Took Abraham’s seed; merciful high priest; one Lord both offerer and offering
“For it is not angels he takes hold of, but he takes hold of the seed of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things toward God, to make propitiation for the people’s sins. For in that he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:16–18)
We say the Word of God takes hold of Abraham’s seed: for he sprang from Judah according to the flesh, and was made like his brothers in every respect — at least in consenting to take the form of a slave (Philippians 2:7) and to come to be in the likeness of humans, as blessed Paul says. So he has been called Son of Man, and has become brother to those of Abraham’s seed… “so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” Merciful, because the letter of the law condemns sinners… yet Christ justifies by faith… Faithful, because he is lasting, continuous, and worthy of trust for what was promised.
“In that he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.” For he endured under temptation and endured the cross. Yet the Son has offered himself as a spotless victim to God the Father, so that through his own flesh he might help those who labor (Hebrews 7:23–25)… “For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) So he himself has become high priest according to the human, though divinely he receives the sacrifices from all; himself the victim according to the flesh; himself the one who propitiates for our sins, according to the authority of the deity. So there is one Lord Jesus Christ.
Greek
«Οὐ γὰρ δήπου ἀγγέλων ἐπιλαμβάνεται, ἀλλὰ σπέρματος Ἀβραὰμ ἐπιλαμβάνεται, ὅθεν ὤφειλε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὁμοιωθῆναι, ἵνα ἐλεήμων γένηται καὶ πιστὸς ἀρχιερεὺς τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, εἰς τὸ ἱλάσκεσθαι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις τοῦ λαοῦ· ἐν ᾧ γὰρ πέπονθεν αὐτὸς πειρασθείς, δύναται τοῖς πειραζομένοις βοηθῆσαι.»
σπέρματος Ἀβραὰμ ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαί φαμεν τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγον· ἀνέφυ γὰρ ἐξ Ἰούδα ὢν τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, καὶ ὡμοιώθη κατὰ πάντα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, κατά γε τὸ ἀνασχέσθαι λαβεῖν τὴν τοῦ δούλου μορφὴν καὶ ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενέσθαι, καθά φησιν ὁ μακάριος Παῦλος. κεχρημάτικε γὰρ οὕτω καὶ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου, καὶ γέγονεν ἀδελφὸς τοῖς ἐκ σπέρματος Ἀβραάμ… «ἵνα ἐλεήμων… γένηται καὶ πιστὸς ἀρχιερεύς.» ἐλεήμων μὲν γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς εἰς ἡμᾶς γέγονεν ὁ Χριστός, ὡς τοῦ νομικοῦ γράμματος κατακρίνοντος τοὺς ἡμαρτηκότας… δικαιοῖ γε μὴν ἐν πίστει Χριστός… πιστὸς δέ, ὅτι μόνιμος ὁ καὶ διηνεκὴς καὶ ἀξιόχρεως εἰς πίστιν τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων.
«ἐν ᾧ… πέπονθεν αὐτὸς πειρασθείς, δύναται τοῖς πειραζομένοις βοηθῆσαι.» διεκαρτέρησε γὰρ πειραζόμενος, καὶ ὑπέμεινε σταυρόν. πλὴν ἑαυτὸν ὁ Υἱὸς ὡς ἄμωμον ἱερεῖον προσκεκόμικε τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρί, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ σαρκὸς βοηθήσῃ τοῖς κάμνουσι… «μιᾷ γὰρ… προσφορᾷ τετελείωκεν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς τοὺς ἁγιαζομένους.» αὐτὸς οὖν ἄρα γέγονεν ἀρχιερεὺς κατὰ τὸ ἀνθρώπινον, καίτοι παρὰ πάντων τὰς θυσίας δεχόμενος θεϊκῶς, αὐτὸς τὸ θῦμα κατὰ τὴν σάρκα, αὐτὸς ὁ ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν ἱλασκόμενος, κατά γε τὴν τῆς θεότητος ἐξουσίαν. εἷς οὖν ἄρα Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός.
About this text
Cyril’s court treatise on right faith for Pulcheria and Eudocia (CPG 5220). One Son who suffers in flesh yet remains impassible as God. English from Pusey’s Greek.
English follows Pusey’s 1877 Greek of De recta fide ad Pulcheriam et Eudociam. This is a reading translation for study, not a new critical edition.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Pusey, De recta fide ad reginas (Oxford, 1877) (Greek · CPG 5220 §§1–48)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.