ACC ~ John 19 v41

A NEW DEAD MAN IN A NEW TOMB

ORIGEN: Observe whether the harmony of the three Evangelists here is not fitted to make an impression: for they have thought it right to describe the tomb as one that was “quarried or hewn out of the rock.” Whoever examines the words of the narrative will see something worthy of consideration, both in them and in the newness of the tomb—a point mentioned by Matthew [1] and John—and in the statement of Luke [2] and John, that no one had ever been interred there before. For it became him, who was unlike other dead people (but who even in death manifested signs of life in the water and the blood) and who was, so to speak, a new dead man, to be laid in a new and clean tomb, in order that, as his birth was purer than any other (because he was born not in the way of ordinary generation but of a virgin), his burial also might have the purity symbolically indicated in his body being deposited in a sepulcher that was new, not built of stones gathered from various quarters and having no natural unity, but quarried and hewn out of one rock, united together in all its parts. AGAINST CELSUS 2.69. [3]

[1] See Mt 27:60.

[2] Lk 23:53.

[3] ANF 4:459**; SC 132:448-50.

THE VIRGIN TOMB

JEROME: Christ himself is a virgin. [1] His mother is also a virgin. In fact, although she is his mother, she is still a virgin. For Jesus has entered in through the closed doors, [2] and in his sepulcher—a new one hewn out of the hardest rock—no one is laid either before him or after him. LETTER 48.21. [3]

[1] See Jerome Against Jovinianus 1.31.

[2] Jn 20:19.

[3] NPNF 2 6:78**.

NEW WOMB, NEW TOMB

AUGUSTINE: As in the womb of the Virgin Mary no one was conceived before him and no one after him, so in this sepulcher there was no one buried before him and no one after him. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 120.5. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:435*.

TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH OF THE BURIAL

CHRYSOSTOM: It is providentially ordered that he should be placed in a new tomb where no one had been placed before, so that his resurrection might not be deemed to be that of someone else who was lying there with him. And, because the place was near, the disciples would easily be able to come and be spectators of what happened. And not they alone, but also his enemies, should be witnesses of his burial. For when they placed seals on the tomb and stationed soldiers to watch it, these were the actions of people testifying to the burial. For Christ earnestly desired that this burial should be confessed no less than the resurrection. This is also why the disciples are very earnest about showing that he died. For all succeeding ages would confirm the resurrection. But Jesus’ death, if at that time it had been partially concealed or not made entirely evident, would be likely to harm the account of the resurrection. Nor was it for these reasons only that he was laid nearby, but also that the story about the stealing might be proved false. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 85.4. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:320**.

IN PARADISE THE FALL, IN A GARDEN OUR SALVATION

CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: And since we have touched on things connected with paradise, I am truly astonished at the truth of the types. In Paradise was the fall, and in a garden was our salvation. From the tree came sin, and until the tree, sin lasted. In the evening, when the Lord walked in the garden, they hid themselves. [1] And in the evening the robber is brought by the Lord into paradise. CATECHETICAL LECTURES 13.19. [2]

[1] Gen 3:8.

[2] NPNF 2 7:87*.

THE VINE PLANTED IN THE GARDEN

CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: A garden was the place of his burial, and a vine was what was planted there, as he said, “I am the vine.” [1] He was planted therefore in the earth in order that the curse that came because of Adam might be rooted out. The earth was condemned to thorns and thistles; the true Vine sprang up out of the earth, that the saying might be fulfilled, “Truth sprang up out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven.” [2] And what will he that is buried in the garden say? “I have gathered my myrrh with my spices”; and again, “myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices .” [3] Now these are the symbols of burial. CATECHETICAL LECTURES 14.11. [4]

[1] See Jn 15:1.

[2] Ps 85:11 (84:12 LXX).

[3] Song 5:1; 4:14.

[4] NPNF 2 7:96-97**.

Jn