Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

He Who had raised Lazarus and many of the dead supply life to Himself? Why did He ask
life from the Father, saying, in His fear, ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from
me’? If He was dying unwillingly, He had not yet humbled Himself; He had not yet been
made obedient to the Father unto death; 384 He had not given Himself, as the Apostle says,
‘who gave Himself for our sins, 385 a ransom.’ 386 If He was dying willingly, what need of
the words ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away’? No: this must not be understood
of Himself; it must be understood of those who were on the point of sinning against Him,
to prevent them from sinning; when crucified in their behalf He said, ‘Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.’ 387 We must not understand words spoken in accordance
with the œconomy 388 to be spoken simply.”
On John vi. 57. I live by the Father. 389
“If the Son lives on account of 390 the Father, He lives on account of another, and not
of Himself. But He who lives on account of another cannot be Self-life. 391 So He who is
holy of grace is not holy of himself. 392 Then the Son did not speak truly when He said, ‘I
am the life,’ 393 and again ‘the Son quickeneth whom He will.’ 394 We must therefore understand
the words to be spoken in reference to the incarnation, and not to the Godhead.”
On John v. 19. The Son can do Nothing of Himself.
“If freedom of action 395 is better than subjection to control, 396 and a man is free, while
the Son of God is subject to control, then the man is better than the Son. This is absurd.
384 cf. Phil. ii. 8.
385 Gal. i. 4.
386 Matt. xxi. 28.
387 Luke xxiii. 34.
388 cf. pp. 7 and 12. Most commentators that I am acquainted with write on the lines of Bengel, “poculum a
patre oblatum, tota passionis massa plenum.” cf. Athanasius, “the terror was of the flesh.” C. Arian. Orat. III.,
§ xxix., Amphilochius, Apud Theod. Dial. iii., and Chrysost., Hom. in Matt. lxxxiii.
389 cf. Ep. viii. and note on p. 117.
390 διά. Vide note referred to.
391 Or underived life. αὐτοζωή.
392 αὐτοάγιος.
393 John xi. 25.
394 John v. 21.
395 τὸ αὐτεξούσιον.
396 τὸ ὑπεξούσιον.
Dogmatic.
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