ACC ~ Mark 1 v11b

THE FATHER’S VOICE

HIPPOLYTUS [1] : For this reason did the Father send down the Holy Spirit from heaven upon the One who was baptized. … For what reason? That the faithfulness of the Father’s voice might be made known. … Listen to the Father’s voice: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This is he who is named the son of Joseph, who according to the divine essence is my only begotten. “This is my beloved Son,” yes, none other than the One who himself becomes hungry, yet feeds countless numbers. He is my Son who himself becomes weary, yet gives rest to the weary. [2] He has no place to lay his head, [3] yet bears up all things in his hand. He suffers, yet heals sufferings. He is beaten, yet confers liberty upon the world. [4] He is pierced in his side, [5] yet repairs the side of Adam. THE DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY THEOPHANY 7. [6]

[1] The authorship is uncertain.

[2] Cf. Mt 11:28-29.

[3] Cf. Mt 8:20; Lk 9:58.

[4] Heb 1:3; cf. Lk 4:18; 2 Cor 3:17.

[5] Jn 19:34.

[6] ANF 5:236*; TLG 2115.026, 7.5-6, 9-10, 12-20. The paradox of his sonship is that under the conditions of the incarnation he must endure suffering, hunger and oppression.

ONE WITHOUT BEGINNING

ORIGEN: This is spoken to him by God, with whom all time is today. For there is no evening with God, as I see it, and there is no morning—nothing but time that stretches out, along with his unbeginning and unseen life. The day is today with him in which the Son was begotten. Thus the beginning of his birth is not to be found, as neither is the day of it. [1] COMMENTARY ON JOHN 1.32. [2]

[1] The Word did not become Son only at a specific time, such as his baptism, for he was eternally the Son of the Father.

[2] TLG 2042.005, 1.29.204.3-8; ANF 9:314*.

THE ETERNAL RELATION

AMBROSE: These words are not to be understood, when we speak of God, as when we speak of bodies. The generation of the Son is incomprehensible, [1] the Father begets without changing his nature. Yet this begottenness is of himself. In ages inconceivably remote the true God has begotten one who is truly God. EXPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 1.10.67. [2]

[1] Within the categories of the temporal.

[2] Cetedoc 0150, 1.10.49; NPNF 2 10:212**. His begottenness is eternal, not in time.