Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 10

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 10

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; yet to us there is One God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and One Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him.” — 1 Corinthians 8:5-6[i]

Summary: The Lord Jesus Christ, God, Son of God, bears myriad names indicative of His condescending service to mankind; for which there are equally many witnesses of His works: bestowing on us the name, Christian, that men may see our good works shining, and glorify our Father.

Preview: 1.  We ought to believe in the Father and the Son: “for he that denies the Son, the same has not the Father.”  Denial of the Door, denies access to the Father; denial of the Son, eliminates all possible knowledge of the Father… wrath remains; denial of the Only-begotten earns the Father’s indignation.  2.  To express piety to God, one must worship the Son: otherwise, one’s service is rejected; do not listen to what the Jew says: for the Psalmist says, “You are My Son.”  Heed the Prophets, not the Jews.[ii]  3.  “Believe thou In One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God.”  For [Jesus] is Door, Way, Sheep, Shepherd, Lion, Stone.  He shares [the Father’s] Godhead, Godhood, or nature.  4.  He is called Christ, “eternally[iii] anointed by the Father to His High-Priesthood on behalf of men.”  He is called Dead, “alone free among the dead”; Son of Man, not generated from earth; Lord, having by nature eternal Lordship; Jesus, for His healing; Son, not by adoption: having many titles; yet, being only One.  5.  “The Savior comes in various forms” for the benefit of each individual; He is Vine to those needing gladness; Door to those needing entry; High Priest to those needing prayer; Sheep to those needing sacrifice.  “He is made all things to all men”; so, being unchangeable by nature, “He adapts Himself to our infirmities.”  He is Lord in truth by nature, not by advancement.  6.  “Christ the Lord is He who was born in the city of David[iv] … Lord with the Father even before His Incarnation,” as proved by Genesis 1:26.  7.  Moses saw the Rock that followed them, considering the value of the reproach of Christ; he said, “Show me Yourself….”  His brightness frightened the disciples; who with us can only see according to our little capacity [of faith].  8.  “… because of the Jews.  For our object is to prove that the Lord Jesus Christ was with the Father.  The Lord then says to Moses, I will … proclaim the name of the Lord before you.  Being Himself the Lord, what Lord does He proclaim?  You see how He was covertly teaching the godly doctrine of the Father and the Son.”  9.  Receive a second proof, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit Thou on My right hand. The Lord says this to the Lord, not to a servant, but to the Lord of all, and His own Son, to whom He put all things in subjection.”  10.  He is Lord of all things; Mary and Gabriel are His servants: “except nothing from His Lordship: for whether Angels, or Archangels, or principalities, or powers, or any created thing.”  “For though there be many that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, and so on, yet to us there is One God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and One Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him.[v]  11.  “He is called by two names, Jesus Christ; Jesus, because He saves — Christ, because He is a Priest”: which are typified in Aaron surnamed Christ, and Joshua or Jesus.  12.  “There is One Lord Jesus Christ, a wondrous name, indirectly announced beforehand by the Prophets”; which the Jews should have known, but denied: yet He received this Name from Angels, not from men.  13.  Jesus means Savior in Hebrew, but Healer in Greek; “since He is physician of souls and bodies….”  14.  For the Jews allow that He is Jesus, but not Christ.  “Who is the liar, but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ?”  “… After the Order of Melchizedek.  He received not the High-Priesthood from bodily succession, nor was He anointed with oil prepared by man, but before all ages by the Father; and He so far excels the others as with an oath He is made Priest: For they are priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him that said, The Lord swore, and will not repent.”[vi]  15.  The Jews denied Christ, while devils confessed Him.  The Prophet [John], Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, all the [other] Prophets, even the Samaritan woman knew Him: but, not the Chief Priests.  16.  Christ our High Priest has given us a new name, the name Christian: the Jews have no new name.  17.  Men call friends for witnesses; but, Christ calls His former enemy [Paul], “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.”  18.  I am … filled with wonder at the … Holy Spirit; how He … to Paul the former persecutor gave the privilege of writing fourteen [Epistles]”; while all the others wrote only few.  “Is not this he that was formerly a persecutor?”^[vii]  “But the grace of God was exceeding abundant in [Paul].”[viii]  19.  The Father, the Spirit, Gabriel, Mary, Egypt, Symeon, Anna, John, Jordan, Tiberias, blind, lame, dead, devils, wind, loaves, the wood of the cross, the palm tree, Gethsemane, Golgotha, the Sepulcher, the stone, the sun, the darkness, the light, the Mount of Olives, the clouds, the gates of heaven, His enemies, the Apostles, the shadow of Peter, the articles of Paul, Persians, Goths, and converts, all, bear witness to Him.  20.  “You are called a Christian: be tender of the name; let not our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be blasphemed through you: but rather let your good works shine before men.”[ix]

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[i] To use this quote from the Apostle Paul as false proof of St. Cyril’s supposed semi-Arianism is a foul ball, really hitting below the belt: for if this verse makes Cyril a semi-Arian, it also condemns Paul with the same words.  Cyril clearly affirms that Father, Son, and Spirit are co-eternal, and con-substantial at several other places.

[ii] Amazing advice, since nowadays everybody wants to hear what the Jews have to say… the same old deceptive and devious nonsense.

[iii] Observe the necessary co-eternality with the Father expressed here.

[iv] Luke 2:11

[v] 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

[vi] Hebrews 7:21

[vii] Acts 9:21

[viii] 1 Timothy 1:14

[ix] Matthew 5:16

Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 9

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 9

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“Who is this that hides counsel from Me, and keeps words in his heart, and thinks to hide them from Me?” — Job 38:2-3

Summary: God cannot be seen with eyes of flesh; only the Son and Spirit see Him; if even the spiritual eyes of Prophets tremble at His glimpse, that which cannot be understood.  Yet we can see His works and glorify Him; rather than finding fault and cursing Him: for His works are truly amazing.

Preview: 1.  It is impossible to see God with eyes of flesh: only the Son [and Spirit] have truly seen Him; even Ezekiel only “saw the likeness of [His] glory”; whence, “he fell to earth from fear.”  If such a sight brought pain to the prophets, the rest of us would surely die: for God veils Himself from our sight.  He Who rends the heavens caused Ezekiel’s collapse; even Daniel fell down at the presence of the Angel Gabriel; we would have perished, had we seen Him.  2.  Yet, “from [His] works … it is possible to attain some conception of His power”, in proportion as God lifts men up: as Solomon testifies.  3.  So, “to comprehend the nature of God is impossible: for, as Ezekiel shows us, we cannot yet understand his description of the Cherubim, wheels, or throne; let alone understand Him who sits on that throne: the Invisible and Ineffable God: “but it is in our power to send up praises of His glory for His works that are seen.”  4.  “We Believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of All Things Visible and Invisible; in order that we may remember that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the same as He that made the heaven and the earth, and that we may make ourselves safe against the wrong paths of the godless heretics, who”, with the eyes of flesh are blinded.  5.  “What fault have they to find? … “They, who ought to have been struck with amazement on beholding the vaultings of the heavens….”  6.  But what?  Is there not cause to wonder … at the constitution of the sun?”  “… the Psalmist also says of them, Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night proclaims knowledge.  For to the heretics who have no ears, they all but cry aloud….”  7.  Tolerate none who say one is a “Creator of the light, and another of darkness;” who are vexed at that which brings rest to man, with wisdom, Psalms, prayers, remembrance of our sins.  Admit not such an evil thought: for night is also “good and useful”.  8.  The should have been astonished at sun and moon; more so by the stars: which mark seasons, navigation channels; which are not for astrology or [omens] of birth.  9.  Consider rain and clouds; wind and ice; snow like wool; mist like ashes: becoming wine in vines, oil in olives, grain for bread, and “fruits of all kinds.”  10.  “Should the Creator have been blasphemed?  [because of these wonders]  Or worshipped rather?”  because “of the unseen works of His wisdom.”  Admire also the reed, creepers, beasts, cattle, trees, food, gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, fish, and birds.  11.  [Admire] the “great wide sea”: its fishes, whales, amphibians; its breadth and depth; its force of waves; and Him Who sets its bounds.  12.  Who understands birds: some sing, others have colorful plumage, others soar?  Who understands their Maker?  13.  What man know the names of all beasts, or discerns their physiology?  “how shall we comprehend [their] Maker?”  For from one command sprang forth such a multitude, so many resembling man in some characteristic: industriousness, sloth, or some other.  14.  “Is not then the Artificer worthy the rather to be glorified?”  Does [Creation] immediately become useless?  Or does the usefulness of things continue?  “From this varied workmanship understand the Creator's power.”  15.  Consider your own nature.  Do you find fault with Him Who shaped your body?  The members are not the cause of sin; but, their wrong use.  How or where is a child made and nursed?  How does a boy become a youth, then a man: while no one notices the daily changes?  How is food part blood, and part flesh?  Explain the heart’s ceaseless motion; or the eyes; or how breath is distributed “to the whole body?”  16.  We have left out thousands of things, especially incorporeal and invisible, that you may abhor blasphemers; that you may love and worship the Creator of all.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 7

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 7

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,... of whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named….” — Ephesians 3:14, 15

Summary: The dignity of Fatherhood is defined by God’s nature, uniting Father and Son as One God; this also extends to our natural fathers; yet, it also applies to the Father by our adoption: our wills combining with His power brings the works of faith.

Preview: 1.  God is the sole Principle, of Whom we have not words enough: for we are limited by infirmity.  “Now let us shake off” the review of heretics, to return to “the saving doctrines of the true faith, connecting the dignity of Fatherhood with that of the Unity, and believing In One God the Father: for we must not only believe in one God; but this also let us devoutly receive, that He is the Father of the Only-begotten, our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2.  We think beyond the Jews, who admit that there is One God; in that we believe also in the Son of God.  3.  “Let the Jews … suffer their … unbelief.”  Let us worship and believe in the Father and the Christ.  4.  The name Father suggests the Son; as Son also indicates Father; yet, “Only-begotten is [not] second in rank to heaven and earth … for, between Son and Father”, no created thing comes.[i]  5.  God is by nature Father of only One, the Only-begotten; He is eternally Father, eternally Son.  6.  We worship the Father of Christ[ii]; “we shall not … sever the Old Testament from the New”: yet, shall embrace the Father’s Temple.  7.  Should any suppose that Christ is merely righteous man; Christ alone speaks of My Father, rather than our Father: for our son-ship is by adoption; His is by nature; even our permission to speak in such a manner is “by the grace of the Father, through the Son and Holy Spirit….”  8.  We, who are clay, learn to call God, Father, from Moses and Esaias, by grace and adoption.  9.  Natural fathers are not the only fathers: for Paul considers himself father to his converts; Job … father of the needy; John … son of [Virgin] Mary; yet, Joseph, who is not Christ’s natural Father, is also called father; Mary, likewise, is called mother; showing a parentage of nurture.  10.  God is also “improperly” called Father, concerning Abraham and us, who are Abraham’s children; Father of the fatherless; but, Christ is eternally Son by nature… the Father, Father of the Son by nature.  11.  So, we believe in One God, Whom the Only-begotten has declared, which Angels have seen.  “But the undimmed vision of the Father is reserved in its purity for the Son with the Holy Ghost.”  12.  Considering God’s loving-kindness in allowing grasshoppers to call Him Father; we observe the amazing ingratitude of man in calling a stick, father; and a stone, my begetter.  13.  Some have even chosen Satan as a father; who “do the deeds of their father, the devil”; who consent to him of their own will: for we come to such a sonship by choice, not by necessity, as did Judas.  Else, Judas could not cast out devils; “Satan casts not out Satan”; nor Paul turned from persecuting to preaching; each chose: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power[iii] to become the children of God, even to them that believe in His name.  John 1:12  For not before their believing, but from their believing they were counted worthy to become of their own choice the children of God.”  14.  “Therefore, let us walk spiritually, that we may be counted worthy of God's adoption.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  The title Christian is worthless unless works of faith follow; “loving not the world, neither the things that are in the world: for if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  1 John 2:15  Wherefore, my beloved children, let us by our works offer glory to our Father which is in heaven, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16  Let us cast all our care upon Him, for our Father knows what things we have need of.”  15.  Let is honor our Father, and our parents.  “For when our fathers on earth are of a contrary mind to our Father in heaven, then we must obey Christ's word.  But when they put no obstacle to godliness in our way, if we are ever carried away by ingratitude, and, forgetting their benefits to us, hold them in contempt, then the oracle will have place which says, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death.”  16.  The first virtue of Christians is to honor parents, to requite and comfort them….

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[i] It is true that St. Cyril does not use here, the exact language of the final canonical creed; which may still be wet ink, and which will not be ratified until 381; which, even then, will remain in flux until at least 451, possibly even 787.  Hence, St. Cyril can hardly be faulted in the words he has chosen in defense of the full Deity of Christ: for even the humanity of Jesus the Christ is a created thing which cannot intervene between Father and Son.  The only reasonable interpretation of St. Cyril’s language is that the Son is fully God, as is also the Father.

[ii] We sense that St. Cyril is striving to certify the plausibility of that which was difficult for the theologians: for it must have seemed at first implausible, or at least inexplicable to many of the laity, who could neither read nor write… that God was and is Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity; One in essence and undivided; One ousia in three hypostases.  It is St. Cyril’s task, not only to present this as truth; but also, to prove it from Scripture, with numerous examples.  If we still struggle with the profundity of this today, how can we fault St. Cyril?

[iii] The will has no power, only desire; God supplies the power to those who will; He removes it from those who will not.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 5

Cyril of Jerusalem

Lecture 5

https://www.swrktec.org/catechism

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good report.” — Hebrews 11:1-2

Summary: Baptism brings the teachings of faith, by which we do works in obedience to Scripture and its summary in the Creed; Baptism bestows gifts of faith[i], which bring power beyond that which is human.

Preview: 1.  Transfer from Catechumen to Faithful is a great dignity; calling us to the fellowship of His Son; becoming partaker of God’s title, Faithful.  2.  It is required that each be found faithful; yet, God sees the sincerity of faith, He tries the reins and hearts, knowing men’s thoughts; the faithful attain great wealth, by trampling on it; the rich are poor of soul; but, the faithful are rich in poverty, content with only food and clothing.  3.  All great things are accomplished by faith, even by “aliens from the Church”.  “By faith the laws of marriage yoke” strangers together.  “By faith” the farmer anticipates a harvest.  “By faith” the sailor exchanges the certainty of land for a plank.  “By faith” men’s affairs are held together.  Outsiders, without the Scripture, hold their doctrines by faith.  4.  The lesson[ii] invites to “true faith”: for without faith it is impossible to please Him.[iii]  When will a man serve God, not believing that He gives rewards?  What woman choses virginity, or man sobriety, not believing that there is an unfading crown of chastity?  “Faith is an eye that enlightens every conscience, and imparts understanding.”  “Faith stops the mouths of lions”; it is our only shield against the devil, our buckler against the foe; faith enables us “to quench all the fiery darts”; faith “cools the mind and quenches the dart”.  5.  Faith is too much to consider in a day; take Abraham only, justified both by his works and faith; yet, not called God’s friend, until he believed; even though all his works were performed in faith; thus he fathered a child from his dead body, when his wife had no hope of bearing children; then he offered up his only son, believing that God is able to raise him from the dead; but, God gave him a lamb instead of his child; God gave him circumcision as a seal of faith; promising that he would be the father of many nations.  6.  “Abraham is the father of many nations”: the Jews of the flesh; but, all of us by faith: for faith in Christ crucified , died, and risen makes us Abraham’s children by adoption; “circumcised [in the heart] by the Holy Spirit through baptism”; “in the circumcision of Christ, … buried with Him in baptism….”  7.  “This faith, if kept … from condemnation … will be adorned with virtues.”  Faith enables walking on water; but, doubts, lead to sinking; yet, Jesus raises up our weak faith; so Peter returns to the ship.  8.  “Faith has so much power” that, as with the Capernaum paralytic, it saves others.  9.  Lazarus was raised by the faith of his sisters; Lord, I believe, help my unbelief; increase our faith.  10.  The dogmatic kind of faith gives assent: for if you believe that Jesus is Lord, Whom God raised, you shall be saved, as was the robber who believed at Golgotha.  11.  The [Spirit’s] gift of faith through grace, “is not merely doctrinal”; it works above man’s power, moves mountains; this faith is small as mustard grain, but fiery in operation, providing branches for birds: for the faith enlightened “soul has visions of God”, travels the universe, beholds the judgment.  12.  In learning and professing faith, keep only that delivered by the Church from Scripture; this engrave on the heart: for the articles were collected from Scripture.  13.  Guard them with reverence; keep this faith committed to you without spot.

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[i] Among other Spiritual gifts; yet: St. Cyril maintains that all of us should seek this gift faith and growth in it.

[ii] Hebrews 11:1-2

[iii] Hebrews 11:6