ACC ~ John 5 v22

CHRIST EXERCISING OUR MINDS

AUGUSTINE: A little before we were thinking that the Father does something that the Son does not do, [1] … as though the Father were doing and the Son were seeing. In this way there was creeping in on our mind a carnal conception, as if the Father did something the Son did not do but that the Son was looking on while the Father showed what he was doing. Then, as the Father was doing what the Son did not do, just now we see the Son doing what the Father does not do. How he turns us about and keeps our mind busy! He leads us here and there, not allowing us to remain resting with our human conceptions so that by changing he may exercise us, by exercising he may cleanse us, by cleansing he may render us capable of receiving, and may fill us when made capable. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 21.12. [2]

[1] See Jn 5:20.

[2] NPNF 1 7:142**.

THE FATHER STILL JUDGES, BUT THROUGH THE VISIBLE SON OF MAN

AUGUSTINE: How can it be said, “The Father judges no one”? For since the Father has begotten the Son equal to himself, the Father does indeed judge with the Son. Therefore Jesus must have meant that in the judgment, it is not the form of God but the form of the Son of man that will appear. Not that the Father, who has committed all judgment to the Son, will not judge, because the Son identifies him as “one who seeks and judges.” [1] But… it is as if it was said: No one will see the Father in the judgment of the living and the dead, but everyone will see the Son, because he is also the Son of man so that he can be seen even by the ungodly. ON THE TRINITY 1.13.29. [2]

[1] Jn 8:50.

[2] NPNF 1 3:34**.See also Augustine Tractates on the Gospel of John 21.13 (NPNF 1 7:142-43) and Sermon 214.9 (WSA 3 6:156).

THE SON AS JUDGE FROM THE BEGINNING

TERTULLIAN: The Father has given judgment to the Son even from the very beginning. For when he speaks of all power and all judgment and says that all things were made by him and all things have been delivered into his hand, he allows no exception [in respect] of time, because they would not be all things unless they were the things of all time. It is the Son, therefore, who has been from the beginning administering judgment, throwing down the haughty tower and dividing the tongues, punishing the whole world by the violence of waters, raining upon Sodom and Gomorrah fire and brimstone, as the Lord from the Lord. AGAINST PRAXEAS 16. [1]

[1] ANF 3:611*.

JUDGMENT GIVEN AS ACT OF GENERATION

AMBROSE: He has given [judgment to the Son], that is to say, not out of largess [1] but in the act of generation. [2] See, then, how unwilling God was that you should dishonor his Son—even to the point that he gave him to be your judge. ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 2.12.100. [3]

[1] Ambrose seems to be contradicting Hilary of Poitiers below, but this has more to do with the purpose of their writing in seeking to guard Christ’s distinctiveness and his equality.

[2] Augustine offers some caveats to this understanding in On the Trinity 1.13.

[3] NPNF 2 10:237*.

JUDGMENT A GIFT FROM FATHER TO SON

HILARY OF POITIERS: The statement that all judgment is given to the Son teaches both his birth and his Sonship. Only a nature that is altogether one with the Father’s could possess all things. And a Son can possess nothing except as a gift. But all judgment has been given to him since he gives life to whomever he will. Now we cannot suppose that judgment is taken away from the Father, although he does not exercise it. For the Son’s whole power of judgment proceeds from the Father’s since it is a gift from him. ON THE TRINITY 7.20. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 9:126*.

THE JUDGE IS ALSO OUR ADVOCATE

AMBROSE: But if there is fear that the judge may be too harsh, think about who your judge is. For the Father has given every judgment to Christ. Can Christ then condemn you when he redeemed you from death and offered himself on your behalf? Can he condemn you when he knows that your life is what was gained by his death? JACOB AND THE HAPPY LIFE 1.6.26. [1]

[1] FC 65:136*.