Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 321–360
From that very thing he was beaten; from where life comes forth for us. Adam, having tasted the fruit, went away ordered to die; from whose sin we likewise all die the same. But again the Lord said: From the living tree if he takes, let him live forever upright. Death was in a tree and in a tree life was hiding, where God the Lord hung, finder of our life. This tree of life the Lord had foretold to be, so that whoever believes him may be as if he takes from there. He also takes and tastes sweetly the precepts of the most high God and departs from death, because he rises the stronger. Whoever believes in Christ tastes of the tree of life, where the Lord was hung, foretold to Moses. Isaiah announces this one himself to be humble and exceedingly cast down, as if a servant’s figure: And we saw him, and he was not of shining form, a man set under blow, knowing how to bear all things. He grieves for us and carries our sins, and for our crime God handed him over. Who, when he was harassed, was silent like a lamb at the altars. This was already not a mere man, but God was flesh for us; which plainly appears — this was God’s name arising, which now is held a shining name among the nations. This Malachi the prophet sings, who is also himself a messenger, when he also rejects the Jews’ sacrifices saying: Your sacrifice will not be accepted by me, but in every place the nations offer to my name, among whom my excellent name is magnified, who without blood offer to my name cleanly. For he himself was humble, hiding under a great name, who from himself through prophetic mouths cries: I am not stubborn, he says, nor do I contradict the one who harms; my back too I set for scourges to be struck, and my jaws for unjust palms to strike; I offered them and did not turn my face from their spits. Folly came over many, that God suffered such things, so that the crucified be declared founder of the world. So it pleased him (using no one’s counsel, nor could another) to come for us in such a way. The enemy, when envious, invented death — ****** Tree killed; tree hides life. Believe, and you taste that wood. The Servant-God in flesh; nations offer without blood.
Latin
Ex ipso deuictus; unde nobis uita prouenit. Adam degustato pomo mori iussus abiit; Cuius de peccato morimur sic et omnis idemque. Sed iterum dixit Dominus: De ligno uitali Si sumpserit ille, in aeternum uiuat honestus. Mors in ligno fuit et ligno uita latebat, Quo Deus pependit Dominus, uitae nostrae repertor. Hoc lignum uitae Dominus praedixerat esse, Ut, qui credet ei, sic sit quasi sumat abinde. Et sumit et gustat suauiter Dei summi praecepta Et discedit, quoniam potior resurgit, a morte. Qui credit in Christo, de ligno uitae degustat, Quo fuit suspensus Dominus Moysi praedicto. Hunc ipsum Esaias humilem denuntiat esse Et nimis deiectum, fuerit quasi serui figura: Et uidimus illum, nec erat praeclarae figurae, In plaga depositus homo, sciens omnia ferre. Hic dolet pro nobis et peccata nostra reportat, Et pro facinore nostro Deus tradidit illum. Qui, cum uexaretur, tacuit sicut agnus ad aras. Hic homo iam non erat, sed erat Deus caro pro nobis; Quod palam apparet, hoc erat Dei nomen oriri, Quod modo praeclarum nomen apud gentes habetur. Hoc Malachiel canit propheta, qui et angelus ipse, Cum et Iudaeorum reprobet sacrificia dicens: Non erit acceptum mihi sacrificium uestrum, Sed in omni loco offerunt meo nomini gentes, Apud quos eximium nomen meum magnificatur, Qui sine cruore offerunt meo nomini munde. Nam fuit is ipse humilis latens nomine magno, Qui de semet ipso per ora prophetica clamat: Contumax non sum, ait, neque contradico nocenti, Dorsum quoque meum posui ad flagella caedendum Maxillasque meas palmis feriendas iniquis Praebui nec faciem auerti sputis eorum. Stultitia subiit multis, Deum talia passum, Ut enuntietur crucifixus conditor orbis. Sic illi complacuit (consilium neminis usus, Nec alius poterat) taliter uenire pro nobis. Mortem adinuenit, cum esset inuidus, hostis,