persuaded, yet the world became obedient; “After two days will He revive us, and in the third day we shall rise again, and shall live in His sight.”[vii]  15.  “On what ground, while you say that Eliseus and Elias raised the dead, do you gainsay the Resurrection of our Savior?”  Because there are no living witnesses; where are your living witnesses: for the records of all were kept by the Jews.  16.  “But it is impossible, some one will say, that the dead should rise; and yet Eliseus twice raised the dead — when he was alive, and also when dead.”[viii]  Yet, “[He] Himself arose, and many dead were raised without having even touched Him.  For many bodies of the Saints which slept arose, and they came out of the graves after His Resurrection, and went into the Holy City.”[ix]  17.  “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”[x]  18.  Which is more difficult: for Jonah to survive three days tossed about by sea; or for Christ, Who was known to be dead, to arise after three days burial in the tomb?[xi]  “for He went down to death, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose through Him.[xii]  19.  “O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is your sting?”[xiii]  20.  “He who brought up from the earth the great Shepherd of the sheep … leddest Thy people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”[xiv]  “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep….”[xv]

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[i] Luke 24:27; 44-45

[ii] Psalms 84:11 Septuagint; Psalms 85:11

[iii] John 20:13

[iv] Luke 24:5

[v] Matthew 28:9

[vi] Matthew 28:7

[vii] Hosea 6:2

[viii] 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37; 13:21

[ix] Matthew 27:52-53

[x] Although we have trouble accepting the Pinocchio version, especially since we do not yet have access to St. Cyril’s Greek original; the main point is well taken: whatever happened in Jonah was clearly a miracle: this is only a problem for those who don’t believe in miracles.  Therefore, monster, shark, whale, or the surging sea itself, whatever; it was a miracle that God preserved Jonah’s life, when Jonah so clearly wanted to die.  Jonah 2; Matthew 12:40

[xi] For Jonah went into Hell alive: but, Christ was already dead… they even started the first day’s embalming process, which was delayed over Pesach.  By the time Pesach had ended, He was gone, raised in triumph.

[xii] Matthew 27:52

[xiii] St. Cyril reverses the objects.  1 Corinthians 15:55-57

[xiv] It is possible that St. Cyril also has Isaiah 43:6 in mind here.  Psalms 77:20; 80:1; Hebrews 13:20

[xv] Hebrews 13:20

Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 14, Part A

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 14, Part A

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“Now I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you.... that He has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” — 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Summary: St. Cyril now cites testimonies and witnesses providing evidence for the Resurrection; which call us to rejoicing.  It is the spiritual spring of the universe; winter is behind us.  “Rejoice daughter Zion!  Rejoice Jerusalem!  Rejoice greatly!”  “Again, I say rejoice!”

Preview:  1.  “Rejoice, O Jerusalem, … for He is risen.  Rejoice, all you that mourned[i] … for He who was spitefully entreated of them in this place is risen again.  As … the Cross was sorrowful … let the good tidings of the Resurrection bring joy….  because of Him, who after His resurrection, said Rejoice.”  “Now, therefore, the Dead is risen, He who was free among the dead , and the deliverer of the dead[ii].  He who in dishonor wore patiently the crown of thorns, even He arose, and crowned Himself with the diadem of His victory over death.”[iii]  2.  As then we set forth the testimonies concerning His Cross, so come let us now verify the proofs of His Resurrection also: since the Apostle before us affirms, He was buried, and has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”  “in order that when the Gospels are read, the narratives of these holy Scriptures may not be thought fables nor rhapsodies.”  3.  You have heard details of His burial.  “But now let the testimonies concerning His resurrection itself go with us on our way.”  4.  “For the misery of the poor, and the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, says the Lord.”[iv]  “Preserve Me, O Lord, for in You have I put my trust … their assemblies of blood will I not join, nor make mention of their names between my lips … I foresaw the Lord always before Me, because He is at My right hand, that I may not be moved … Yea and even until night my reins chastened me … For You will not leave My soul in hell ; neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”[v]  “I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted Me up, and hast not made My foes to rejoice over Me.”[vi]  “O Lord, You have brought up My soul from hell.”[vii]  5.  “For with You is the fountain of life.”[viii]  6.  “Prepare yourself, be rising at the dawn: all their gleaning is destroyed.”[ix]  “Therefore wait thou for Me, says the Lord, until the day of My Resurrection at the Testimony.”[x]  7.  “For then will I turn to the peoples a language.”[xi]  “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia they shall bring me offerings.”[xii]  With such [prophecies] of the Resurrection and the signs that followed, confess “Christ risen from the dead.”[xiii]  8.  “O Lord, God of My salvation, I have cried day and night before You … I became as it were a man without help, free among the dead.”[xiv]  “And unto You have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come before You.”[xv]  9.  He came forth from a cave in the rock.[xvi]  10.  “The winter is past, the rain is past and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the pruning has come.”[xvii]

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[i] Isaiah 66:10

[ii] Note that the expression, “the deliverer of the dead,” clearly claims that Christ descended into Hell; spoiled Hell; and brought up all of the righteous dead, from Adam and Eve onward, out of Hell, and into Paradise.  He conquered, He trampled down death by death.

[iii] ΙΣ ΧΣ ΝΙΚΑ

[iv] Psalms 11:5 Septuagint; Psalms 12:5

[v] Psalms 15:1, 4, 8, 7, 10 Septuagint; Psalms 16:…

[vi] Psalms 29:1 Septuagint; Psalms 30:1

[vii] Psalms 29:3 Septuagint; Psalms 30:3

[viii] Psalms 35:9 Septuagint; Psalms 36:9

[ix] Zephaniah 3:7

[x] Zephaniah 3:8

[xi] Zephaniah 3:9

[xii] The Ethiopian eunuch… Zephaniah 3:10

[xiii] 2 Timothy 2:8

[xiv] Psalms 87:1, 4-5 Septuagint; Psalms 88:1, 4-5

[xv] Psalms 87:13 Septuagint; Psalms 88:13

[xvi] Song of Solomon 2:14

[xvii] Song of Solomon 2:11-13