The Nature of Blessed Life

I say 'according to man', do not divide him from the Word—because he is a 'Paraclete' 'towards the Father' (John 14:16). Neither is the Word without the man, nor the man without the Word, but the one joined from both becomes a Paraclete and 'living always to intercede on their behalf' (1 John 2:1) intercedes. Therefore he asks for that life which he wants to be made alive by. And through him the life-giving happens; for he was 'slain in the flesh and made alive in spirit' (Romans 8:11). And the soul of Jesus is not life, but has the living by God measuring and granting it; and all the other souls, as to say each one: 'my soul lives by him'. The soul has a value according to immortality. But 'to live toward God' bears fruit from that which is upon us, just as living again by sin is from that which is upon us.

Length of days into an age and into the age of the age. Again, the length of days we are not able to take up explicitly. But 'into the age' he says 'and into the age of the age'. And these days which are given and become by the sun, are called in this one age only. And it has been said also: 'when will these things be, and what is the sign of your presence and the consummation of the age?' (Matthew 24:3); and: 'until the consummation of this age'. And 'in the days' of the age, if the Scriptures say, they say the days of the age. This one who asked is great and did not send a prayer about a small and indifferent thing, so that even his prayer is remembered, nor about these days which pass by the sun and moon. Otherwise, therefore, these things are to be considered. And it is owed to note that in the Scriptures many times such things fall away and seem as impossible.

'Honor', he says, 'your father and your mother, so that it may go well with you and you may be long-lived on the earth' (Exodus 20:12). But not always the one honoring parents remains for many years in the land. Many younger ones are transferred. For it has been said in the Wisdom of Solomon about such things: 'he was snatched away, not by wickedness, but his understanding changed or deceit deceived his soul' (Wisdom 4:13). And he says that: 'having been perfected in a little while, he filled long ages'. And he says that prudence is great and old age is an uncorrupted life. But if uncorrupted life is old age, it does not consist of days, but of virtue; differently it must be taken.

the days. Therefore, 'he asked you for life' is not so that he himself might live, but so that those for whom he offers the prayer might. Concerning life, we are not speaking of the common kind, but that which is according to virtue. He who has not known sin, nor even done it, nor even held a guile in his heart, did not have a mortality extending toward the blessed life. Therefore, asking for life, he did not ask for himself, but he wants that to be given to them for whom he offers the petition; for he is 'living always to the point of encountering' those who are to have life through him.

Therefore, 'he asked you for life, and you gave it to him.' He says this to God, either the psalmist or the Holy Spirit within him. And it is a great testimony when, having sent up the prayer, he receives the requests. So you gave it to him, 'length of days for ever and ever unto the age of ages.' The saints do not wish at all to have a long-lasting common life in this life. For instance, he says, 'it is better to dissolve and be with Christ' (Phil 1:23). And again: 'Woe, that my sojourn has been lengthened' (Ps 119:18). 'I am a stranger in a land' (Gen 23:4).

He who is 'a stranger and a sojourner' has a longing and a goal to depart from the sojourn, in order to dwell in the appropriate place. Just as the life indicated there is not a common life, which even impious men and irrational animals live, so also 'length of days' does not mean a long-lasting life, but 'length of days,' just as he who honored his parents will be long-lasting and long-lived. And in Deuteronomy it is said: 'This is your life and this is the length of days,' of 'loving the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul' (Deut 6:5). Behold, even the length of days is that of one loving Him with all the soul and all the power and all the longing.

Therefore, 'length of days unto the age.' These things can be taken regarding the blessed life in this way: for there is a life which is the same as the knowledge concerning God. When it was being said: 'And this is the eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Him whom you sent, Jesus Christ' (John 17:3), this life is the knowledge concerning the Father and the Son. And again: 'He who believes in me has eternal life' (John 6:47). He who believes in the Savior does not have a common life. The impious are often found to be more long-lasting than the diligent. They...