ACC ~ Romans 11 v16

THE WHOLE LUMP. DIODORE: “First fruits” and “root” both refer here to the patriarchs, the lawgiver and the prophets. “Lump” and “branches” refer to the whole of the Jewish people. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

AMBROSIASTER: It is clear that they are one and the same substance, so it is impossible for the offering to be holy and the lump unclean, given that the offering comes from the lump. Thus Paul shows that those whose ancestors believed cannot be regarded as unworthy to receive the faith, for if some of the Jews have believed, why can it not be said that the others may also believe? COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE ROOT OF FAITH. [PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: Here the “first fruits” refers to Christ and the “whole lump” to the Jewish people, of whom Christ was, according to the flesh. The root refers to Abraham, for he is called the “father of many nations” on account of his faith, and the branches are those who, coming after him, held the same faith as he did. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

CHRIST AS FIRST FRUITS. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: By “first fruits” Paul means Christ, because he was selected out of the entire race of the Jews; by “root” he means Abraham, from whom the race descended. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THEODORET OF CYR: The “first fruits” refers to Christ in his human nature, the root is Abraham the patriarch and the branches of the olive tree are the Jews who descended from the root. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

GENNADIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: Paul calls the Lord Christ the “first fruits,” because he was one of them according to the flesh, and through his resurrection he became the first to claim the inheritance. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

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