ACC ~ Revelation 2 v17

THE GLORY OF VICTORY CANNOT NOW BE DESCRIBED. OECUMENIUS: “And I will give to him a white stone,” that is, a stone indicating victory and bright with glory, “and upon the stone a new name which no one knows except him who receives it.” For it is said, “What eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has come into the heart of man, that has God prepared for those who love him.”COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.12-17.

THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. TYCONIUS: “To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna.” This manna is the invisible Bread which came down from heaven, which indeed was made man, so that “man might eat the bread of angels.” And the figure of this was indicated beforehand in the manna given in the desert. Whoever ate of that bread were said by the Lord to have died, because remaining faithless, they did not eat of this hidden and uniquely spiritual manna by which [Christ] offers immortality to the faithful. For he said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have eternal life in you.” For, indeed, whoever at that time was able to eat spiritually, they were worthy to obtain the same immortality, as were Moses and others. As the apostle teaches, “They ate the same spiritual food.”For the visible manna was in no way detrimental to those who used the bodily food in a spiritual manner. So also now, the spiritual manna of the Lord’s body does not profit persons in the present if they receive it unworthily, for “they eat and drink judgment upon themselves.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.17.

THE NAME CHRISTIAN MARKS BAPTISM AND MARTYRDOM. PRIMASIUS: “And I will give him a white stone,” that is, the adoption of the sons of God. This stone is a precious gem and may be understood as similar to that pearl that the merchant found and valued as equal to all his possessions which he sold. Another translation renders this as “pearl.”“And upon the stone is a new name,” that is, the name of Christian, for which reason we read, “And you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give.” And besides baptism I mention also martyrdom, “which no one knows except him who receives it.” Although hypocrites seem to bear the name superficially, they are unable to enter the power of its meaning, “having the form of religion but denying the power of it.” Therefore, the same John says, “He who says that he knows him but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.17.

REVELATION ONLY GIVES KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF MAN. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: “And I shall give to him a white stone,” that is, the body made white by baptism. “And on the stone is written a new name,” that is, the knowledge of the Son of man. “Which no one knows except him who receives it.” That is, no one knows it except through revelation, and for that reason it is said of the Jews, “For had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.17, HOMILY 2.

THE BLESSINGS OF VICTORY. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The “hidden manna” is “the Bread of Life” which came down from heaven for us and became edible. Figuratively, those good things are also called “manna” which are in the future going to come down from heaven, from where comes also the “new Jerusalem.” Those who conquer the devil shall obtain these things. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.17.