ACC ~ Mark 9 v3b

THE FULLERS (CLEANERS, PURIFIERS)

ORIGEN: Perhaps the “fullers upon the earth” refers to the wise men of this world who cultivate the art of rhetoric. They imagine that their own poor thoughts might appear bright and clean because of their speech, adorned as it is with verbal bleaching. But the One who shows his own garments glistening to those who have ascended, and even brighter than any bleaching could ever make them, is the Word, who exhibits in the expression of the Scriptures (which are despised by many) the glistening of his thoughts, when the raiment of Jesus becomes white and dazzling. [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 12.39. [2]

[1] Cf. Lk 9:29.

[2] ANF 9:470-71*; TLG 2042.030, 12.39.20-37; GCS 40.

LIMITS OF THE ANALOGIES OF SNOW AND SUN

CHRYSOSTOM: How did he shine? Tell me. Exceedingly. And how do you express this? He shone as the sun. [1] As the sun, you say? Yes. Why the sun? Because I do not know any other luminary more brilliant. And he was white, you say, as snow? [2] Why as snow? Because I do not know any other substance which is whiter. But he did not strictly speaking shine merely as the sun shines daily. This is proved by what follows: the disciples fell to the ground. [3] If he had shone as the sun daily shines, the disciples would not have fallen, for they saw the sun every day, and did not fall. But inasmuch as he shone more brilliantly than the sun or snow, they, being unable to bear the splendor, fell to the earth. EUTROPIUS, AND THE VANITY OF RICHES, HOMILY 2.10-11. [4]

[1] Cf. Mt 17:2.

[2] Cf. Mt 28:3.

[3] Cf. Mt 17:6.

[4] TLG 2062.142, 52.405.5-15; NPNF 1 9:258**. According to the analogy of faith, the sun’s glory is grasped by comparing it with God’s, not God’s glory grasped by comparing it with the sun’s. The snow is the purest white we know, but its purity is grasped in relation to God’s purity. The sun’s glory is to be compared to Jesus’ more brilliant glory and the purity of the snow compared to his purity.

THE GARMENTS OF THE FAITHFUL

BEDE: If anyone asks what the Lord’s garments, which became white as snow, represent typologically, we can properly understand them as pointing to the church of his saints [who] … at the time of the resurrection will be purified from every blemish of iniquity and at the same time from all the darkness of mortality. [1] Concerning the Lord’s garments the Evangelist Mark remarks that “they became as bright as snow, such as no bleacher on earth can make them white.” [2] It is evident to everyone that there is no one who can live on earth without corruption and sorrow. So it is evident to all who are wise, although heretics deny it, that there is no one who can live on earth without being touched by some sin. But what a cleansing agent (that is, a teacher of souls or some extraordinary purifier of his body) cannot do on earth, that the Lord will do in heaven. He will purify the church, which is his clothing, “from all defilement of flesh and spirit,” [3] renewing [her] besides with eternal blessedness and light of flesh and spirit. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 1.24. [4]

[1] Cf. 1 Cor 15:42-44.

[2] Mk 9:3.

[3] 2 Cor 7:1.

[4] Cetedoc 1367, 1.24.121; HOG 1:238-39*. The church will be purified in heaven.