Chapter II.--Christ's true passion.
Now, He suffered all these things for our sakes, that we might be saved. And He suffered truly, even as also He truly raised up Himself, not, as certain unbelievers maintain, that He only seemed to suffer, as they themselves only seem to be [Christians]. And as they believe, so shall it happen unto them, when they shall be divested of their bodies, and be mere evil spirits. [984]
Now, He suffered all these things for us; and He suffered them really, and not in appearance only, even as also He truly rose again. But not, as some of the unbelievers, who are ashamed of the formation of man, and the cross, and death itself, affirm, that in appearance only, and not in truth, He took a body of the Virgin, and suffered only in appearance, forgetting, as they do, Him who said, "The Word was made flesh;" [985] and again, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up;" [986] and once more, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me." [987] The Word therefore did dwell in flesh, for "Wisdom built herself an house." [988] The Word raised up again His own temple on the third day, when it had been destroyed by the Jews fighting against Christ. The Word, when His flesh was lifted up, after the manner of the brazen serpent in the wilderness, drew all men to Himself for their eternal salvation. [989]
[984] Or, "seeing that they are phantasmal and diabolical," as some render, but the above is preferable.
[985] John i. 14.
[986] John ii. 19.
[987] John xii. 32.
[988] Prov. ix. 1.
[989] Num. xxi. 9; John iii. 14.
Chapter III.--Christ was possessed of a body after His resurrection.
For I know that after His resurrection also He was still possessed of flesh, [990] and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, "Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit." [991] And immediately they touched Him, and believed, being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this cause also they despised death, and were found its conquerors. [992] And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.
And I know that He was possessed of a body not only in His being born and crucified, but I also know that He was so after His resurrection, and believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, "Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit." [993] "For a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." [994] And He says to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger into the print of the nails, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side;" [995] and immediately they believed that He was Christ. Wherefore Thomas also says to Him, "My Lord, and my God." [996] And on this account also did they despise death, for it were too little to say, indignities and stripes. Nor was this all; but also after He had shown Himself to them, that He had risen indeed, and not in appearance only, He both ate and drank with them during forty entire days. And thus was He, with the flesh, received up in their sight unto Him that sent Him, being with that same flesh to come again, accompanied by glory and power. For, say the [holy] oracles, "This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye have seen Him go unto heaven." [997] But if they say that He will come at the end of the world without a body, how shall those "see Him that pierced Him," [998] and when they recognise Him, "mourn for themselves?" [999] For incorporeal beings have neither form nor figure, nor the aspect [1000] of an animal possessed of shape, because their nature is in itself simple.
[990] Literally, "in the flesh."
[991] Literally, "demon." According to Jerome, this quotation is from the Gospel of the Nazarenes. Comp. Luke xxiv. 39.
[992] Literally, "above death."
[993] Literally, "demon." According to Jerome, this quotation is from the Gospel of the Nazarenes. Comp. Luke xxiv. 39.
[994] Luke xxiv. 39.
[995] John xx. 27.
[996] John xx. 28.
[997] Acts i. 11.
[998] Rev. i. 7.
[999] Zech. xii. 10.
[1000] Or, "mark."