ACC ~ John 12 v36a

THE SON’S RADIANCE ILLUMINES US

ORIGEN: Let us see what idea we are to form from the language of Paul regarding Christ where he says that he is the “brightness of the glory of God and the representation of his being.” [1] According to John, “God is light.” The only-begotten Son, therefore, is the glory of this light, proceeding inseparably from God himself, just as brightness proceeds from light and illuminates the whole creation. … Through this brightness, human beings understand and experience what light itself is. And this splendor presents itself gently and softly to the frail and weak eyes of mortals and gradually trains and accustoms them, as it were, to bear the brightness of the light. It removes from them every hindrance and obstruction to their vision, according to the Lord’s own command to cast out the beam from your own eye. [2] In this way, it renders them capable of enduring the splendor of the light and becomes, in this respect, also a kind of mediator between human beings and the light. ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 1.2.7. [3]

[1] Heb 1:3.

[2] Lk 6:42.

[3] ANF 4:248*.

JESUS BEGETS CHILDREN TOO

CHRYSOSTOM: He tells them to become sons of light, that is, become my children. Yet in the beginning the Evangelist says these “were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God,” [1] that is, of the Father, while here Christ himself is said to beget them so that you may understand that the operation of the Father and the Son is One. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 68.1. [2]

[1] Jn 1:13.

[2] NPNF 1 14:251*.