Hebrews i. 3.-"Who being the brightness of His Glory and
the express Image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of
His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins."
[1.] Everywhere indeed a reverential mind is requisite, but especially
when we say or hear anything of God: Since neither can tongue speak nor
thought1 hear anything suitable to our God. And why speak I of tongue or
thought?2 For not even the understanding3 which far excels these, will
be able to comprehend anything accurately, when we desire to utter aught
concerning God. For if "the peace of God surpasseth all understanding"
(Phil. iv. 7), and "the things which are prepared for them that love Him
have not entered into the heart of man" (1 Cor. ii. 9); much more He Himself,
the God of peace, the Creator of all things, doth by a wide measure exceed
our reasoning. We ought therefore to receive all things with faith and
reverence, and when our discourse4 fails through weakness, and is not able
to set forth accurately the things which are spoken, then especially to
glorify God, for that we have such a God, surpassing both our thought and
our conception.5 For many of our conceptions6 about God, we are unable
to express, as also many things we express, but have not strength to conceive
of them. As for instance:-That God is everywhere, we know; but how, we
no longer understand.7 That there is a certain incorporeal power the cause
of all our good things, we know: but how it is, or what it is, we know
not. Lo! we speak, and do not understand. I said, That He is everywhere,
but I do not understand it. I said, That He is without beginning, but I
do not understand it. I said, That He begat from Himself, and again I know
not how I shall understand it. And some things there are which we may not
even speak-as for instance, thought conceives8 but cannot utter.
And to show thee that even Paul is weak and doth not put out his illustrations
with exactness; and to make thee tremble and refrain from searching too
far, hear what he says, having called Him Son and named Him Creator, "Who
being the brightness of His Glory, and the express image of His person."
This we must receive with reverence and clear of all incongruities.
"The brightness of His glory," saith he. But observe in what reference
he understands this, and so do thou receive it:-that He is of Him:9 without
passion: that He is neither greater, nor less; since there are some, who
derive certain strange things from the illustration. For, say they, "the
brightness" is not substantial,10 but hath its being in another. Now do
not thou, O man, so receive it, neither be thou sick of the disease of
Marcellus11 and Photinus.12 For he hath a remedy for thee close at hand,
that thou fall not into that imagination, nor doth he leave thee to be
hurried down into that fatal malady. And what saith he? "And the express
image of His person" [or "subsistence"13 ]: that is, just as He [the Father]
is personally subsisting, being in need of nothing,14 so also the Son.
For he saith this here, showing the undeviating similitude15 and the peculiar
image of the Prototype, that He [the Son] is in subsistence by Himself.
For he who said above, that "by Him He made all things" here assigns
to Him absolute authority. For what doth he add? "And upholding all things
by the word of His power"; that we might hence infer not merely His being
the express image of His Person, but also His governing all things with
absolute authority.
See then, how he applies to the Son that which is proper to the Father.
For on this account he did not say simply, "and upholding all things,"
nor did he say, "by His power," but, "by the word of His power." For much
as just now we saw him gradually ascend and descend; so also now, as by
steps, he goes up on high, then again descends, and saith, "by whom also
He made the worlds."
Behold how here also he goes on two paths, by the one leading us away
from Sabellius, by the other from Arius, yea and on another, that He [Christ]
should not be accounted unoriginated, 16 which he does also throughout,
nor yet alien from God. For if, even after so much, there are some who
assert that He is alien, and assign to Him another father, and say that
He is at variance with Him;-had [Paul] not declared these things, what
would they not have uttered?
How then does he this? When he is compelled to heal, then is he compelled
also to utter lowly things: as for instance, "He appointed Him" (saith
he) "heir of all things," and "by Him He made the worlds." (Supra, ver.
2.) But that He might not be in another way dishonored, he brings Him up
again to absolute authority and declares Him to be of equal honor with
the Father, yea, so equal, that many thought Him to be the Father.
And observe thou his great wisdom. First he lays down the former point
and makes it sure accurately. And when this is shown, that He is the Son
of God, and not alien from Him, he thereafter speaks out safely all the
high sayings, as many as he will. Since any high speech concerning Him,
led many into the notion just mentioned, he first sets down what is humiliating
and then safely mounts up as high as he pleases. And having said, "whom
He appointed heir of all things," and that "by Him He made the worlds,"
he then adds, "and upholding all things by the word of His power." For
He that by a word only governs all things, could not be in need of any
one, for the producing all things.
[2.] And to prove this, mark how again going forward, and laying aside
the "by whom," he assigns to Him absolute power. For after he had effected
what he wished by the use of it, thenceforward leaving it, what saith he?
"Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and
the heavens are the works of Thine hands." (Infra, ver. 10.) Nowhere is
there the saying "by whom," or that "by Him He made the worlds." What then?
Were they not made by Him? Yes, but not, as thou sayest or imaginest, "as
by an instrument": nor as though He would not have made them unless the
Father had reached out a hand to Him. For as He "judgeth no man" (John
v. 22), and is said to judge by the Son, in that He begat Him a judge;
so also, to create by Him, in that He begat Him a Creator. And if the Father
be the original cause of Him, in that He is Father, much more of the things
which have been made by Him. When therefore he would show that He is of
Him, he speaks of necessity lowly things. But when he would utter high
things, Marcellus takes a handle, and Sabellius; avoiding however the excess
of both, he holds a middle [way]. For neither does he dwell on the humiliation,
lest Paul of Samosata should obtain a standing place, nor yet does he for
ever abide in the high sayings; but shows on the contrary His abundant
nearness, lest Sabellius rush in upon him. He names Him "Son," and immediately
Paul of Samosata comes on him, saying that He is a son, as the many are.
But he gives him a fatal wound, calling Him "Heir." But yet, with Arius,
he is shameless. For the saying, "He appointed Him heir," they both hold:
the former one saying, it comes of weakness; the other still presses objections,
endeavoring to support himself by the clause which follows. For by saying,
"by whom also He made the worlds," he strikes backwards the impudent Samosatene:
while Arius still seems to be strong. Nevertheless see how he smites him
likewise, saying again, "who being the brightness of His glory." But behold!
Sabellius again springs on us, with Marcellus, and Photinus: but on all
these also he inflicts one blow, saying, "and the express image of His
person and upholding all things by the word of His power." Here again he
wounds Marcion too;17 not very severely, but however he doth wound him.
For through the whole of this Epistle he is fighting against them.
But the very thing which he said, "the brightness of the glory," hear
also Christ Himself saying, "I am the Light of the world." (John viii.
12.) Therefore he [the Apostle] uses the word "brightness," showing that
this was said in the sense of "Light of Light." Nor is it this alone which
he shows, but also that He hath enlightened our souls; and He hath Himself
manifested the Father, and by "the brightness" he has indicated the nearness
of the Being [of the Father and the Son18 ]. Observe the subtlety of his
expressions. He hath taken one essence and subsistence to indicate two
subsistences. Which he also doth in regard to the knowledge of the Spirit19
; for as he saith that the knowledge of the Father is one with that of
the Spirit, as being indeed one, and in nought varying from itself (1 Cor.
ii. 10-12): so also here he hath taken hold of one certain [thing] whereby
to express the subsistence of the Two.20 And he adds that He is "the express
Image." For the "express Image"is something other21 than its Prototype:
yet not Another in all respects, but as to having real subsistence. Since
here also the term, "express image," indicates there is no variation from
that whereof it is the "express image": its similarity in all respects.
When therefore he calls Him both Form,22 and express Image, what can they
say? "Yea," saith he, "man is also called an Image of God."23 What then!
is he so [an image of Him] as the Son is? No (saith he) but because the
term,image, doth not show resemblance. And yet, in that man is called an
Image, it showeth resemblance, as in man. For what God is in Heaven, that
man is on earth, I mean as to dominion. And as he hath power over all things
on earth, so also hath God power over, all things which are in heaven and
which are on earth. But otherwise, man is not called "Expressimage," he
is not called Form: which phrase declares the substance, or rather both
substance and similarity in substance. Therefore just as "the form of a
slave" (Phil. ii. 6, Phil. ii. 7) expresses no other thing than a man without
variation24 [from human nature], so also "the form of God" expresses no
other thing than God.
"Who being" (saith he) "the brightness of His glory." See what Paul
is doing. Having said, "Who being the brightness of His glory," he added
again, "He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty": what names he hath
used, nowhere finding a name for the Substance. For neither "the Majesty,"
nor "the Glory" setteth forth the Name, which he wishes to say, but is
not able to find a name. For this is what I said at the beginning, that
oftentimes we think something, and are not able to express [it]: since
not even the word God is a name of substance, nor is it at all possible
to find a name of that Substance.
And what marvel, if it be so in respect of God, since not even in respect
of an Angel, could one find a name expressive of his substance? Perhaps
too, neither in respect of the soul. For this name [soul] doth not seem
to me to be significative of the substance thereof, but of breathing. For
one may see that the same [thing] is called both Soul and Heart and Mind:
for, saith he, "Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Ps. li. 10), and one
may often see that it [the soul] is called spirit.
"And upholding all things by the word of His power." Tell me, "God said"
(it is written), "Let there be light" (Gen. i. 3): "the Father, saith one,25
commanded, and the Son obeyed"? But behold here He also [the Son] acts
by word. For (saith he), "And upholding all things"-that is, governing;
He holds together what would fall to pieces; For, to hold the world together,
is no less than to make it, but even greater (if one must say a strange
thing). For the one is to bring forward something out of things which are
not: but the other, when things which have been made are about to fill
back into non-existence, to hold and fasten them together, utterly at variance
as they are with each other: this is indeed great and wonderful, and a
certain proof of exceeding power.
Then showing the easiness, he said, "upholding": (he did not say, governing,26
from the figure of those who simply with their finger move anything, and
cause it to go round.) Here he shows both the mass of the creation to be
great, and that this greatness is nothing to Him. Then again he shows the
freedom from the labor, saying, "By the word of His power." Well said he,
"By the word." For since, with us, a word is accounted to be a bare thing,
he shows that it is not bare with God. But, how "He upholdeth by the word,"
he hath not further added: for neither is it possible to know. Then he
added concerning His majesty: for thus John also did: having said that
"He is God" (John i. 1), he brought in the handiwork of the Creation. For
the same thing which the one indirectly expressed, saying, "In the beginning
was the Word," and "All things were made by Him" (John i. 3), this did
the other also openly declare by "the Word," and by saying "by whom also.
He made the worlds." For thus he shows Him to be both a Creator, and before
all ages, What then? when the prophet saith, concerning the Father, "Thou
art from everlasting and to everlasting" (Ps. xc. 2), and concerning the
Son, that He is before all ages, and the maker of all things-what can they
say? Nay rather, when the very thing which was spoken of the Father,-"He
which was before the worlds,"-this one may see spoken of the Son also?
And that which one saith, "He was life" (John i. 4), pointing out the preservation
of the creation, that Himself is the Life of all things,-so also saith
this other, "and upholding all things by the word of His power": not as
the Greeks who defraud Him, as much as in them lies, both of Creation itself,
and of Providence, shutting up His power, to reach only as far as to the
Moon.
"By Himself" (saith he) "having purged our sins." Having spoken concerning
those marvelous and great matters, which are most above us, he proceeds
to speak also afterwards concerning His care for men. For indeed the former
expression, "and upholding all things," also was universal: nevertheless
this is far greater, for it also is universal: for, for His part, "all"
men believed.27 As John also, having said, "He was life," and so pointed
out His providence, saith again, and "He was light."
"By Himself," saith he, "having purged our sins, He sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high." He here setteth down two very great
proofs of His care: first the "purifying us from our sins," then the doing
it "by Himself." And in many places, thou seest him making very much of
this,-not only of our reconciliation with God, but also of this being accomplished
through the Son. For the gift being truly great, was made even greater
by the fact that it was through the Son.
For28 in saying, "He sat on the right hand," and, "having by Himself
purged our sins,"-though he had put us in mind of the Cross, he quickly
added the mention of the resurrection and ascension. And see his unspeakable
wisdom: he said not, "He was commanded to sit down," but "He sat down."
Then again, lest thou shouldest think that He standeth, he subjoins, "For
to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit thou on My right hand."
"He sat" (saith he) "on the right hand of the Majesty on high." What
is this "on high"? Doth he enclose God in place? Away with such a thought!
but just as, when he saith, "on the right hand," he did not describe Him
as having figure, but showed His equal dignity with the Father; so, in
saying "on high," he did not enclose Him there, but expressed the being
higher than all things, and having ascended up above all things. That is,
He attained even unto the very throne of the Father: as therefore the Father
is on high, so also is He. For the "sitting together" implies nothing else
than equal dignity. But if they say, that He said, "Sit Thou," we may ask
them, What then? did He speak to Him standing? Moreover, he said notthat
He commanded, not that He enjoined, but that "He said": for no other reason,
than that thou mightest not think Him without origin and without cause.
For that this is why he said it, is evident from the place of His sitting.
For had he intended to signify inferiority, he would not have said, "on
the right hand," but on the left hand.
Ver. 4. "Being made," saith he, "so much better than the angels,
as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." The
"being made," here, is instead of "being shown forth," as one may say.
Then also from whir does he reason confidently? From the Name. Seest thou
that the name Son is wont to declare true relationship? And indeed if He
were not a true Son (and "true" is nothing else than "of Him"), how does
he reason confidently from this? For if He be Son only by grace, He not
only is not "more excellent than the angels," but is even less than they.
How? Because righteous men too were called sons; and the name son, if it
be not a genuine son, doth not avail to show the "excellency." When too
he would point out that there is a certain difference between creatures
and their maker, hear what he saith:
Ver. 5. "For to which of the Angels said He at any time, Thou art
My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. And again, I will be to Him a Father,
and He shall be to Me a Son"? For these things indeed are spoken with
reference also to the flesh: "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be
to Me a Son"-while this,29 "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee,"
expresses nothing else than "from [the time] that God is." For as He is
said to be,30 from the time present (for this befits Him more than any
other), so also the [word] "To-day" seems to me to be spoken here with
reference to the flesh. For when He hath taken hold of it, thenceforth
he speaks out all boldly. For indeed the flesh partakes of the high things,
just as the Godhead of the lowly. For He who disdained not to become man,
and did not decline the reality, how should He have declined the expressions?
Seeing then that we know these things, let us be ashamed of nothing,
nor have any high thoughts. For if He Himself being God and Lord and Son
of God, did not decline to take the form of a slave, much more ought we
to do all things, though they be lowly. For tell me, O man, whence hast
thou high thoughts? from things of this life? but these or ever they appear,
run by. Or, from things spiritual? nay, this is itself one spiritual excellency,-to
have no high thoughts.
Wherefore then dost thou cherish high thoughts? because thou goest on
aright? hear Christ saying, "When ye have done all things, say, we are
unprofitable servants, for we have done that which was our duty to do."
(Luke xvii. 10.)
Or because of thy wealth hast thou high thoughts? Dost thou not see
those before thee, how they departed naked and desolate? did we not come
naked into life, and naked also shall depart? who hath high thoughts on
having what is another's? for they who will use it to their own enjoyment
alone, are deprived of it however unwillingly, often before death, and
at death certainly. But (saith one) while we live we use them as we will.
First of all, one doth not lightly see any man using what he hath as he
will. Next, if a man do even use things as he will, neither is this a great
matter: for the present time is short compared with the ages without end.
Art thou high-minded, O man, because thou art rich? on what account? for
what cause? for this befalleth also, robbers, and thieves, and man-slayers,
and effeminate, and whoremongers, and all sorts of wicked men. Wherefore
then art thou high-minded? Since if thou hast made meet use of it, thou
must not be high-minded, lest thou profane the commandment: but if unmeet,
by this indeed [it has come to pass that] thou art become a slave of money,
and goods, and art overcome by them. For tell me, if any man sick of a
fever should drink much water, which for a short space indeed quencheth
his thirst, but afterwards kindleth the flame, ought he to be high-minded?
And what, if any man have many cares without cause, ought he therefore
to be high-minded? tell me, wherefore? because thou hast many masters?
because thou hast ten thousand cares? because many will flatter thee? [Surely
not.] For thou art even their slave. And to prove that to thee, hear plainly.
The other affections which are within us, are in some cases useful. For
instance, Anger is often useful. For (saith he) "unjust wrath shall not
be innocent" (Ecclus. i. 22): wherefore it is possible for one to be justly
in wrath. And again, "He that is angry with his brother without cause,31
shall be in danger of hell." (Matt. v. 22.) Again for instance, emulation,
desire, [are useful]: the one when it hath reference to the procreation
of children, the other when he directs his emulation to excellent things.
As Paul also saith, "It is good to be zealously affected always in a good
thing" (Gal. iv. 18) and, "Covet earnestly the best gifts." (1 Cor. xii.
31.) Both therefore are useful: but an insolent spirit is in no case good,
but is always unprofitable and hurtful.
However, if a man must be proud, [let it be] for poverty, not for wealth.
Wherefore? Because he who can live upon a little, is far greater and better
than he who cannot. For tell me, supposing certain persons called to the
Imperial City, if some of them should need neither beasts, nor slaves,
nor umbrellas, nor lodging-places, nor sandals, nor vessels, but it should
suffice them to have bread, and to take water from the wells,-while others
of them should say, "unless ye give us conveyances, and a soft bed, we
cannot come; unless also we have many followers, unless we may be allowed
continually to rest ourselves, we cannot come, nor unless we have the use
of beasts, unless too we may travel but a small portion of the day-and
we have need of many other things also": whom should we admire? those or
these? plainly, these who require nothing. So also here: some need many
things for the journey through this life; others, nothing. So that it would
be more fitting to be proud, for poverty if it were fitting at all.
"But the poor man," they say, "is contemptible." Not he, but those who
despise him. For why do not I despise those who know not how to admire
what they ought? Why, if a person be a painter, he will laugh to scorn
all who jeer at him, so long as they are uninstructed; nor cloth he regard
the things which they say, but is content with his own testimony. And shall
we depend on the opinion of the many? Therefore, we are worthy of contempt
when men despise us for our poverty, and we do not despise them nor call
them miserable.
And I say not how many sins are produced by wealth, and how many good
things by poverty. But rather, neither wealth nor poverty is excellent
in itself, but through those who use it. The Christian shines out in poverty
rather than in riches. How? He will be less arrogant, more sober-minded,
graver, more equitable, more considerate: but he that is in wealth, hath
many impediments to these things. Let us see then what the rich man does,
or rather, he who useth his wealth amiss. Such an one practicethrapine,
fraud, violence. Men's unseemly loves, unholy unions, witchcrafts, poisonings,
all their other horrors,-wilt thou not find them produced by wealth? Seest
thou, that in poverty rather than in wealth the pursuit of virtue is less
laborious? For do not, I beseech thee, think that because rich men do not
suffer punishment here, neither do they sin. Since if it were easy for
a rich man to suffer punishment, thou wouldest surely have found the prisons
filled with them. But among its other evils, wealth hath this also, that
he who possesseth it, transgressing in evil with impunity, will never be
staved from doing so, but will receive wounds without remedies, and no
man will put a bridle on him.
And if a man choose, he will find that poverty affords us more resources
even for pleasure. How? Because it is freed from cares, hatred, fighting,
contention, strife, from evils out of number.
Therefore let us not follow after wealth, nor be forever envying those
who possess much. But let those of us who have wealth, use it aright; and
those who have not, let us not grieve for this, but give thanks for all
things unto God, because He enableth us to receive with little labor the
same reward with the rich, or even (if we will) a greater: and froth small
means we shall have great gains. For so he that brought the two talents,
was admired and honored equally with him who brought the five. Now why?
Because he was entrusted with [but] two talents, yet he accomplished all
that in him lay, and brought in what was entrusted to him, doubled. Why
then are we eager to have much entrusted to us, when we may by a little
reap the same fruits, or even greater? when the labor indeed is less, but
the reward much more? For more easily will a poor man part with his own,
than a rich man who hath many and great possessions. What, know ye not,
that the more things a man hath, the more he setteth his love upon? Therefore,
lest this befall us, let us not seek after wealth, nor let us be impatient
of poverty, nor make haste to be rich: and let those of us who have [riches]
so use them as Paul commanded. ("They that have," saith he, "as though
they had not, and they that use this world as not abusing it"-1 Cor. vii.
29, 1 Cor. vii. 31): that we may obtain the good things promised. And may
it be granted to us all to obtain them, by the grace and love of our Lord
Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father together with the Holy Ghost, be
glory, power, honor, now, and for ever, and world without end. Amen.
__________________________
1 dia/noia ou\j, Sav. Ben. in both places.
2 dia/noia ou\j, Sav. Ben. in both places.
3 o9 nou=j.
4 lo/goj.
5 th\n e@nnoian, to\n lo/gon, Sav. Ben.
6 w\n noou=men.
7 noou=men.
8 noei= h9 dia/noia.
9 o$ti e0c au0tou=, "that He [Christ] is of Him [the Father]."
10 e0nupo/staton.
11 Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra lapsed towards Sabellianism,
holding, as it seems, virtually at least, that our Lord is not a Person
eternally distinct from the Father, but, a Manifestation of the Father,
lasting from the Incarnation to the Judgment. His views are anathematized
in 1 Conc. Constantinop. Canon 1.
12 Photinus Bishop of Sirmium, who had been Deacon under
Marcellus, and carried his theory out, maintaining our Lord to have had
no distinct existence before His Birth of Mary. Socr. E. H. 2. 29. His
doctrine too was condemned at Constantinople, ubi sup.
13 u9posta/sewj. St. Chrys. understands the word to mean
here neither "substance" nor "Person," but, if we may use such a word,
"substantiality," or "substantive existence," which in speaking de Divinis
we call "Personality." See below, page 371, note 5.
14 Sav. Ben. add pro\j u9po/stasin.
15 a0para/llakton.
16 a@narxon. On this third heresy respecting the Holy
Trinity, see St. Greg. Naz. Orat. ii. 37; xx. 6; in both which places it
is, as here, mentioned as the third form of error with Sabellianism and
Arianism. See also Bp. Bull, Def. Fid. N. iv. 1. 8. The mention of this
is not found in the Common text, in which the whole passage is recast.
17 Because Marcion, holding the Creation to be evil, denied
the Son's preserving Power.
18 kai dia\ tou= a0pauga/smatoj th=j ou0si/aj th\n e0ggu/thta
e@deicen. Sav. and Ben. read dia\ de\ tou= a0. to\ i@son e0sh/mane th=j
ou0siaj, kai\ th\n pro\j to\n pate/ra e0ggu/thta. "By &c. he indicated
the equality of His Substance and His nearness to the Father."
19 Cf. forsitan.
20 ei0j th\n tw=n duo\ u9po/stasin. Sav. and Ben. read
e0. t. t. d. u9posta/sewn dh/lwsin, "whereby to show the two Subsistencies."
Mr. Field says that the old translation of Mutianus in some degree confirms
this latter reading, which is easier. The word u9po/stasin in the singular
is used in the sense of "Personality," as above, p. 370, note 12.
21 a@lloj tij.
22 Phil. ii. 6, see below.
23 ei0ko/noj ei0kw\n, Ben.: ei0kw/n (only), Sav.
24 a0para/llakton.
25 This is an heretical objection, as is expressed by
the reading in the editions of Sav. and Ben.
26 kubernw=n.
27 [i.e. so far as Christ's work for men was concerned,
it was universal. He put it in the power of all to believe.-F. G.]
28 ga\r, om. S.
29 Sav. and Ben. omit the words sh/meron...se, and for
e0c ou[ e0stin o9 qeo/j. w#sper ga\r have e0c au0tou= e0stin : w#sper de;,
so that the passage runs; "but this, `thou art My Son, 0' expresses nothing
else than that He is of Him. And just as," &c... The corrector seems
to have misapprehended the meaning of e0c ou[ in this place.
30 w@n.
31 [St. Chrys. here follows a text having the gloss ei0kh=
now rejected by nearly all critical editors.-F. G.]
