ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 10 v4

THE ROCK WAS CHRIST. AMBROSE: This surely referred not to his divinity but to his flesh, which flowed over the hearts of the thirsting people with the perpetual stream of his blood. THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.2.

THE WORD OF THE CREATOR. EPHREM THE SYRIAN: I considered the Word of the Creator and likened it to the rock that marched with the people in Israel in the wilderness; it was not from the reservoir of water contained within it that it poured forth for them glorious streams. There was no water in the rock, yet oceans sprang forth from it. Just so did the Word fashion created things out of nothing. HYMNS ON PARADISE 5.1.

FIGURES OF WHAT WE NOW EAT AND DRINK. AMBROSIASTER: The manna and the water which flowed from the rock are called spiritual because they were formed not according to the law of nature but by the power of God working independently of the natural elements. They were created for a time as figures of what we now eat and drink in remembrance of Christ the Lord. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

IMITATING THE ROCK. GREGORY OF NYSSA: We also will be a rock, imitating, as far as possible in our changing nature, the unchanging and permanent nature of the Master. ON PERFECTION.

THE ROCK A SYMBOL. AUGUSTINE: All symbols seem in some way to personify the realities of which they are symbols. So, St. Paul says, “The rock was Christ,” because the rock in question symbolized Christ. CITY OF GOD 18.46.

MANIFEST A LIFE WORTHY OF GRACE. CHRYSOSTOM: Why does Paul say these things? He was pointing out that just as the Israelites got no benefit from the great gift which they enjoyed, so the Corinthian Christians would get nothing out of baptism or holy communion unless they went on and manifested a life worthy of that grace. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 23.3.

THE STREAM OF HIS BLOOD. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: Surely this refers more to his physical body than to his divinity, for the hearts of the thirsty people were satisfied by the endless stream of his blood. SERMON 117.2.

1 Cor