ACC ~ Matthew 16 v13

INTO CAESAREA PHILIPPI

CHRYSOSTOM: Why does he mention Philip, the founder of the city? Because there was another city, Caesarea Stratonis. [1] He does not go there, but rather he leads them far away from Judea, so that being freed from all alarm, they might speak with boldness all that was in their mind. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 54.1. [2]

[1] In reality considerably more than two cities bore the name Caesarea.

[2] PG 58:531-32; NPNF 1 10:332.

THE QUESTION ASKED OUTSIDE JUDEA

EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN: Caesarea Philippi is outside Judea in the region of the Gentiles. Why therefore did our Lord not examine his own disciples within the borders of Judea? Why did he go far north into the territory of the Gentiles? But as our insignificance [as Gentiles] works against us, he questioned the disciples in Gentile territory. The result was that by the true and everlasting conviction of the blessed apostle Peter—what flesh and blood had not unveiled, the Father revealed from the heavens. Through faith the Gentiles rather than the Jews would come to acknowledge the Son of God. This indeed occurred in the city of Caesarea—Cornelius who was first among the Gentiles to believe with all his own household, through the holy apostle Peter. The Lord was not inclined to question his own disciples in Judea, when the Jews did not believe that he was the Son of God but regarded him merely as the son of Joseph. INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 28. [1]

[1] PL Supp 3:868-69.

SON OF MAN, SON OF GOD

THEODORE OF HERACLEA: Jesus asks this in order that we might know what opinions about him were current among the Jews. [He also asks] so that we might learn to inquire intently into what people are saying about him, and if it is bad, to remove the causes, or if complimentary, to increase them. But he said “Son of man” in order to show that he himself not only appears to be but in fact unchangeably is man, and again, is true God. [It is] not as if he were divided into different species, one part God and one part man; rather one may address him as Son of man with no doubt that this very same one is also the Son of God. [1] FRAGMENT 101. [2]

[1] Theodore observes that the person of Christ being one alone, man and God together, the titles “Son of man” and “Son of God” both define his divinity and humanity.

[2] MKGK 85.