ACC ~ Revelation 21 v21a

THE STONES VIEWED TOGETHER. BEDE: These precious stones individually were allotted to each of the foundations because, although all the [stones] by which the city of our God is adorned and established upon his holy mountain are perfect and shine by the light of spiritual grace, nevertheless “to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, to another the utterance of knowledge, to another gifts of healing, to another various kinds of tongues, to another faith by the same Spirit” and the like. “Its builder and maker is God,” who is the Foundation of foundations and who for our sake was also found worthy to be High Priest so that by the sacrifice of his own blood he might both wash clean and dedicate the walls of this very city, and that whatever the Father has he might possess as his own. For this reason these same stones with the names of the patriarchs inscribed upon them were commanded to be placed on the breast of the high priest, so that by this most wonderful mystery it might be shown that every spiritual grace that each saint received individually and in part has been wholly and perfectly fulfilled by the mediator of God and man, the man Jesus Christ. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 21.20.

THE APOSTOLIC TEACHING. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: It is one thing to speak of each of the pearls; it is another thing to speak of the one pearl from which they come. For when it speaks of each pearl, it is shown that in each pearl one pearl is shining forth and that this one pearl is our Lord Jesus Christ. And when the pearls are related to a single pearl, we are taught that the apostolic teaching possesses already the light of righteousness that it has received from him. Just as Christ is the door, so also [the apostles] are the doors through which we are taught and enter into the faith. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.21.

IN THE LAW THERE WAS SHADOW. OECUMENIUS: The gates of the city, which we have interpreted to represent the apostles, “each were of a single pearl.” And so the pearl is now placed here as something new, for it was not numbered with the stones of the oracle. It is possible, then, to see that the stones just now enumerated are more precious than those listed by the Old Testament as woven in the oracle. Through this it is signified that the apostles understood the Old Testament and were well-versed in the laws and customs in it—and for that reason the wise apostle said “as to righteousness under the law blameless.” However, it also signified that they had become well-versed in the commandments of the New Testament and were rich in the knowledge of it. For it was much clearer, and as it were more precious than the knowledge of the Old Testament, since in the law there was a kind of shadow, while in the New Testament reality had come. And this is symbolized by the mingling of the jewels of the Old Testament and those of the New Testament that are in the foundations of the city, which indicate the apostles. In the Gospels the Lord also said the same thing: “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” And the gates of the city, which we have interpreted as the apostles, were from a single pearl, indicating their honor, purity and splendor. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.15-22.

THE DOOR OF ETERNAL LIFE. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: These pearls symbolize the apostles, who are also called “gates” because through their teaching they make known the door of eternal life. EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.21, HOMILY 19.

THE APOSTLES RECEIVED THEIR SPLENDOR FROM CHRIST. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The twelve gates are manifestly the twelve disciples of Christ, through whom we have come to know the door and the way. And they are also the twelve pearls that have received their splendor from the one, most precious pearl, namely, Christ. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.21.

THE GLORY OF THE HEAD IS REFERRED TO THE BODY. BEDE: All the glory of the head is referred to the body. Just as “the true light that enlightens every person” has granted to the saints to be the light of the world, so also he himself, since he is the single pearl that the wise merchant purchased after selling all that he had, in similar manner compares his disciples with the bright appearance of pearls. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 21.21.

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