ACC ~ Romans 9 v33

PREDICTION OF THE PASSION. TERTULLIAN: It was fitting that the mystery of the passion should be set forth in predictions, for the more incredible it was, the more likely it was to have been a stumbling stone if it had been openly predicted. AN ANSWER TO THE JEWS 10.

THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED. AMBROSIASTER: There are many passages of Scripture where Christ is portrayed as a rock or a stone. The prophet Daniel calls him a stone which detaches itself without hands from the mountain, hitting and threatening all the kingdoms and filling the whole earth. This clearly refers to Christ. And in the law the rock from which the waters flowed is called Christ, as the apostle Paul himself testifies. And the apostle Peter says to the Jews: “This is the stone which the builders rejected.”

The Jews did not want to compare Christ’s words with his deeds lest perhaps they might recognize that it was not absurd for him to say that he had come down from heaven. … This was the rock of offense as far as the Jews were concerned. The rock was undoubtedly the human flesh of the Savior. It detached itself without hands, because it was made of a virgin by the Holy Spirit without the participation of a male. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

CHRYSOSTOM: This is said not of the Jews only but of the entire human race. … The wonder is that the prophet speaks not only of those who will believe but also of those who will not believe. For to stumble is to disbelieve. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 16.

THE ROCK OF OFFENSE. PELAGIUS: It was foretold that Christ would be the stumbling stone and the rock of offense precisely because many take offense at his birth and death. … Nobody who believes, not just the Jew, will be put to shame by former sins. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PROPHETS. THEODORET OF CYR: People stumble when they stop paying attention to where they are going and look elsewhere. This is what happened to the Jews. Because they were so busy adding extras to the law, they failed to notice the stone which the prophets predicted. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.