ACC ~ John 12 v31

THE WORLD IS JUDGED IN AND THROUGH CHRIST

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: What happens, [Jesus says,] now takes place on behalf of the world. For the whole world is judged in me now. You see, the first man, having been condemned to death on account of disobedience, became subject to the devil. Likewise all after him, becoming evil, brought on themselves the devil to be an exceedingly heavy tyrant over them, and because of this they were even more impious, making the kingdom of death worse for themselves. Therefore, because no one was able to wage war against it, Christ, being God, able to do everything, gave himself up on behalf of all people, the ones of old and those who are living now.

The world, therefore, is judged in me and through me. For, having committed no sin but having accomplished every kind of virtue and in no way found worthy of death, I accept death unjustly, so that in this way I may make my case against the devil, the one who himself killed me and was condemned. Having been freed from the bonds of death, I will rise, but I will also raise with me the common race of humanity by the case I make, and all will be acquitted of the verdict. He, on the other hand, who wickedly controlled the people in this life will be deposed from power. And the bonds of death, with which he surrounded people and was easily controlling them, will be taken away. These are the same bonds that caused them to sin all the more, as the devil attained a greater mastery over them. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, FRAGMENT 109.12.31. [1]

[1] ECS 7:102*.

REMOVING THE ARROGANCE OF THE DEVIL

AMMONIUS: As if in a court of law, it is said to the devil, “Granted, you have killed everyone else in the human race because they were sinners. But why did you kill the Lord?” The time of sojourning on earth is the “judgment of the world,” since Christ is about to justify humanity and to remove the arrogance of the devil. The judgment he speaks of here then is not the condemnation of the human race. Rather, Christ’s death justifies all humanity against the devil, who is the one who is under judgment because he had wronged the world. FRAGMENTS ON JOHN 419. [1]

[1] JKGK 301.

NOT REIGNING FROM WITHIN, LAYING SIEGE WITHOUT

AUGUSTINE: The judgment that is looked for in the end will be the judging of the living and the dead, the awarding of eternal rewards and punishment. But what kind of judgment, then, [takes place] now? … There is a judgment spoken of [now] that is not condemnation but discernment. … This is what he calls judgment here, that is, this righteous separation, this expulsion of the devil from Christ’s own redeemed. … The Lord, therefore, was foretelling what he already knew, that after his own passion and glorification, many nations throughout the whole world, in whose hearts the devil lived as an inmate, would become believers, and the devil when thus renounced by faith would be cast out.

But someone might ask: Wasn’t the devil cast out of the hearts of the patriarchs and prophets and the righteous people of old? Certainly he was. How then can it be said that now he shall be cast out? Then it was done in the case of a few individuals, but now it is foretold that it will take place rapidly and among many people and mighty nations. … But someone might further ask: Since the devil is cast out of the hearts of believers, does he now stop tempting the faithful? No, he has not stopped tempting. But it is one thing to reign within and another to lay siege from without. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 52.6-9. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:288-89**; CCL 36:448-49.