De gradibus humilitatis et superbiae
The Word Took Flesh, Not Angels
Drawing on Hebrews 2:16–17, the author shows that the Word assumed human flesh from Abraham's seed—not angelic nature—so that Christ might be made like his brothers in all things, sin alone excepted.
I do not deny that this understanding is correct; but from another passage of the same letter, a higher interpretation seems to be endorsed, where it says: For he did not take on angels, but he took on the seed of Abraham; wherefore he had to be made like his brothers in all things, so that he would become merciful.✦ I think these words must be referred to the heading in this way: they cannot, you see, be fitted to the body in its entirety. Of the Word of God, certainly, it has been said that he did not take on angels—that is, he did not assume one person for himself—but the seed of Abraham.✦ Nor is it read, 'The Word was made an angel,' but, 'The Word was made flesh,' and flesh from the flesh of Abraham, according to the promise that was first made to him.✦ From which—that is, from the assumption of seed—he had to be made like his brothers in all things; that is, it was right and necessary that, like us and capable of suffering, he should pass through all the kinds of our miseries, sin alone excepted.✦
The Necessity of Mercy
When asked why Christ had to share our condition, the text answers plainly: so that he would be merciful.
If you ask, 'By what necessity?' 'So that he would be merciful,' it says.✦
Suffering Into Compassion
Because Christ himself suffered and was tempted, he is now powerful to help those who are tempted, having learned through his own experience to pity and suffer with them.
And this, you say — why can it not rightly be referred to the body? But hear what follows a little later: For in that in which he himself suffered and was tempted, he is powerful and able to help those who are tempted.✦1 In these words I do not see what better sense can be understood, except that he chose to suffer and be tempted, and to share in all human miseries without sin — which is to be made like the brothers in all things — so that through his own experience he might learn to pity and suffer with those who have suffered and been tempted.✦2
Read the original Latin
Non nego hunc intellectum, quin rectus sit; sed ex alio loco ipsius epistolae, superior interpretatio videtur approbari, ubi dicitur: Nusquam enim angelos apprehendit, sed semen Abrahae apprehendit; unde debuit per omnia fratribus similari, tu misericors fieret. Puto quod haec verba sic ad caput referenda sint, tu corpori penitus aptari non possint. De Verbo utique Dei dictum est quod non angelos apprehendit, hoc est non unam sibi personam assumpsit, sed semen Abrahae. Neque enim legitur: Verbum angelus factum est, se: Verbum caro factum est, et caro de carne Abrahae, iuxta promissionem quae illi primum facta est. Unde, id est ex qua seminis assumptione, debuit per omnia fratribus similari, id est oportuit ac necesse fuit ut similis nobis passibilis, nostrarum omnia, excepto peccato, genera miseriarum percurreret. Si quaeris: Qua necessitate? Ut misericors, inquit.
Et hoc, ais cur non recte ad corpus referri potest? Sed audi quod paulo post sequitur: In eo enim, in quo passus est ipse et tentatus, potens est et eis qui tentantur auxiliari. In quibus verbis quid melius intelligi possit non video, nisi quod ideo pati ac tentari, omnibusque, absque peccato, humanis voluit communicare miseriis -quod est per omnia fratribus similari-, ut similiter passis ac tentatis misereri ac compati ipso disceret experimento.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Heb.2.16-Heb.2.17 — For surely it is not angels that he helps, but the seed of Abraham he helps. Heb.2.17 — Therefore, in all things he had to become like his brothers, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
- ↩Heb.2.16 — For surely it is not angels that he helps, but the seed of Abraham he helps.
- ↩John.1.14 — And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- ↩Heb.2.17 — Therefore, in all things he had to become like his brothers, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
- ↩Heb.2.17 — Therefore, in all things he had to become like his brothers, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
- ↩Heb.2.18 — For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
- ↩Heb.2.17 — Therefore, in all things he had to become like his brothers, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Notes
- 1 ↩The quoted sentence echoes Hebrews 2:18 (Vulg.: In eo enim, in quo passus est et tentatus est, potens est ad succurrerentibus se). Final resolution deferred to Moses stage.
- 2 ↩The parenthetical '-quod est per omnia fratribus similari-' glosses 'communicare miseriis' with the language of Hebrews 2:17 (similari fratribus), reinforcing the incarnational logic: Christ's sharing in human suffering is the means of his merciful solidarity.
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