The Unity of Divine Power and the Distinction of Mercy and Judgment

He says with words: 'As those who have been snatched away and lie in a tomb, I have become, who suffer this because they were separated from your life-giving power' (Ps 87:5). For it is evident that this was not upon him. For the Christ's body was full of God's power even with death. In this way, indeed, blood and water flowed from him, which nothing of this kind flows from dead bodies.

[Another says he explains the 'Abomination' as an abomination to them:] Just as the disciples were discouraged at his sufferings, no longer hoping in a savior or a redeemer, those indeed who were saying, 'The rulers handed him over to a sentence of death' (Ps 87:5); but we hope that he is the one who is about to redeem Israel. And it is evident that he was also caught in the hands of enemies, being handed over willingly, yet being held against his will. There indeed he also came to evils for our sake; for all those things which are heavy and harmful to the body, he brought. Instead of 'My eyes have grown weak from poverty, my eye has flowed out from affliction, it has given out' (Ps 87:9).

Save therefore the race entrusted to you by your knowledge, and once again turn toward life those men who have each fallen into death (Ps 87:13), so that they may be witnesses of your wonders and of your power; and let them not remain having been blinded in oblivion, but having been remembered again by you, let them be brought back to live. These things the protector of men, encountering for the common good of all the race and working out the life of the world by the will of the Father.

He presents him on our behalf, the ambassador and priest, who continues in his standing from morning and through night, and he appeases the wrath of God against us, which he himself received through sufferings (Ps 87:14).

He says, 'Exalt him in great wonders and signs' (Ps 87:16), concerning which the Father says to him, 'I have been glorified,' the Son saying, 'Glorify your Son' (John 12:28). He says that this has been cast down into humiliation, when he has come to suffer, suffering for the sake of men and by them, for whom he suffered, being abandoned.

Mount Tabor lies in the land of the Galilaeans, and Hermon lies in the desert toward Sinai. God must be praised, he says, not only by his activities concerning Tabor but also by the appearance concerning Hermon. The strength, he says, is...

Let your endurance be revealed, and let it become manifest and glorious among men. All these things are included as if spoken toward one God; we stand in knowledge of His one and only power, which is a perfect arm and hand. Through it, all things have come to pass and are coming to pass, so that it may be counted with God according to the single number of divinity, even while being itself perfect, and in no way falling into the errors concerning those spoken of as 'many sons,' of whom none resemble the one whom the Word has truly previously spoken of.

For it is not thus the one and true power, but only a true image and a knowledge of God, with God accomplishing all things through it. Therefore, in its visitation to men, the divine things were joined, and the judgment of God is judged by Christ. Existing as the power of God, yet given to man, just as He Himself said, He distributed mercy and judgment according to the ages. He foretold the judgment from that time, when the King, having come, shall sit upon His throne of glory. For that throne has a foundation like a base, just as it was previously spoken in the Psalms that Akylas has established His throne in judgment.

But before that manifestation, there is much mercy upon the earth, like a precursor to the critical presence, preparing men toward salvation by mercy for the fearful judge who is about to appear; and with mercy is the truth, that nothing untrue or unrighteous can exist within the good patience of God, even if it seems to those ignorant of the future that the wicked are wrongly permitted to prosper, or that the diminished good ones are not clearly seen.

The promise which has come to pass through Nathan the prophet will indeed be explicitly fulfilled, declaring 'prophets' in the plural from one, of whom He calls 'Sons of God' or, as the others interpret, 'Holy Ones of God.' He indeed says that God bestowed power upon David and led him into glory, having chosen him, according to: 'I have taken you from the sheepfolds, from following the sheep, to be a ruler over my people Israel,' finding him acceptable with holy oil for the kingship, and being present to work all things with him, making the rebellions of the enemies void and scattering their armies and putting them to flight, according to: 'I have been with you...'