ACC ~ John 6 v54

THE ENFLESHED WORD IS LIFE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Whoever eats the holy flesh of Christ has eternal life because his flesh has the Word which by nature is life. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 4.2. [1]

[1] LF 43:420-21*.

WITHIN THE ONE WHO PARTAKES

PHILOXENUS OF MABBUG: Now, in as much as a sinner receives our Lord’s body and blood in faith, he is in our Lord, and our Lord is in him, as our Lord himself says. Where the Lord dwells, there is his Spirit too. ON THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. [1]

[1] CS 101:125*. Theodore of Heraclea Fragments on John 38 (JKGK 75) speaks allegorically of the proclamation of the gospel as the flesh that is seen by all, but the blood is the true understanding of the gospel that is hidden like veins and capillaries under the flesh of the proclamation.

JOINED TO ALL FLESH, HE GIVES LIFE

APOLLINARIS OF LAODICEA: One cannot benefit from the Word of God for eternal life, except through his flesh. For until he was joined to the flesh, all flesh was held under the power of death. But now his life-giving flesh has been given. It nourishes the whole human race to life through the power suspended in it and joined in likeness to those who share the same physical nature. FRAGMENTS ON JOHN 28. [1]

[1] JKGK 13.

EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY BREAD

IRENAEUS: For we offer to him his own, announcing consistently the fellowship and union of the flesh and Spirit. For as the bread that is produced from the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but the Eucharist, consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly, so also our bodies when they receive the Eucharist are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the resurrection to eternity. AGAINST HERESIES 4.18.5. [1]

[1] ANF 1:486.See also Against Heresies 5.2.2-3.

Jn