The Creation of the Flesh

The body was able to attain such antiquity. But let one understand that even if it happens that the human flesh is most especially newer, yet the Word, having deemed it worthy to take this up through a pure virgin, having thus united it to himself, did not only labor tirelessly to create the man formed within himself as 'firstborn of all creation' (Col 1:15), but he also intends to be the beginning of all things, not of those on earth only, but also of those in the heavens.

Therefore, this main point of the Proverb (Prov 8:22) is not intended to present the beginning of the divinity of our Savior, as they themselves think, saying 'the Lord created me,' but the second economy according to the flesh; for this reason he mentions creation as a convenient way of referring to the human flesh. Surely the creation differs in its actual matter regarding his being according to man. Therefore he says, 'the Lord created me as the beginning of his ways for his works'; he says 'created me' clearly through the virgin Mary, through whom God intended to unite the human flesh to his own Word.

Because of this, then, having it thus, it is following to observe with the mind that main point of the Proverb said in this way: 'the Lord created me as the beginning of his ways for his works' (Prov 8:22). For our Lord God, the Master, having created what was not, has brought it into being; for the flesh, which the Word took up, was not existing, but rather, not existing, 'he created the beginning of his ways.' So then, fittingly, since the ancient things have passed away and new things are going to be, all through the newness of our Savior, our Lord Christ cried out through the prophet saying, 'the Lord created me as the beginning of his ways for his works' (Prov 8:22).

For this has become to us, those of us who are about to live justly in godliness, a way; the beginning of all the ways following these. And he has appropriately said 'beginning' and 'ways' concerning the Lord our Savior, because even of the other ways, which we have possessed, after the first way, a beginning has become, the traditions made manifest through the holy apostles of the 'from on high,' according to the prophecy, having preached to us this new mystery of 'proclamation.' 'He therefore created me,' he says, 'as the beginning of his ways for his works' (Prov 8:22). And what works does he say? Concerning which the Savior says, 'my Father is working until now, and I am working' (John 4:34), and again he says, 'the work,' 'I have finished what you gave me to do' (John 17:4).

For who could have believed, before the demonstration of the things, that the Word, having been begotten through a virgin, would take up our flesh and bodily demonstrate the whole deity in it? (16) 'Before the age he founded me,' calling this a foundation, refers to the economy predestined according to his flesh. (17) As also the apostle says, 'for no one can lay another foundation except that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:11). And of one age he mentions here, from which he said the things concerning Christ were to be founded, even though many ages have passed, as David said, 'the one existing before the ages' (Psalm 90:2). (17) For since Asterius has said that the Word came into being before the ages, the very words themselves refute him as lying; so as to protest not only the matter, but also the letter. (18) For if Proverbs says, 'before the age he founded me' (Proverbs 8:23), how did he say that he himself had come into being before the ages? For it is one thing to be founded before the age, and another to have come into being before the ages.

Just as the Pantokrator God predestined the church of old, (19) so also the economy according to the flesh of Christ, through whom he predestined to call the race of the God-fearing 'unto adoption of sonship,' having previously founded it in his own thought. (19) Because of this, the apostle clearly pre-announces by the Holy Spirit 'the predestined Son of God,' saying. (20) Surely, if even a mystery most new has appeared at the end of times, such that because of this it was predestined before this age, it is fitting that the prophet said, 'before the age he founded me,' making clear the flesh, because of the communion with the Word, his true Son. (21)

Then he says, 'in the beginning,' 'before making the earth' (Genesis 1:1). What earth, this one? Meaning our flesh, the earth which becomes again after the disobedience. (21) For 'earth' he says, 'I am,' and 'and into earth I shall depart' (Genesis 3:19). For it was necessary for this to receive healing, having shared in some way with the Holy Word. (22) Then he says, 'before making the abysses' (Psalm 36:9); here the prophet proverbially says the abysses are the hearts of the saints, those having the gift of the Spirit in their own depth. (23)

What then is this main point, 'before the springs of the waters came forth' (Psalm 36:9)? He says they are the holy apostles. (23) And this mystery presents to us the scripture of Exodus, pre-announcing long ago the types of the apostles. (24) For twelve...