ACC ~ John 10 v18a

CHRIST IS DIVINE AND HUMAN

DIONYSIUS OF ALEXANDRIA: He shows that his passion was a voluntary thing; and besides that, he indicates that the life that is laid down and taken again is one thing and the divinity that lays that down and takes it again is another. FRAGMENTS 2. [1]

[1] ANF 6:115*.

ONLY GOD HAS SUCH POWER

ATHANASIUS: To be troubled was proper to the flesh, and to have power to lay down his life and take it again when he wanted was no property of people but of the Word’s power. For human beings die not by their own power but by necessity of nature and against their will. But the Lord, being himself immortal but having mortal flesh, had power as God to become separate from the body and to take it again when he wanted to. Concerning this David speaks in the psalm: “You shall not leave my soul in hades, neither shall you suffer your holy One to see corruption.” [1] For it was appropriate to the flesh, corruptible as it was, that it should no longer after its own nature remain mortal, but because of the Word who had put it on, it should remain incorruptible. For since he was conformed to our condition, having come in our body, so we when we receive him partake of the immortality that is from him. DISCOURSES AGAINST THE ARIANS 3.29.57. [2]

[1] Ps 16:10 (15:10 LXX).

[2] NPNF 2 4:424-25*.