Folia Theologica 11. (2000)

László Vanyó: The Patristic Interpretation of 'Redemptio'

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L. VANYÓ

and Saviour* 1 2 the mediating role of Jesus Christ is bound to the resurrection and to the judgement.3 By Ignatious of Antioch the conception of redemption is bound to Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, although he also links the breaking of the power of magic with Christ’s birth 4

3. As a soteriological title the “Khristos iatros” (Christus medicus) is to be found by Ignitius of Antioch: “There is one Physician,

1. This is the way, beloved, in which we found our salvation, Jesus Christ, the high priest of our offerings, the defender and helper of our weakness. 2. Through him we fix our gaze on the heights of heaven through him we see the reflection of his faultless and lofty countenance through him the eyes of our hearts were opened, through him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms towards the light, through him the Master willed that we should taste the immortal knowledge» “who, being the brightness of his majesty is by so much greater than angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name.”

1 Clem LXI (p.l 17):

3. o vopo ouvaxo 7torioat xauxa mi 7tepiaaoxepa ay a 9a pe0 qpcov, aoi eciopoÂoyoupeGa 8ia xou ap%iepeco mi Kpoaxaxou xcov \j/ux<ov rip or v Iry— aou Xpiaxou, St on aot q öoqa Kai q peyaXcoauvq Kai vuv Kai ei yeveav yevecov mi ei xou auova xcov aicovcov. apqv.

3. O thou who alone art able to do these things and far better things for us, we praise thee through Jesus Christ, the high priest and guardian of our souls, through whom be glory and majesty to thee, both now and for all generations and for ever and ever. Amen.

2 2 Clem IX,5 (The Apostolic Fathers 1,191 XIX, 1 ff/1, 192):

5. ei Xpioxo, o Kupio o ocoaa qpa, cov pev xo rcpcoxov nveupa, eyevexo a apt, Kai ouxco mi qpa emXeoev: ouxo mi qpa ev xauxq xq oapKi anoX- qipopeBa xov pia0ov.

5. If Christ, the Lord who saved us, though he was originally spirit, became flesh and so called us, so also we shall receive our reward in this flesh.

3 1 Clem XXXIII-XXXVIII; XXXIV, 3; L,4. Ep.Barnabae V; VII,2; Xv,5

4 Eph. XVIII, 1 (The Apostolic Fathers 1,191; XIX, 1 ff/1, 192):

1. nepii|/qpa xo epov nveup a xou axaupou, o eaxiv amvSaXov xoi ama- xouaiv, qpiv 8e Gcoxqpia mi Çcoq aicovio. 7tou ooc|)o non auÇqxqxq non Kauxqoi xcov Xeyopevcov ouvexcov

2. o yap 0BO qpcov Iqoou o Xpioxoo EKuopopqOq urn Mapia Kax oik- ovopiav Qeoo £k GJteppccxo pev Aauei8, jweupato 8e ayiou: o eyyevq0q Kai eßarxxio0q, iva xco naQci xo u8cop Ka0apioq.

XIX.: 1. Kai eXa0ev xotD apyovxa xou aicovoo xouxou q 7tap0evia Mapia Kai o xoKexo auxq, opoico Kai o 0avaxo xou Kupiou: xpia puGxqpiaKpanyq, axiva ev qouyia 0eou etipa^Oq.

2. neo ouv e<|)avepco0q xoi auoGiv aoxqp ev oupavco e^ap\|/ev uitep navra xou apxepa, mi xo cßoo auxou aveKXaiqxov qv mi çeviopov jiapeixev q Kaivoxq auxou, xa 8e A.oura navxa a ax pa apa q/aco Kai oeXqvq '/opo eye- vexo xco aoxepi, auxou, xa U7iepßa3Acov xo par auxou nnep navia: xapa/q xe qv, no0ev q Kaivoxq q avopoio auxoi.