ACC ~ Mark 8 v38b

THE GLORY OF GOD HID IN SUFFERING

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He who as God was beyond suffering, suffered in his own flesh as a human being. When he became flesh, being God, he did not in any way cease to be God. Precisely as he entered into the created order, he remained above creation. He remained as giver of the law when he came to serve “under the law.” [1] He retained the inviolable divine dignity precisely when he took on “the form of a slave.” [2] It was precisely as only begotten Son that he became “the firstborn among many brothers,” [3] while still remaining the only begotten. So why should it seem so strange that he should suffer in the flesh according to his humanity, even while transcending suffering according to his divinity? Thus the ever astute Paul says that the Word himself who is “in the form of God” [4] and equal to God the Father “became obedient even unto death, death of the cross.” [5] LETTER 55, TO ANASTASIUS AND THE MONKS. [6]

[1] Gal 4:4.

[2] Phil 2:7.

[3] Rom 8:30.

[4] Phil 2:6.

[5] Phil 2:8.

[6] TLG 5000.001, 1.1.4.58.26-37; FC 77:30-31*. The glory of God was hidden in his suffering but revealed in his resurrection.

HIS UNDIVIDED GLORY

GREGORY OF NYSSA: The Son does not divide the glory with the Father, but receives the glory of the Father in its entirety, even as the Father receives all the glory of the Son. [1] AGAINST EUNOMIUS 2.6. [2]

[1] Cf. Jn 17:5.

[2] TLG 2017.031, 41.6-9; NPNF 2 5:107.