ACC ~ John 20 v12

FROM BEGINNING TO END

AUGUSTINE: Why is it that one was sitting at the head and the other at the feet? Was it because those who in Greek are called angels are in Latin newsbearers [nuntii]? In this way they signified that the gospel of Christ was to be preached from head to foot, from the beginning even to the end? TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 121.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:437*.

THE TWO TESTAMENTS

GREGORY THE GREAT: An angel sits at the head, so to speak, when the apostles preach, “In the beginning was the Word.” [1] And an angel sits at his feet when he says that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” [2] We can also recognize the two testaments in the two angels, one earlier and the other later. These angels are brought together at the place of the Lord’s body because, while both testaments proclaim equally the message that the Lord became a man and died and rose, the Old Testament sits at his head, so to speak, and the New Testament at his feet. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 25. [3]

[1] Jn 1:1.

[2] Jn 1:14.

[3] CS 123:191**. On the question of harmonizing the different Gospel accounts concerning the angels at the tomb, see Augustine Harmony of the Gospels 3.24.67-69.

Jn