ACC ~ John 1 v14d

OF THE FATHER’S LOVE BEGOTTEN

PRUDENTIUS:

Of the Father’s love begotten before the beginning of the world,

Called Alpha and Omega, himself both source and end

Of all that is, has been, and will exist in times to come.

He commanded and they were created, he spoke and they were made,

Earth, heavens, the depths of the sea—the triple structure of the universe—

And all that inhabits them beneath the lofty orbs of sun and moon.

He put on mortal body’s form and limbs vulnerable to death,

To prevent the destruction of the race sprung from the first creature

Whom a deadly law had plunged deep into hell.

O what a blessed birth was then, when a virgin in labor,

Having conceived by the Holy Spirit, brought forth our salvation,

And the child who is the world’s redeemer revealed his sacred face.

Let the heights of heaven sing, all you angels, sing,

Let all the powers everywhere sing in praise of God,

Let no tongue be silent, let every voice ring in harmony.

Look how the one who was foretold by seers in ages past

And pledged in the prophets’ reliable writings,

Shines forth, he who was promised long ago: let all things praise him.

HYMNS FOR EVERY DAY 9.10-27.[1]

BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER ETERNALLY

CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: The Father begot the Son, not as a human mind begets a word. For the mind is substantially existent in us, but the word when spoken is dispersed into the air and comes to an end. But we know Christ to have been begotten not as a word pronounced but as a Word substantially existing and living; not spoken by the lips and dispersed but begotten of the Father eternally and ineffably, in substance… sitting at God’s right hand; the Word understanding the Father’s will and creating all things at his bidding: the Word, which came down and went up; for the word of utterance when spoken does not come down, nor does it go up; the Word speaking and saying, “I speak of what I have seen with my Father,” [1] the Word possessed of power and reigning over all things, for “all things have been delivered to him by my Father.” [2] CATECHETICAL LECTURES 11.10. [3]

[1] Jn 8:38.

[2] Mt 11:27; cf. Jn 5:22.

[3] NPNF 2 7:66-67*.

FLESH AND WORD UNITED IN ONE PERSON

AUGUSTINE: That “the Word became flesh” does not mean that the Word passed into flesh by perishing, but that flesh was attached to the Word to prevent flesh itself from perishing; with the result that just as a person is soul and flesh, so Christ would be God and man. The same one who is God is man, the same one who is man is God; not by a compounding of nature but by unity of person. In a word, the one who as Son of God is coeternal with his begetter and always from the Father is identical with the Son of man who began to be at a particular time from the Virgin. And thus humanity was indeed added to the divinity of the Son; and yet this did not result in a quaternity or foursome of persons, but the Trinity or threesome remains. SERMON 186.1. [1]

[1] WSA 3 6:24.

[1]ECLP 82-83. In White, these hymns are known by their Latin name Cathemerinon.