ACC ~ John 8 v56

THE SON APPEARED TO ABRAHAM

TERTULLIAN: [Jesus] certainly proves [here] that it was not the Father that appeared to Abraham but the Son. AGAINST PRAXEAS 22. [1]

[1] ANF 3:618.

ABRAHAM RECOGNIZED CHRIST

IRENAEUS: Christ himself… together with the Father is the God of the living who spoke to Moses and who was also manifested to the patriarchs. In teaching this very thing he said to the Jews, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” What did he intend when he said this? “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.” [1] In the first place, [Abraham believed] that he was the maker of heaven and earth, the only God. Second, he believed that God would make his seed as the stars of heaven. This is what is meant by Paul, [when he says], “as lights in the world.” [2] Righteously, therefore, having left his earthly family, he followed the Word of God walking as a pilgrim with the Word so that he might [afterwards] make his home with the Word. AGAINST HERESIES 4.5.2-3. [3]

[1] Rom 4:3.

[2] Phil 2:15.

[3] ANF 1:467.

ABRAHAM SAW THE LORD’S COMING IN THE SPIRIT

IRENAEUS: Abraham was a prophet and saw in the Spirit the day of the Lord’s coming and the dispensation of his suffering through whom both he himself and all who trust in God would be saved, following the example of his faith. Since he saw this, he rejoiced exceedingly. The Lord, therefore, was not unknown to Abraham whose day he desired to see. The Lord’s Father also was not unknown. For Abraham had learned from the Word of the Lord and believed him. Therefore it was accounted to him by the Lord for righteousness. AGAINST HERESIES 4.5.5. [1]

[1] ANF 1:467.

ABRAHAM SAW THE TRINITY

GREGORY THE GREAT: Abraham saw the day of the Lord when he hospitably received three angels as a prefiguration of the most holy Trinity. [1] After he had received them, he spoke to the three as to one, since although there are three persons in the Trinity, the nature of the divinity is one. But the unspiritual minds of [Jesus’] hearers did not raise their eyes from his body. Although he was God, they took account only of his age in the flesh. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 16. [2]

[1] Gen 18:1-3.

[2] CS 123:116.

THE DAY OF THE LORD IS THE CROSS

CHRYSOSTOM: “He saw my day and was glad.” Jesus shows that he willingly came to his passion since he praises [Abraham], who was gladdened at the cross. For this was the salvation of the world. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 55.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:199*.

CHRIST WAS ONE OF ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS

IRENAEUS: Abraham also, knowing the Father through the Word who made heaven and earth, confessed that he was God. Having learned by an announcement [made to him] that the Son of God would be a man among men—by whose advent his seed should be as the stars of heaven—he desired to see that day so that he might himself also embrace Christ. Seeing it through the spirit of prophecy, he rejoiced. AGAINST HERESIES 4.7.1. [1]

[1] ANF 1:469.

THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC PORTENDS CHRIST’S SACRIFICE

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Therefore, he says, after my Father’s testimony about me has been explained, now listen to what is in conformity with that [testimony] about me: I am certainly enough of Abraham’s superior that he also wished and hoped to see the time when I would reform the world through my passion. And in his desire he saw this, as much as he was allowed to, and clearly rejoiced when, by sacrificing his own son, he revealed his will and received from God the revelation so that he might know what would happen. As he accepted giving his son as a victim for God, so also God would give his Only Begotten for the salvation of the world. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 3.8.56. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:180.

ABRAHAM SAW THE DAY OF THE LORD’S SLAUGHTER IN ISAAC

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Or, we shall truly grant that he saw the day of the Lord’s slaughter… when, as a type of Christ, he was enjoined to offer up for a sacrifice his only begotten and firstborn, Isaac. For [Abraham] was similarly executing the priest’s office at that time, making clear the exact force of the Mystery in a type in what happened. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.1. [1]

[1] LF 43:679**.See also Ammonius Fragment on John 311 (JKGK 275).

ABRAHAM SAW CHRIST IN THE LAMB

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “Abraham was hoping to see my day.” He is the one about whom it was said, “The nations will be blessed by your seed.” [1] “He indeed saw and rejoiced,” because he saw in the symbol of the lamb the salvation of all the nations. [2] “You are not fifty years old, but Abraham saw you?” He said to them, “Before Abraham was, I am,” because he existed but he was concealed when Isaac was redeemed; his sign was seen in the lamb. When, moreover, there descended into Egypt the seed of the one who was saved by a lamb, and they were there for quite some time—this was shown beforehand in a type by Isaac—they were also delivered by a type, by a lamb. [3] And from that time onwards they would sacrifice a lamb until the time that the true lamb came. When he drew near to John, he [John] announced him by saying, “See, the Lamb of God!” [4] And when the true lamb had come, these others, which were types, ceased. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 16.27. [5]

[1] Gen 22:18.

[2] See Gen 22:13.

[3] See Ex 12.

[4] Jn 1:29, 36.

[5] CB709:186.

THE GENTILES ARE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Abraham saw three men at the oak in Mamre [1] and received the promise from God that he would be a father of many nations. The only way this could be fulfilled would be for the Gentiles to be called to faith in Christ, inscribing Abraham as their father and sitting down with him in the kingdom of heaven [2] and sharing with him in all good things through the generosity of our Savior. Therefore, Christ says, “Blessed Abraham saw, and seeing, he rejoiced at my day.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.1. [3]

[1] Gen 18:1. Cyril, along with the rest of patristic thought, understood these three to be the Trinity.See Genesis 12-50, ACCS OT 2:61-63.

[2] Mt 8:11.

[3] LF 43:679-80**.

Jn