ACC ~ John 16 v11

FREEDOM FOR THE OPPRESSED

ORIGEN: Jesus came to free all those oppressed by the devil and said of him with some befitting depth, “Now is the prince of this world judged.” AGAINST CELSUS 8.54. [1]

[1] ANF 4:660**; SC 150:296.

THE OVERWHELMING POWER OF THE SPIRIT

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: So awesome is the descent of the Spirit—because it is so great and powerful—that through its coming down on men and women the “sin” appears of those who made attempts on my life. They planned to kill him who was worthy of such honor and greatness, as the gift of the Spirit among those who believe in me, will clearly show. Also my “righteousness” will be known, which I preached among them with works and words and with great righteousness and performed with equity. From all this, in addition, it will become evident that the divine plan concerning my passion was not useless and vain. Its purpose was to condemn Satan. Indeed, when through the power of the gift of the Spirit ill people are healed, dead people resurrected, demons exorcised, then through all these works the condemnation of Satan will appear. If I did evil actions or taught false doctrine, I would receive a just punishment according to my actions. And especially after my death I would be despised. And my disciples would also necessarily share with me the same contempt. But when the presence of the Spirit, with the accomplishment of miracles, shows the contrary, when it places my disciples also in great glory, then the condemnation of Satan will appear and the manifestation of my glory will be evident, whereas the sin of my enemies will be condemned. He referred all these actions to the Spirit in order to reveal its nature and power through the things that it does. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 6.16.8-11. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:293.

PENTECOST PROVES SATAN’S DEFEAT

AMBROSIASTER: The devils, seeing souls go from hell to heaven, knew that the prince of this world was judged. They saw that once he was brought to trial in the Savior’s cause, he had lost all right to what he held. This was seen on our Savior’s ascension but was declared plainly and openly in the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. QUESTIONS ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS 89.1-2. [1]

[1] CSEL 50:150.

SATAN MERELY A PRETENDER TO THE TITLE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: God has called the devil the ruler of this world not as though it was actually true, or as though this overruling power were a dignity inherent in his being, but rather because he obtained the glory of ruling through fraud and covetousness. The devil is still influencing and ruling over those who are astray by reason of the wicked purpose that is in them that binds their minds in error and inextricably entangles them in the noose of captivity, even though it is in their power to escape by being converted through faith in Christ to a recognition of the one who is truly God. Satan is merely a pretender to the title of ruler and has no natural right to it as opposed to God, and he maintains it only through the abominable wickedness of those who are astray. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:447-48**.

SATAN JUDGED AS RULER OF THOSE WHO LOVE THE WORLD

BEDE: He calls the devil “the ruler of this world” because he rules over those who, in a perverse way, love the world rather than the world’s Maker. He was judged by the Lord when he said, “I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven.” [1] He was judged by [the Lord] when he was casting out demons and when he gave his disciples the power of treading on all the power of the enemy. [2] Accordingly, the world is convicted of the judgment by which the devil is judged when human beings are frightened by the example of the archangel who was condemned because of his pride, lest they presume to resist the will of God. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of the judgment by which the ruler of the world has been judged when the apostle Jude, speaking in the Holy Spirit, in order to correct the wickedness of evil human beings records the punishment of the proud angels, saying, “The angels who did not preserve their place of leadership but left their dwelling place, he has kept in eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day.” [3] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.11. [4]

[1] Lk 10:18,

[2] Lk 10:19.

[3] Jude 6.

[4] CS 111:102*.