ACC ~ John 11 v50

CHRIST DOES DIE FOR ONE PEOPLE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA Caiaphas makes a true statement, his words being verified not by the perversity of the people but by the power and wisdom of God. … Nevertheless, his language was made to indicate something true, spoken by one in the official position of a prophet. For he proclaims beforehand of what good things the death of the Christ would become the source. He speaks of what he does not understand, glorifying God (as Balaam did [1] ) under constraint, since he was holding the prerogative of the priestly order. The prophecy was given, as it were, not to him personally but to the outward representative of the priesthood. Or, indeed, it may have been the case that the words spoken by Caiaphas were accomplished and happened afterward without his having received any prophetic gift whatever. For it is probable that what some people say will really happen, although they may say it without really knowing whether or not it will happen. Caiaphas then said that the death of Christ would be for the Jews only. But the Evangelist says that it would be for all humankind. For we are all called the offspring and children of God inasmuch as he is the Father of all, having by way of creation begotten as it were and brought into existence the things that were not. And also [we are called his children] because we had from the first the honor of being made in his image, and were allotted the supremacy over earthly things, and were accounted worthy of the divine covenant and enjoyed the life and bliss of paradise. But Satan, unwilling to let us remain in that condition, scattered us and in diverse ways led humanity astray from its nearness to God. And the Christ collected us all together again and brought us through faith into one fold, the church. He united us under one yoke, all being made one, Jews, Greeks, Barbarians, Scythians. We are fashioned again into one new person [2] and worship one God. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 7. [3]

[1] Num 22:38.

[2] Eph 2:15.

[3] LF 48:133-34*.